Nationals snap 7-game losing streak with complete team performance: ‘It’s going to take all of us’

PHILADELPHIA — The familiar sounds of rapper Sexyy Red filled the Nationals’ clubhouse for the first time in more than a week.

After Wednesday’s 10-4 win over the Phillies in 11 innings, the Nationals could finally play their victory song.

The young ballclub had been tested by its inadequate play and by the anxiety of the trade deadline. The Nationals endured seeing key contributors Curtis Mead, Luis García Jr. and All-Star lefty Foster Griffin traded.

On Wednesday, right-hander Zack Littell was designated for assignment.

President of baseball operations Paul Toboni made tough, measured decisions that needed to be made, in his mind, to build a sustainable winner. But a pragmatic decision doesn’t make it any easier for the players to experience.

“It definitely feels like a little bit of a reset,” manager Blake Butera said before the game. “I’d be naive to say it’s not, for a variety of reasons.”

This new iteration of the Nationals needed a win in which everybody contributed.

Brady House hit a pinch-hit, game-tying solo homer in the seventh inning, Clayton Beeter recorded a win and catcher Harry Ford threw out Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper for a caught stealing to end the 10th inning.

CJ Abrams hit a two-run triple in the 11th to give the Nationals a 6-4 lead, and Miles Mikolas entered the game after the Nationals forfeited the designated hitter spot when they pinch ran for Abimelec Ortiz in the 10th with the bench empty. That meant, when that spot come back up, it would be a pitcher batting third, and Mikolas added a sacrifice bunt to extend the lead to three.

He’s the first Nationals pitcher with an RBI since Erick Fedde in 2021. An Andrés Chaparro’s two-run double increased the lead to five. Nasim Nuñez drove in a run on a groundout.

It was a much-needed win to snap a seven-game losing streak. That it began with House tying the game in the seventh and that the Nationals continued to battle the Phillies had to be even more satisfying.

“We have a lot of new faces,” Butera said. “When you’re with a new team, and also when you’re new to the major leagues, sometimes you’re wondering like, ‘Can I do this?’ And when you go out there with a game like tonight and find a way to contribute in a variety of ways, Harry throwing a guy out, right, [Andrew Pinckney] pinch running and making a couple good reads on some borderline fly balls. Things like that remind guys or let guys know that maybe haven’t established themselves yet that, ‘Oh shoot, like I can do something to help the team that can help us win at the major league level.’”

After the game, right-hander Jake Irvin — who allowed two runs on three hits over 5 1/3 innings — gathered the other players and reminded them that it’s going to take everyone to finish the season strong.

“It’s been a stressful week,” Irvin said, “and I think you got to put things into perspective sometimes. Right now we got [44 games] left, and it’s going to take all of us. Whether it’s Miles coming off the bench to get a bunt down or Pinckney making his debut on the basepaths. Just gotta keep going, believe in one another and just keep doing what we’re doing.”

Irvin said he was in the training room when fellow starter Cade Cavalli delivered the message that Mikolas was batting third. Irvin swiftly put his uniform pants back on and hurried to the dugout to watch the spectacle.

Lost in the novelty of Mikolas batting is that it symbolized the do-whatever-it-takes mentality of the group. Whether it’s starters coming out of the bullpen or players manning positions they hadn’t played before, it’s all in service of winning.

“It honestly doesn’t feel like anybody’s above anything,” Butera said. “They’re willing to do whatever it takes, whenever their name’s called, even if it’s a pinch-hit at-bat. like Miles, who’s starting [Thursday night]. We’re literally going to do everything we can to to find ways to win.”

Mikolas has slugged two homers in his career, but he hadn’t swung a bat in a game since 2021, when the universal DH was implemented. Butera expressed that Mikolas has been itching to get an at-bat this season.

In the 10th, the coaching staff told Mikolas to grab his cleats. He used Jacob Young’s to put a bunt down toward first base.

“We were all laughing, but he had a job to do and he got it done,” Abrams said. “That was electric.”

One game in the middle of a 162-game season is hardly cause for celebration. But the victory allowed the Nationals to take a breath. Elongated losing streaks only amplify the pressure, particularly with such a young group.

“It’s a momentum changer,” Abrams said. “I’s easy to hang your head after everything that’s happened, but we got to keep our chins up and keep going and have each other’s backs.”

This article has been updated.