Garrett’s Resounding Return Propels Nationals to Decisive Victory

Stone Garrett marked his return to the major leagues with a home run in his opening plate appearance after over a year’s absence, powering the Washington Nationals to a resounding 9-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday evening. This win effectively ended Washington’s four-game losing streak.

Nationals’ Stellar Performance Breaks Losing Streak

Garrett’s impressive three-hit, three-RBI performance was matched by Luis García Jr., Juan Yepez, and Jacob Young, each contributing three hits to the Nationals’ score. Keibert Ruiz also demonstrated commendable prowess by driving in three for Washington, which has had a challenging season against Philadelphia, winning only three of their 11 encounters. This game, however, saw the Nationals score their highest run tally since their nine runs against Baltimore on August 13.

Williams Dominates, Suárez Struggles

Trevor Williams of Washington dominated the field, striking out five in five shutout innings while allowing only three hits and two walks. This performance lowered his ERA to 2.03 over 13 starts. On the contrary, Philadelphia’s Ranger Suárez ended his regular season on a rough note, allowing six runs in two innings. This performance comes despite Philadelphia already having clinched the NL East and a playoff bye.

Garrett’s Triumphant Return

Garrett, whose last appearance in the majors was cut short due to a leg injury while attempting to rob the New York Yankees’ DJ LeMahieu of a home run in August 2023, was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday. He served as the designated hitter against left-handed Suárez and did not disappoint. After Yepez opened the scoring with an RBI single, Garrett took to the field and drove a 72 mph curveball 431 feet into the left-field seats, bringing Yepez home and setting the tone for the game.

Emotional Release on the Field

Garrett’s triumphant trip around the bases was punctuated by a yell as he approached first base. “Rounding the bases, I blacked out,” he admitted, describing the culmination of his rehab journey back to the majors as an outpouring of “pent-up emotions.”

Phillies’ Performance Falters

Philadelphia, already assured of their playoff position, showed signs of struggle. Suárez, despite earning his first All-Star appearance this year, has a 5.74 ERA in seven starts since returning from a back injury. Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson expressed no concern over his health but acknowledged that his performance was subpar in the game.

Garrett’s Impactful Performance

Garrett continued to make a significant impact throughout the game, scoring a single off Tyler Gilbert in the fourth and doubling off José Ruiz to lead off the seventh. His performance was praised by Washington manager Dave Martinez who said, “For him to go out there and do what he did today was amazing.”

Looking Forward

The Nationals are set to face Philadelphia RHP Zack Wheeler, who has maintained a 2.03 ERA in two starts against Washington this season. The Nationals will counter with LHP MacKenzie Gore on Saturday.