WASHINGTON, DC — The Nationals took the opener of this four-game set against the Phillies 4-1 on Monday night at Nationals Park, riding a dominant start from Foster Griffin and timely power from Curtis Mead and Luis Garcia Jr.
Griffin (8-2) worked 7⅓ innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out nine without issuing a walk. He has now gone at least five innings and surrendered one earned run or fewer in each of his last four outings. The right-hander mixed his sinker and cutter effectively against a Phillies lineup that managed little sustained pressure until the late innings.
Forrest Griffin winds up to pitch during an MLB game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park in Washington D.C., June 22, 2026. (Photo by All-Pro Reels for Nats Journal)
Washington jumped ahead in the first when Dylan Crews delivered an RBI single. Luis Garcia Jr. added a solo homer in the second — a 427-foot blast — to make it 2-0. The Phillies got one back in the seventh on Brandon Marsh’s solo shot, but the Nats answered immediately in the bottom half. James Wood singled and Mead followed with a two-run homer to left, pushing the lead to 4-1 and giving the home side breathing room.
The offense collected 12 hits on the night. Crews continues to show signs of settling in at the plate after an uneven start to the season, while Mead’s power surge has added another dimension to the middle of the order.
Griffin exited after retiring the first two batters in the eighth. Clayton Beeter came on to close it out for his sixth save. The bullpen has been reliable of late, and Griffin’s length on the mound made the difference against a Philadelphia club that had been playing solid baseball.
This result keeps Washington within striking distance in the NL wild-card picture as the calendar turns toward the All-Star break. The Nats have shown they can hang with the division’s better clubs when their starting pitching delivers and the offense finds timely hits. Griffin’s outing was exactly the kind of performance that can anchor a rotation over the second half.
The series continues Tuesday. Washington will look to build on the strong start while the Phillies try to respond in a matchup that still carries division and wild-card implications.