A two-on, two-out opportunity in the eighth, with hard-throwing Philadelphia Phillies’ right-hander Yacksel Rios on the mound, seemed like an ideal time to have Daniel Murphy pinch hit, but Washington Nationals’ skipper Davey Martinez let Mark Reynolds (1 for 2, BB to that point in the game and 1 for his last 28 overall) take it and he grounded out for the third out in a row after Trea Turner (single) and Bryce Harper (walk) reached base in what was a one-run game, 3-2 in the Phils’ favor.
Murphy doubled in a two-out pinch hit appearance in the ninth, but was stranded one out later as the Phillies won their second game in the four-game series which wraps up this afternoon in the so-called City of Brotherly Love.