The Philadelphia Phillies kicked off the National League Division Series (NLDS) with a resounding 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1. Bryce Harper led the charge with a crucial homer, while a dominant performance from Ranger Suárez and the Phillies’ bullpen stifled the Braves’ potent offense.
This matchup marks a playoff rematch between the division rivals, with the Braves finding themselves in a familiar position of trailing the Phillies after the opener, just like last year. In 2022, the Phillies pulled off a surprising upset with a 3-1 series win over the Braves, propelling them to the World Series. Now, they have once again taken the lead and head to Game 2 with confidence.
The game remained scoreless until the fourth inning when Bryson Stott broke the deadlock with a run-scoring single. Harper extended the Phillies’ lead in the sixth inning with a home run over the right-field wall, adding to the team’s advantage against Spencer Strider, who had the highest number of wins in the regular season.
Despite boasting the most prolific offense in baseball with 307 homers and an average of 5.8 runs per game during the regular season, the Braves struggled to generate any offense against the hard-throwing Philadelphia relievers. This marked only the third time this year and the first time at home that the Braves failed to score a single run.
The game took an ugly turn in the eighth inning when the Phillies increased their lead to 3-0 due to catcher’s interference called against Sean Murphy. J.T. Realmuto fouled off a pitch with the bases loaded, and his bat made slight contact with Murphy’s mitt, resulting in a run being forced in. The call was reviewed and confirmed, but a handful of fans responded by throwing trash onto the field, causing a brief delay.
The Phillies’ strong pitching performance continued throughout the game, with Ranger Suárez allowing just one hit in 3 2/3 innings. Taking advantage of an off day between games one and two, the Phillies quickly turned to their bullpen when signs of trouble emerged. Jeff Hoffman came through in a bases-loaded jam in the fourth, striking out Michael Harris II to earn the win. Seranthony Dominguez then fanned the side in the fifth, including a called third strike against MVP favorite Ronald Acuña Jr. with runners on first and third. Jose Alvarado, rookie Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, and Craig Kimbrel shut down the Braves for the remainder of the game, with Kimbrel securing the save against his former team.
The Phillies nearly took the lead right at the start of the game when Kyle Schwarber hit a double off the fence in deep right-center field. However, Schwarber was thrown out when he attempted to reach third base on a grounder to shortstop Orlando Arcia, and Strider took advantage of the situation by inducing a double play from Alec Bohm.
It was in the fourth inning that the Phillies finally broke the scoreless tie, capitalizing on a walk to Harper and Strider’s error on a high pickoff throw to first. Harper scored an unearned run when Stott delivered with two outs, driving an opposite-field single to left on an 0-2 fastball.
Suárez breezed through the first three innings, allowing only a walk that was nullified when Ozzie Albies was thrown out attempting to steal second base. Matt Olson then recorded Atlanta’s first hit with two outs in the fourth inning, followed by a successful challenge from the Braves that overturned an initial out ruling on a slow grounder to shortstop Turner. Suárez was then substituted for Hoffman, who escaped the bases-loaded situation by striking out Harris.
In unfortunate news for the Braves, Kyle Wright, who had been omitted from the playoff roster, will undergo surgery and is expected to miss the entire 2024 season. Wright, who won 21 games in 2022, struggled with shoulder issues throughout this season, resulting in his limited appearances and ultimately the need for surgery.
Looking ahead to Game 2 of the series, left-hander Max Fried will take the mound for the Braves. Fried had to contend with a recurring blister issue toward the end of the season but remains determined to contribute to his team’s success. The Phillies will counter with right-hander Zack Wheeler, who secured a win in the wild-card series against the Miami Marlins by allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings. Wheeler, a native of Smyrna near the Braves’ stadium, is excited to pitch in front of his friends and family during the playoffs.
The stage is set for an intense battle between these division rivals as they continue their quest for the NLDS title. Both teams have showcased their strengths in Game 1, and fans can expect more thrilling action in the upcoming games.
