The Phillies fell to the Nationals this afternoon 4-1, in a game where they tried too hard, and yet by trying too hard they somehow didn't try hard enough.
They all came out swinging early and often against Nats starter Stephen Strasburg. As a result, Strasburg needed just 32 pitches to get through the first four innings. The fourth inning was the first one where he needed more than 9 pitches to get three outs. The Phillies swung a lot. They were determined to swing, even though many many at-bats ended with them getting themselves out after just one or two pitches.