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Phillies Pull Off Historic Back-to-Back Comebacks at Nationals

6/26/2026

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Summary

Phillies Back-to-Back

Phillies were the first modern-era team to win back-to-back games after a final-strike, no-runner ninth at Nationals Park.
Win odds were 0.58% on Tuesday and 2.5% on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s 14-9 win followed Turner’s single, Marsh’s two-run homer and Stott’s three-run homer.
Wednesday’s 5-4 victory after Schwarber’s walk and Hill’s two-run homer gave Philadelphia a 3-1 series edge and left them four games behind the Braves.

Summary

Mattingly Leads Phillies

Don Mattingly, interim manager since April 28, has led the Phillies to a 36-17 record, 45-36 overall.
Brandon Marsh became a NL All-Star finalist after his third homer and a .750 slugging stretch.
The Nationals sent right-hander Gus Varland (1-2) to Triple-A after a two-inning, five-run outing.
Washington’s next starter, left-hander Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 3.34 ERA), will face Philadelphia’s Trevor Rogers (4-7, 5.30 ERA) in the series finale.

History

Historical Context

After the Red Sox shattered an 86-year World Series drought by overturning a 0-2 deficit in 2004—the first MLB team to force a Game 7 after trailing 3-0—Philadelphia’s 2024 Phillies, led by interim manager Don Mattingly, replicated that low-probability comeback with consecutive final-strike ninth-inning wins. The parallel underscores how rare, data-driven turnarounds have become a strategic focus.

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Phillies Back-to-Back

Phillies were the first modern-era team to win back-to-back games after a final-strike, no-runner ninth at Nationals Park.
Win odds were 0.58% on Tuesday and 2.5% on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s 14-9 win followed Turner’s single, Marsh’s two-run homer and Stott’s three-run homer.
Wednesday’s 5-4 victory after Schwarber’s walk and Hill’s two-run homer gave Philadelphia a 3-1 series edge and left them four games behind the Braves.

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