Nationals, Phillies jointly decide not to play series finale (updated)

Tonight's series finale at Nationals Park was postponed after players from both the Phillies and Nationals chose not to participate in the latest symbolic move by professional athletes to redirect attention toward racial inequality and police brutality.

Phillies players met at their team hotel at 1 p.m. today and about an hour later decided not to play. Phillies manager Joe Girardi called Nationals skipper Davey Martinez, who had already planned to meet with Nationals players at 4 p.m., and as players from the two teams simultaneously communicated with each other made the collective decision to postpone the game.

"We support their decision to use their platform to call attention to the racial and social injustice that continues to exist in our country," the Nationals and Phillies said in a joint statement. "We will continue to stand behind our players and those on the front lines working to generate accountability and real change in our society."

The postponement comes one day after the Milwaukee Bucks' decision not to play Game 5 of their playoff series set off a ripple effect across the sports world that included postponements in the NBA, WNBA and Major League Baseball.

Three MLB games (Reds at Brewers, Dodgers at Giants, Mariners at Padres) were postponed Wednesday night after players voted not to participate in an attempt to redirect attention toward racial inequality and police brutality. The Nationals and Phillies, who weren't fully aware of the events taking place elsewhere as they prepared for their early 6:05 p.m. start, played as scheduled but afterward expressed support for those who didn't play and said they would discuss with each other how they wanted to proceed.

"I knew that today, after last night, was probably not going to be a good day," Martinez said during a joint Zoom session with Girardi from the interview room at Nationals Park. "So I wanted (my players) to show up late, just get ready and focus on the game, if there was going to be a game. I wasn't so sure myself. We were going to have a meeting at 4 o'clock. Before then, I heard from Joe at 2:15, and he told me in support of his players, they didn't want to play. And I immediately said I would support him and his players and his organization. Because, honestly, this is a brotherhood. We bang heads every day on the field. We love to compete. But we stand with one another when these things happen."

The Nationals said the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sept. 22, beginning at 3:05 p.m., with each game scheduled for seven innings.

The team planned to fly to Boston tonight as scheduled and open a weekend series with the Red Sox on Friday, which is MLB's rescheduled Jackie Robinson Day.

"I think Jackie would want us to play tomorrow," Martinez said.

Though the impetus for tonight's postponement came from players, both managers and organizations supported the decision and the cause it represents.

"We're in this together," Girardi said. "You have 40 people, maybe 50 people, in the clubhouse. And everyone probably has a little different opinion on maybe how we solve this. But we all believe there has to be change. We all believe that we're going to stay together. I was proud of them for what they did and how they decided to stay together."

Nationals utilityman Josh Harrison and Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins, speaking together on behalf of their teammates, emphasized the responsibility they have as professional athletes to bring attention to societal issues that affect them the same way other Americans are affected.

"We use our platform to go out there and show kids how to have fun doing what we do, give back to your communities. We do all those things," Harrison said. "But also with that comes the territory of standing up for what you believe in and doing what's right. And at the end of the day, justice and equality for anybody and everybody, that's been done wrong. We're in a sport that is very unique, but I love it, because we have all different walks of life. ... Baseball is well-represented by anybody and everybody. And if we can come together, I think we can show that to the world."