NEW YORK — On Thursday the Nationals were shut down by Phillies ace Aaron Nola, a Cy Young Award candidate in the National League.
On Friday it was a journeyman pitcher named Jason Vargas — who entered the game with an ERA of 7.67 this year — who helped silence the fading Washington bats.
Vargas, who had not faced the Nationals in 12 years, threw six shutout innings and two relievers finished the whitewash as the New York Mets won 3-0 at CitiField.
It was the 13th time the Nationals were blanked this year, and the second day in a row.