Phillies sweep Nationals after ninth-inning comeback

The Philadelphia Phillies completed a stunning three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals on Thursday night, rallying from a five-run deficit to win 10-5. The victory marked the third consecutive day the Phillies erased a late Nationals lead with a dramatic ninth-inning outburst at Nationals Park.

Thursday’s decisive blow came from Bryce Harper, a former National, who hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth inning. His home run came after a section of Nationals fans loudly chanted an expletive directed at him. As he rounded the bases and again upon touching home plate, Harper extended a middle finger toward the crowd. After the game, Harper clarified to the Phillies radio broadcast that he was flashing his ring finger.

Harper’s homer off reliever Gus Varland ignited a five-run ninth inning that also featured an RBI double from J.T. Realmuto and a two-run homer from Derek Hill. The Phillies had trailed 5-0 early after Washington scored four runs in the first inning off starter Cristopher Sánchez, highlighted by a Curtis Mead solo home run. Brandon Marsh began Philadelphia’s comeback with a two-run homer in the sixth, and the Phillies tied the game with three runs in the...