Philadelphia Phillies rookie Justin Crawford delivered his first career walk-off hit Wednesday night, capping a historic opening week in the majors as the Phillies rallied to defeat the Washington Nationals.
Crawford’s hit not only sealed the win, but also marked his first three-hit game in the majors. Through his first five big league games, the 20-year-old has made an immediate impact.
Justin Crawford’s historic start
Crawford wasted no time announcing his arrival in the majors, recording his first hit on the very first pitch he saw. He has since added an extra-base hit, a run scored, and an RBI.
He is now batting .412 (7-for-17) with three runs scored in his first five games.
Crawford has also drawn one walk and struck out four times, posting a .412/.444/.471 (.915 OPS) slash line to begin his career.
Walk-off moment in the 10th
Crawford came to the plate with runners on the corners and nobody out in the bottom of the 10th inning.
He grounded the first pitch from Nationals reliever Cole Henry past second baseman Nasim Nuñez and into right field, scoring Brandon Marsh from third to win the game.
The ball left Crawford’s bat at 106.9 mph, and with the infield drawn in, Nuñez had little chance to make a play.
After the game, Crawford reflected on the moment:
“Just staying within myself, trying to get a ball up and try to put a swing on it,” he said. “It’s definitely something I’ll remember for a very long time.”
Phillies vs. Nationals recap
The Phillies needed a late comeback to secure the win and take two of three games from the Nationals, evening their record at 3-3.
Philadelphia trailed 5-1 entering the late innings after the Nationals scored three runs in the seventh off Brad Keller.
J.T. Realmuto got the comeback started with his first home run of the season in the seventh inning. Bryce Harper followed with his first homer of the year in the eighth to cut the deficit to 5-3.
The Phillies completed the rally in dramatic fashion in the ninth.
Edmundo Sosa, pinch-hitting for Bryson Stott, came through with two outs and an 0-2 count, lining a single to left field to drive in two runs and tie the game at 5-5.
Cristopher Sánchez was not at his sharpest, allowing four hits and four walks over 5.1 innings, but kept the Phillies within striking distance.
In the 10th inning, Marsh began as the automatic runner at second base. Realmuto, who reached base four times in the game, moved him to third with a single before Crawford delivered the game-winner.
Jhoan Durán (1-1) pitched a scoreless top of the 10th to earn the win. The deciding run was unearned, but Nationals reliever Cole Henry (0-1) was charged with the loss.
What’s next for the Phillies
The Phillies now head out on the road for a trip to Colorado and San Francisco.
Aaron Nola (0-0, 5.40) is scheduled to start Friday’s opener against Michael Lorenzen (0-0, 6.23). Jesús Luzardo and Taijuan Walker are expected to follow against the Rockies, while rookie Andrew Painter is lined up to start the series opener in San Francisco.
Philadelphia will look to carry its momentum west as Crawford continues his impressive start at the major league level.
Please scroll down to comment on this story or to give it a rating. We appreciate your feedback!
Disclaimer: Some of the products featured or linked on this website may generate income for Philly Baseball News through affiliate commissions, sponsorships, or direct sales. We only promote items we believe in, but please assume that PBN may earn a cut from qualifying purchases that you make using a link on this site.
© 2026 LV Sports Media. All rights reserved.
