*Photo from AP News*
Philadelphia leads series 1-0
Everything they needed, they got in this game. Bryce Harper homered, the pitching was dominant, and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Atlanta Braves with a 3-0 victory on Saturday night in Atlanta.
A rematch of last year's NLDS, it started out the same as well, with a win for the Phillies. They got just enough offense out of the bats, but it was the pitching who shined. Phillies relievers combined for 5 1/3 shutout innings against the best offense in baseball, limiting the powerful Braves offense to just 5 hits all night.
Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado said of Rob Thomson's bullpen use that "He told every reliever, ‘Go early to the bullpen.' I’m going crazy today. Not crazy, like aggressive. And the result? He made it, using a lot of relievers today."
After a scoreless first 3 innings, the Phillies got on the board in the 4th inning. Bryson Stott gave them a 1-0 lead with an RBI single that scored Harper. It stayed that way until the 6th inning, when Harper blasted a solo home run to right field, doubling the lead to 2-0. In the 8th inning, Trea Turner scored on catcher's interference, making it 3-0 Phillies.
Harper said of his home run that "Strider, man, he's one of the best in the game, if not the best right now, striking guys out. He had a phenomenal year, so it’s always a tough at-bat. You know he's going to come at you and throw his best at you. So just trying to get a pitch over and was able to get the slider up and do some damage."
Ranger Suarez pitched 3 2/3 innings for the Phillies in a designed short outing, striking out 4 hitters. Jeff Hoffman got the last out of the 4th. Seranthony Dominguez, Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Craig Kimbrel each threw a scoreless inning to seal the win.
Spencer Strider had a quality start for the Braves, allowing two runs on 5 hits and two walks in 7 innings, striking out 8 hitters. AJ Minter got one out in the 8th while allowing one run, with Pierce Johnson finishing the inning. Raisel Iglesias pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna said after the game that "We’ve been doing it all season, like winning all the time, especially against them. Today, we lost a special game. There’s nothing you can say about it."
After a day off on Sunday, game two of the series is Monday night in Atlanta. Zack Wheeler starts for the Phillies as they try for a 2-0 series lead on the road. The Braves try to even the series as Max Fried gets the start.
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