Phillies clears the deficit in six races and wins sixth in a row as the club chases the playoff spot

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The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Washington Nationals Thursday with a 7-6 final. In the process, the Phillies extended a pair of streaks that have kept them in the thick of the race for the National League East and the second wildcard spot: their winning streak (now up to six in a row) and their streak of consecutive games where they have plated at least seven races (now at seven).

The Phillies did not receive the best play from starter Aaron Nola, who allowed six runs over four innings of work. The Philadelphia bullpen was able to close out the Nationals lineup the rest of the way, though with six reliefs that combined to five shutout innings.

Offensively, the Phillies were paced by Andrew McCutchen. McCutchen ran in four runs on two hits, including his 16th double of the year. Leadoff hitter Odúbel Herrera ran in a race and reached base three times, and the Phillies also received an RBI from pinch hitter Nick Maton. (The second race was not earned due to a field error.)

The Phillies entered Thursday with a record of 68-64 on the year, putting them two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the division and 2 1/2 games left of the Cincinnati Reds for second place in the Wild Card Game.

According to the Phillies broadcast, this is their longest stretch to score at least seven races in consecutive games since June 1933. (That streak was also seven games long.) 1933 The Phillies, it should be noted, were not a very good team. They went 60-92 despite the best effort among others from Hall of Famer Chuck Klein.

These Phillies will now go to Miami to meet the Marlins three times this weekend. The Phillies then fly to a three-game set against the Milwaukee Brewers before returning to Philadelphia to start a seven-game home game against the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs.