Phillies stun Nationals again with ninth-inning heroics

Bryce Harper's tie-breaking two-run homer ignited a five-run ninth inning as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies erupted late once again to defeat the Washington Nationals 10-5 on Thursday.

For the third straight day, Philadelphia prevailed against Washington with its backs against the wall. The Phillies scored eight ninth-inning runs in Tuesday's win before Derek Hill's go-ahead homer proved decisive in Wednesday's final frame.

Hill homered in the ninth again in this one, completing a mammoth rally by the Phillies. Philadelphia trailed 5-0 in the sixth after an uncharacteristically poor outing by starter Cristopher Sanchez before the offense rallied once again versus the Nationals' bullpen.

In this one, the game was tied 5-all when the Phillies' ninth-inning outburst began with a single by Kyle Schwarber against Gus Varland (1-2). Harper, a former NL MVP with the Nationals, followed by sending a 1-0 changeup the opposite way over the left field wall.

Later in the inning, J.T. Realmuto delivered an RBI double before Hill punctuated the rally with a two-run shot into the left field seats. All the Phillies' damage in the ninth came against Varland.

Orion Kerkering (5-0) worked a scoreless eighth to get the win in relief of Sanchez, who allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings.

Nationals starter Cade Cavalli allowed two runs and five hits in six innings.

Washington promptly scored four first-inning runs against Sanchez, who has been up and down in June after not allowing a run in five May starts.

Curtis Mead homered with one out and each of the next three hitters reached, capped by Daylen Lile's RBI single to make it 2-0. Jacob Young knocked in another run with a grounder before Nasim Nunez's single put the hosts up 4-0 against the Philadelphia left-hander.

Young's fourth-inning RBI single made it 5-0 before Brandon Marsh's two-run homer in the sixth started the visitors' comeback.

Philadelphia tied it with three runs in the seventh. Two of those runs came on bases-loaded walks by Washington relievers.

Varland got the Nationals through the eighth before things fell apart in the ninth.