By the time Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez marched to the pitcher’s mound in the seventh inning to pull starter Erick Fedde on Saturday, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco was on second following a leadoff double.
Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler didn’t hesitate to pull his starting pitcher Aaron Nola, who had allowed four hits through six innings, when Nola’s spot came to bat with one out in the seventh and Franco on third. Nola had thrown 83 pitches. But pinch hitter Jesmuel Valentín hit a sacrifice fly to shallow right field to give the Phillies a one-run lead, one they wouldn’t relinquish en route to a 5-3 win.