Nationals bullpen cannot hold lead again

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, June 25, 2026

The Washington Nationals lost their second straight game to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4, after blowing a late lead due to bullpen failures in the ninth inning. Despite leading MLB in runs scored and showing promising starting pitching, the Nationals' ongoing relief struggles continue to hinder their ability to close out games as they push past the season's midpoint.

For the second consecutive night, the Washington Nationals were unable to hold a late lead, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Tuesday in a game that once again highlighted their bullpen struggles. After taking an early advantage with solo home runs by Luis García and Jorbit Vivas in the first two innings, the Nationals appeared to be on track for a bounce-back victory. Rookie pitcher Palmquest, making his first start for the team, delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings, followed by Miles Mikolas, who allowed three runs in the fourth inning but settled down thereafter.

The Nationals’ offense, which has been a bright spot all season and currently leads Major League Baseball in runs scored, regained the lead in the sixth inning when pinch-hitter Curtis Mead launched a two-run homer, putting Washington ahead 4-3. The bullpen held the lead into the ninth inning, with PJ Poulin and Orlando Ribalta retiring batters to leave two outs and two strikes.

However, the bullpen faltered again. Ribalta faced Phillies pinch-hitter Kyle Schwarber and, after a lengthy at-bat, issued a walk, loading the bases. Manager Blake Butera decided against an intentional walk, reasoning it would have brought the winning run to the plate anyway. Butera then called on Richard Lovelady to secure the final out. Lovelady surrendered a two-run home run to Derek Hill on a four-seam fastball, handing the Phillies the lead and ultimately the win as Washington went down quietly in the bottom of the ninth.

The loss was especially painful following the previous night’s 14-9 defeat, where the bullpen similarly blew an 8-6 lead. Butera described Tuesday’s loss as “another one” in what is becoming a troubling pattern, expressing frustration over the inability to close out games despite strong offensive performances and promising starting pitching. “We have to find a way to get the last out of the ninth,” he said. “Whatever it is, mental, physical, somebody has to get the last out.”

The Nationals entered Tuesday’s game with a 41-40 record, the first time the team has been above .500 this late in the season since their 2019 World Series-winning campaign. Despite this, the bullpen’s difficulties serve as a reminder that the team remains in a rebuilding phase. While the offense has exceeded expectations, and starting pitchers like Foster Griffin have stepped up, the relief corps has not kept pace, leading to repeated late-inning setbacks.

Lovelady acknowledged the weight of being on the mound for the decisive moment, saying, “Losing last night’s game and being the reason for tonight’s game, especially after three heck of a job by the guys before us, getting us all the way to the ninth inning, it’s the worst feeling.” Following the game, the clubhouse atmosphere was somber and reflective, with players and coaches trying to process consecutive heartbreaking losses.

Butera emphasized resilience despite the setbacks: “We have to keep going. I thought there was energy, I thought we played well, just have to get that last out.” As the Nationals move forward past the halfway point of the season, the challenge remains for the bullpen to support a strong offense and competitive starting rotation in securing victories.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.