Boy, that Jonathan Papelbon deal really worked out well for the Nationals, didn’t it? Philadelphia broke a 4-4 ninth-inning tie by lighting up the Washington closer at the start of an eight-run rally in dispatching the Nats, 12-5.
The disastrous ninth followed an ugly incident in the Nationals dugout in the bottom of the eighth involving Papelbon and Bryce Harper. After Harper flew out, Papelbon jawed at the right fielder on his way back to the dugout, then lunged at Harper and grabbed him by the throat before the two were separated by teammates.
Washington manager Matt Williams, demonstrating why his seat is red-hot, decided to send Papelbon, who had entered the game in relief in the eighth, back out for the ninth.
An Andres Blanco two-run homer off Papelbon (4-3, 2.13 ERA) broke the tie, and errors by Trea Turner and Anthony Rendon opened up the floodgates.
The Phils scored six runs with two outs in the inning to break open the tight game.
Gio Gonzalez gave up two runs on six hits in five innings, striking out three and walking two in a no-decision.
Ian Desmond hit his 19th homer as part of a 3-for-3 day, and Matt den Dekker hit his fourth homer in a 4-for-4 day.
Harper was 0-for-4 on the day, dropping his National League-leading batting average to .336.
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