Corbin pitches Nats past Phillies 6-2 in doubleheader opener

WASHINGTON -- Patrick Corbin's start to open the Washington Nationals' series against the Philadelphia Phillies came nearly 48 hours later than expected.

It turned out to be every bit as good as the Nationals could have hoped.

Corbin struck out eight over seven strong innings and Washington posted a 6-2 victory Wednesday to begin a day-night doubleheader.

This was the belated series opener after the teams were rained out Monday and Tuesday. Washington won for the 15th time in 22 games.

"We followed Corbin's heartbeat, and he was jacked up," manager Dave Martinez said. "Two days biting at the bit, he gets out there and pitched really well."

Corbin (6-5) was originally set to start Monday and then pushed back twice by the postponements. But he was sharp against the Phillies, at one point striking out seven of nine batters. He scattered four hits and three walks while ending a personal three-game losing streak.

"It's not ideal, but you have to deal with it to make sure you are ready," said Corbin, who is one strikeout shy of 1,000 for his career. "I was glad we got that one in today."

Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper was 0 for 2 with two walks. This series is his second trip back to Washington, where he played from 2012-18, since signing a 13-year, $330 million contract with Philadelphia in March.

The Phillies were 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position.

"We weren't able to muster any sort of consistent threat," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "We didn't swing the bats the way we're capable of swinging the bats and weren't able to put runs on the board."

Juan Soto had an RBI single in the first off Zach Eflin (6-7), and Gerardo Parra and Brian Dozier added RBI doubles later in the game. Eflin allowed three runs and five hits while striking out seven over six innings.

Dozier and Parra hit back-to-back homers in the eighth off Cole Irvin to push the lead to 6-1.

Scott Kingery homered in the Phillies first. It was his ninth shot of the season and fifth in seven games.

Philadelphia has lost six of eight and 11 of 17.

"It's really how we bounce back," Eflin said. "Nobody's pressing the panic button. We know we're going to be just fine. It's just one of those rough patches."

Right-hander Jake Arrieta (6-5, 4.31 ERA) will start the second game of the doubleheader for Philadelphia. The Nationals will counter with Max Scherzer (5-5, 2.81), who suffered a broken nose during a bunting drill Tuesday.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: C J.T. Realmuto (groin) returned to the lineup and went 0 for 4. He sat out Sunday's game, and was out of the posted lineups Monday and Tuesday before both contests were rained out. . Kapler said OF Jay Bruce (left hamstring), who has not played since Saturday, will start the second game.

Nationals: Martinez said C Kurt Suzuki, who left Sunday's game with a neck injury, was available for the second game of the doubleheader.

PARRA'S SHARK ATTACK

Parra debuted an eyebrow-raising walkup music selection: "Baby Shark," a popular children's song. Parra was in an 0 for 22 slump entering the day, but was 2 for 4 in the opener.

"I wanted to put in something different," Parra said. "My (2-year-old) daughter knows that song. ... I said, `You know what, I am going to put in "Baby Shark."

26TH MEN

Philadelphia recalled LHP Ranger Suarez from Triple-A Lehigh Valley as its 26th man for the doubleheader. Suarez allowed four earned runs in four innings on June 10 in his only other appearance for the Phillies this season. ... Washington summoned RHP Austin Voth from Triple-A Fresno. Voth, who is 3-5 with a 4.99 ERA this season, pitched in four games for the Nationals last season.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.89) is scheduled to start against the Nationals on Thursday. Nola is 0-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts this month.

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-4, 3.75), who is 7-0 with a 2.97 ERA in his last 12 starts against Philadelphia, starts the series finale.

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