*Photo from Yahoo Sports*
Philadelphia leads series 1-0
In an electric environment, they got what they wanted. Nick Castellanos drove in a run, Zack Wheeler starred on the mound, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Miami Marlins with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
Making it all the way to the World Series last year only to lose in 6 games, the Phillies won the first game of the playoffs this year as they begin their quest to make it back to the fall classic. Facing an underdog in the Marlins in round one, the Phillies have started on the right foot.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Phillies struck first in the 3rd. Alec Bohm doubled to left field, scoring Johan Rojas to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. In the 4th inning, Bryson Stott hit an RBI single that scored JT Realmuto to double the lead to 2-0. Stott then scored himself on an RBI single by Cristian Pache, making it 3-0 Phillies.
The score stayed 3-0 for a few more innings. In the 7th inning, the Marlins got on the board. Bryan De La Cruz hit an RBI single, scoring Josh Bell to make it a 3-1 game. That score lasted until the Phillies half of the 8th inning. Castellanos added an insurance run with an RBI double, scoring Bryce Harper to make it a 4-1 lead.
Getting the start for the Phillies was Wheeler, who turned in a strong start to open the playoffs. He allowed one run on 5 hits, striking out 8 hitters in 6 2/3 innings. Jose Alvarado pitched the next inning before Jeff Hoffman got the final out of the 8th. Craig Kimbrel got the save in the 9th inning.
Wheeler said after the game that "This year we're a new team. I don't know, just trying to do the same thing. Just go deep into the games, good quality innings, try to save the bullpen because I know it’s going to be a long road ahead of us. That's the biggest goal."
Jesus Luzardo allowed 3 runs on 8 hits in 4 innings in his start for the Marlins. In relief, AJ Puk, George Soriano, and Huascar Brazoban each threw a scoreless inning before Steven Okert allowed a run in the 9th inning.
Bell said of the Marlins being in a series deficit that "I don't think anybody plays this game very well when they're panicking. We've won two in a row before. That's the mentality going into tomorrow. We've got a phenomenal pitcher on the bump, and we've gotten to Nola a couple times in the past. So that's the plan. We'll just rinse this one off and get back after it tomorrow."
Game two of the series is on Wednesday in Philadelphia. Aaron Nola starts for the Phillies as they go for the series sweep and a spot in the NLDS. Braxton Garrett takes the mound for the Marlins as they try to tie the series and force a deciding game 3.
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