Nationals' Stone Garrett shines with homer in 9-1 win over Phillies

On Friday night, the Washington Nationals achieved a significant victory over the Philadelphia Phillies, winning 9-1 and breaking a four-game losing streak. Stone Garrett made a remarkable return to the majors, hitting a home run in his first plate appearance in over a year, contributing to a three-hit, three-RBI performance. The Nationals' offense was bolstered by Luis García Jr., Juan Yepez, and Jacob Young, each recording three hits, while Keibert Ruiz added three RBIs. Trevor Williams pitched five shutout innings, striking out five and allowing only three hits, which lowered his ERA to 2.03 over 13 starts. The game marked a rare win for Washington against Philadelphia, as they had only beaten the Phillies three times in their previous 11 encounters this season. Philadelphia's Ranger Suárez struggled on the mound, giving up six runs in just two innings, which raised concerns for the team as they prepare for the playoffs after clinching the NL East. Manager Rob Thomson acknowledged the team's poor performance, indicating that it was not representative of their usual play. Garrett's successful return was a highlight for the Nationals, as he expressed his joy in being able to compete again after his injury. The game concluded with Austin Hays hitting a home run for Philadelphia in the eighth inning, but it was not enough to change the outcome of the match.