Phillies backstop J.T. Realmuto gave the ball used for the final out to Girardi.
“I’ll put it in a case and just put it away,” Girardi said. “It means a lot. My daughter, Lena, asked me about it. I said, ‘A lot of times, you don’t have a chance to enjoy things until the season calms down and it’s over, because you’re onto the next day.' And that’s my personality anyway. But the players did a really nice thing for me.”
Bryce Harper made a speech, and the club presented Girardi with a bottle of champagne, labeled for the milestone.
"Everybody knows the type of person Joe is," Harper said. "He's a great manager, person, family man. One-thousand wins is an incredible milestone.
"He turned it around and said he wouldn't be here without the players."
Aaron Nola shined for the Phils, tossing seven solid innings while surrendering two earned runs on five hits. He also collected eight strikeouts. He finished the night with 113 pitches.
The Nationals held a 2-1 advantage entering the seventh inning. Didi Gregorius opened the top of the seventh with a triple, then scored on an Alec Bohm single to even things at 2-2. Roman Quinn then reached first on a bunt attempt before eventually scoring on a Harper single to left.
Newly acquired closer Brandon Workman surrendered a leadoff double to Howie Kendrick in the ninth, but worked out of a scare with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat and seal the win.
The victory means the Phils, with another win on Thursday, can finish the current road trip with a .500 mark.
"Hopefully we can get [Girardi] 1,001 tomorrow," Harper said.
Girardi thanked many of his mentors following the contest, including Don Zimmer, Tony La Russa, and Joe Torre.
"They taught me so many things that I've never forgotten."
Always one to share, Girardi applauded the players he's managed over his 12-year managerial career.
"I love the competition, the relationships with the players, and trying to match strategy, but my favorite thing is to watch players have success."
The Phillies and Nats conclude their series on Thursday. Rookie Spencer Howard will be on the mound for the Phils, opposing Max Scherzer.
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Follow Patrick on Twitter: @PGordonPBR
