Aug 22, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) pitches against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
While the entire city of Philadelphia was still coping with the fact that Jhoan Duran is, in fact, human after all, Phillies manager Rob Thomson provided some wisdom after his lights out closer actually blew a save in the Phillies 5-4 loss to Washington on Friday.
"Mariano had 80 of them," Thomson said, referring to Hall of Fame New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. "So, it's going to happen every once in a while."
How easily can Jhoan Duran bounce back from a blown save?
“I’m super confident. Mariano (Rivera) had 80 of them, so it’s going to happen every once in a while.” pic.twitter.com/yaGeWpsVRz
One of those times was Friday night. It was Duran's third blown save this year and 10th of his career.
Not that it bothers him.
"Right now, I'm good," he said when asked how long it takes for him to flush a blown save. "Sometimes we do good, sometimes we do bad. That's the game. I have to be ready for tomorrow. It's O.K."
And really, it is. Because, to be honest, what Duran has done in just eight appearances is pretty damn impressive.
Friday was the first time he gave up two hits in an inning since coming to the Phillies. It was also the first time he allowed a runner to reach second base.
Nationals rookie Dylan Crews hit a double down the right field line off Duran with one out.
"I missed with the fastball in the middle of the zone and he took a chance," Duran said.
The next hitter, Daylen Lile, flared a splitter the other way into left field.
"He put a good swing on it," Duran said.
And even still, the Phillies and Duran were a bit unlucky. Brandon Marsh's throw to try and get Crews at the plate, hit the runner and caromed away from catcher J.T. Realmuto.
Jhoan Duran's first blown save in a Phillies uniform as the Nationals tie the game in the ninth! pic.twitter.com/7L62CH1UOq
Had not the throw hit Crews, there was a good chance he would have been out.
Once the ball skipped past Realmuto, Lile took second base. He then tried to steal third and Realmuto airmailed a throw as he was trying to throw around the next batter, Brady House.
J.T. Realmuto: “It’s tough to do in the moment, but I probably should have just eaten that one.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/wajgbKmvw9
"I probably shouldn't have thrown the ball in hindsight," Realmuto said. "It was a curveball away and I didn't get to really set my feet and get around (House). I did have to throw it over his head in that situation and it's tough to do. I probably should have just eaten it, let him have third base, and give Duran the chance to strike the next two guys out, which he ended up doing."
Duran did strike out the side in the inning, but the damage was done. Two hits cost him his spotless record in Philadelphia.
If you're looking to place blame somewhere - because, after all, it's Philadelphia sports, and when a Philadelphia team loses, Philadelphia has to point the finger at somebody, or something - then you can blame NBC Sports Philly.
They decided that they were going to eschew the commercial break in the ninth inning of home games when Duran comes in to pitch to show his spectacle of an entrance.
Couldn't just leave well enough alone, could they?
