Bullpen Evaporates the 5-Run Lead

The bullpen woes continued on Thursday night as an an early Nationals lead resulted in a 10-5 Phillies victory.  Mark & Al convene after the 3rd straight loss that saw a reliever implode in the top of the 9th every step of the way.  Washington is back to .500 through 82 games played this season.

(04:30) Blake Butera agreed with Mark's assessment that some relievers "pitched scared" while on the mound this week.

(07:00) Mitchell Parker gave up three runs while only recording one out.  Parker's ERA is now up to 6.39 on the season.

(09:30) Bryce Harper homered in the 9th and then motioned to the Tarp's Off crowd after crossing home plate.  Harper was adamant afterwards that it was his ring finger that he used to point to the crowd.

(18:00) The bullpen has given up the most homers in all of Baseball.  Will Paul Toboni try to make a trade in July as opposed to wait until the Trade Deadline on August 3rd?

(25:00) Cade Cavalli pitched well as he did not give up any runs until the 6th.  Butera afterwards told him that he looked like a #1 pitcher in the outing.

(28:00) The offense jumped all over Cy Young candidate Christophe Sanchez as they scored four runs in the bottom of the 1st.  Curtis Mead homered off of Sanchez and ironically those two were traded for each other in the past. 

(32:30) CJ Abrams still has a chance to start in next month's All-Star Game, but James Wood will only be able to make it as a reserved.  Abrams and Mookie Betts were the top two vote getting shortstops in Phase 1 of the fan voting.

(35:30) Daylen Lile performed while with both the bat and glove on Thursday.  Lile singled, doubled, and made a spectacular catch in LF.

(39:00) The Nationals visit the Orioles this weekend for a three game series.  Washington took off two of three against Baltimore last month.