WASHINGTON (AP) - Bryce Harper was hitless in his return from back stiffness and Philadelphia manager Joe Girardi was ejected in the third inning of a 5-1 loss to the Washington Nationals on Monday night that dropped the Phillies back to .500 and hurt their playoff hopes.
“We played poorly, really poorly and that’s what bothers me more than anything,” Girardi said. “We didn’t swing the bats well and sometimes that plays into it. We need to play better moving forward if we want to play in October.”
A day after striking out with the bases loaded in the seventh off a loss to Toronto and coming out of the game, Harper went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts as the designated hitter, dropping his average to .254.
Harper said he’ll play in the outfield for one game of Tuesday’s doubleheader and be the designated hitter for the other
“We have to win,” he said. “There’s no time to complain. We have to get out there and get going.”
Third-place Philadelphia, trying for its first postseason appearance since 2011, fell to 27-27 with six games left and dropped behind Cincinnati (28-27) in a crowded NL wild-card race. Philadelphia is clinging to the league’s final playoff spot, a half-game ahead of Milwaukee (26-27) and San Francisco (26-27).
Girardi and center fielder Roman Quinn were ejected in the third inning for arguing a call by plate umpire Junior Valentine.
Girardi came out of the dugout to argue after Quinn took a called third strike on an 84 mph splitter from Aníbal Sánchez with a full count. Quinn was replaced by Mickey Moniak, who went to left. Adam Haseley shifted from left to center.
Philadelphia lost to the defending World Series champions for the first time in seven games this season. The Nationals are last in the NL East at 21-32.
Sánchez (3-5) allowed one run and four hits in five innings and combined with four relievers on a six-hitter.
Philadelphia scored its only run in the fifth when Sánchez was called for a balk with Moniak on third.
Zack Wheeler (4-1) gave up three runs - two earned - and five hits in 5 2/3 innings.
“I didn’t feel like I had my best stuff, a little out of sync,” Wheeler said.
Asdrúbal Cabrera hit an RBI single in the first, and Washington took a 2-0 lead later in the inning when Brock Holt stole second and catcher Andrew Knapp’s throw got by second baseman Andrew Knapp and into center field for an error that allowed Juan Soto to score from third.
“The two teams that we have the reminder of the week are in a better spot than we are,” Holt said, referring to the Phillies and New York Mets. “The thought of playing spoiler too can kind of motivate you.”
Luis García added an RBI groundout for a 3-1 lead in the fifth, and Brock Holt hit a two-run single in the seventh off Blake Parker.
EARLY MISCUES
Philadelphia committed an error and had a runner caught stealing in each of the first two innings. The Phillies finished with three errors.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Phillies: Placed RHP Heath Hembree on the 10-day IL with a right elbow strain. Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 amateur draft, was recalled from the alternate training site along with RHP Ramón Rosso. RHP Adonis Medina was optioned to the alternate training site.
Nationals: 3B Carter Kieboom left in the sixth after being hit in the left wrist by Wheeler and was replaced by Josh Harrison. … RHPs James Bourque (right elbow strain) and Aaron Barrett (right triceps strain) were put on the 10-day IL. LHP Seth Romero (broken right hand) was transferred to the 60-day IL … RHP Tanner Rainey (right forearm strain) likely will not pitch again this season. … Paolo Espino’s contract was selected from the alternate training site and OF Yadiel Hernández was recalled.
UP NEXT
Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (5-3, 2.92 ERA) is to start the first game on Tuesday and Girardi said he will go with a bullpen effort in the second.
Nationals: RHP Austin Voth (0-5, 7.17) is to start one game for Washington.
___
More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports
Please read our comment policy before commenting.