The Atlanta Braves’ offense lastly awakened in opposition to the Philadelphia Phillies in NLDS Sport 2. The Braves scored 5 unanswered runs in opposition to the Phillies for a 5-4 comeback win at Truist Park. Atlanta was shutout in Sport 1 of the sequence and didn’t have a success in opposition to Zack Wheeler by way of 5 innings in Sport 2 on Monday evening. Travis d’Arnaud and Austin Riley each hit two-run homers late within the recreation, with Riley’s serving because the game-winner.
The Braves additionally had a defensive walk-off of kinds. The sport ended on a highlight-reel double play as middle fielder Michael Harris II made a leaping seize on a hard-hit ball off the bat of Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Harper was doubled up at first base (extra on that under).
The sequence is tied 1-1 and shifts to Philadelphia for Video games 3 and 4 later this week.
Now for some takeaways from Sport 2.
Michael A. Harris saved the sport
The Phils made some noise within the ninth, first with Bryce Harper’s leadoff stroll. With one out and Harper nonetheless on first, Nick Castellanos put a cost into one and drove a Raisel Iglesias pitch to deep middle. That is when Harris took over:
If Harris does not give you that, then it is a tie recreation and Castellanos is in scoring place. As a substitute, it is the Braves’ first win of the 2023 postseason. As for Harper getting doubled up, he made the best choice. That ball is normally a success (.610 anticipated batting common on it), and if it will get down Harper has to attain with two outs and his group down by a run within the ninth. It was a danger however one value taking.
The Braves’ energy confirmed up
In Sport 1 in opposition to Philly, the Braves didn’t notch an extra-base hit in recreation for simply the seventh time this season. Sport 2 regarded like an identical story for an Atlanta group that in the course of the common season slugged a towering .501 – a ridiculous determine on the group stage. Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated them together with his excessive fastball for a lot of the evening and did not permit a success till the sixth (a single). Within the seventh, although, veteran backstop Travis d’Arnaud introduced the Braves inside a run together with his tenth profession playoff homer:
Within the eighth, Austin Riley flipped the script fully with a clutch two-run homer that turned a one-run Atlanta deficit right into a one-run lead:
The Riley 9-iron improved the Braves’ possibilities of successful Sport 2 by greater than 50%. Suffice it to say is a large swing. Talking of which:
Name NLDS Sport 2 an prompt basic, particularly from the Atlanta purview.
Max Fried’s return to the mound did not go nicely
The lefty Fried a frontline ace when wholesome, however well being has eluded him for a lot of his profession, notably in 2023. Fried in the course of the common season was restricted to simply 14 begins due to hamstring, forearm, and blister points. Due to these blisters, Sport 2 occasioned his first begin since Sept. 21.
Whether or not it was the layoff, a Phillies lineup that is fairly robust in opposition to left-handers, lingering results of the blisters, or some mixture thereof, Fried did not have it. A 30-pitch first inning set the tone, and he wound up permitting three runs on six hits in 4 innings of labor. He struck out three however walked 4, and it took him 95 pitches to get by way of these 4 innings. Fried’s struggles, although, weren’t sufficient to sink the Braves due to some clutch bats and a clutch glove.
It is now a best-of-three
This best-of-five NLDS is now, in essence, a best-of-three because it’s tied 1-1. The massive distinction is the Phillies have snatched away home-field benefit the remainder of the best way since Video games 3 and 4 will happen at Residents Financial institution Park. If there is a Sport 5, it will be again in Cobb County. On that time, it is maybe value noting that the Braves this season have been 52-29 on the street (the identical as they have been at house), whereas the Phillies have been 49-32 at house.
Of word is that the Braves will face Phils co-ace Aaron Nola in Sport 3. Wheeler, and sure Fried, could be in line to start out a decisive Sport 5 if it’s a necessity.
