The much-vaunted “mop luck opportunity” was on the Phillies this Sunday. Faced with the opportunity to win a four-game series from the National, Rob Thomson announced his lineup for Sunday with several players getting a day of rest. Taijuan Walker was on the mound, so confidence was low that the sweep could actually be completed, but with home runs coming from unexpected sources, new hope was emerging.

But in the end, a strategy repeatedly pursued by the manager led to the team losing (is that where the sarcasm font should go?).

Walker wasn’t actually that bad today. Is that a product of lower expectations, but only allowing three runs over 4 ²⁄₃ Innings counts as a win for the team, as the former right-hander has had inconsistent starts in the past. He even took the lead in the first inning thanks to a single by Nick Castellanos that scored the game’s first run off Trea Turner.

Turner scored the second run of the game with a home run to center field that seemed to surprise everyone watching.

In the first few innings of the game, Walker was pretty strong. Although he allowed CJ Abrams to steal three bases in those innings, that was the only damage the team was able to do. In the fourth inning, Keibert Ruiz managed to tag Walker for a two-run home run that tied the game at 2-2.

Notice, however, what doesn’t happen as Walker continues.

The offense was unable to score any more supporting runs.

Coming into the fifth inning, Walker allowed another home run, this time to Alex Call, which put Washington up 3-2 and eliminated Walker. Not a bad start from him, but nothing to give him the confidence that he’s “back!” In the sixth inning, the Nationals scored another run against Tanner Banks, making it 4-2, and the game took on the tone of a game that was over.

Then the daycare center was opened.

The game was 4:4 and the race to the finish line was on.

A fully rested Phillies bullpen and an off day tomorrow made it look like the offense just needed one more run to win, and that’s exactly what it looked like when Matt Strahm took the mound for the eighth inning.

Then the ground collapsed.

Strahm allowed a single, a wild pitch, a walk and a bunt single, leaving all the bases loaded, no one out and the game in jeopardy. When Juan Yepez hit a ground ball into a force out at home to tie the game, all it would have taken was a measly double play and a major threat would have been avoided, but Jacob Young hit a fly ball to center that scored Andres Chaparro and put Washington back in front. In the ninth inning, Jeff Hoffman continued his streak of shaky performances by allowing a solo home run to James Wood and making the score 6-4.

Still, the team had a chance to tie the game in the ninth inning, and Eduardo Sosa started the inning with a hit against Kyle Finnegan. With no one out and a right-hander on the mound, Thomson had a chance to use his resting starters on the bench to get in the game…

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…and had Cal Stevenson hit a double play, followed by a ground ball from Garrett Stubbs to end the game.

Thomson’s decision not to start Bryce Harper or JT Realmuto in the ninth inning will no doubt be talked about, but that wasn’t the reason the game was lost. The offense disappeared again in the middle innings and Washington was able to eke out a win in this four-game series. A leaky bullpen had some good moments but mostly struggled again, which raised further concerns.

Both teams have tomorrow off before the Phillies hit the road for the week while Washington heads home.