Lord’s Collapse Costs Nationals

**Corey** (0:00)
On June 24th, the Nationals were on the verge of taking the first two games against the Phillies, leading 8-6 heading into the bottom of the eighth. Jorbert Vivas hit a clutch three-run homer to give them the lead, and their ace reliever, Brad Lord, was brought in for the ninth inning.
Lord had been lights out all season, boasting an earned run average under one and a batting average against him that was incredibly low. Lord started strong, striking out the first two batters he faced. However, things took a turn when Trey Turner singled, followed by a game-tying homerun from Brandon Marsh. This was a shocker, as Lord had been nearly untouchable, with runners on base and two outs.
The Phillies didn't stop there. After Lord gave up another single, Bryson Stott blasted a go-ahead three-run homer.
Lord was then pulled, having given up six runs in just two-thirds of an inning, a performance completely out of character for him. The Nationals brought in Paxton Schultz, who also struggled, allowing two more runs. In total, the Phillies scored eight runs in the ninth inning, a rare occurrence for the Nationals and the second time it's happened against Philadelphia. This loss stings, especially with the Nationals in a tight race for a playoff spot. Manager Blake Butera emphasized that despite the frustration, they need to regroup and focus on the remaining games in the series, knowing they have to win these divisional matchups. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Washington Nationals News Today, AI Power Team coverage.