Categories: 2023 Postgame Recaps

Phillies slug 5 (long) home runs in series-opening win over Braves

Bryce Harper hit one of five Phillies home runs tonight. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire)

Final Score: Phillies 7, Braves 1

In order to win games in the postseason, teams mainly need two things: good pitching and the ability to hit home runs. The Philadelphia Phillies, who are closing in on a playoff berth, got both of those tonight in their series-opening win against the Atlanta Braves.

Zack Wheeler pitched six innings and allowed just one run against the always-dangerous Atlanta lineup. The lone blemish against the veteran right-hander was a first-inning home run by Ozzie Albies that traveled an impressive 401 feet out to the Chop House in right field at Truist Park.

All in all, Wheeler gave up three hits, compiled 16 swings-and-misses and picked up five strikeouts, redeeming himself after a six-run, five-inning performance in his last start, which was also against the Braves. He got out of a bases loaded, sixth-inning jam with a strikeout of Marcell Ozuna to put an exclamation point on his night.

Wheeler’s five punchouts put him at 201 for the year. It’s the second time he’s reached that milestone in his career, both of which have been with the Phillies.

As for the lineup, they hit five home runs and scored all seven of their runs off those home runs.

Johan Rojas put the Phillies on the board in the second with a two-run home run that barely left the yard. It was his first off a big-league pitcher in his career.

An inning later, Bryce Harper launched his 18th homer of the year and the Phillies’ 200th as a team, extending his club’s lead to two runs.

In the fourth, J.T. Realmuto hit a ball 417 feet into the left field seats to give the Phillies a 4-1 lead.

At the time, it felt like that would be the furthest a baseball would travel tonight. However, not only did Nick Castellanos have something to say about that, but so did Kyle Schwarber.

Castellanos has been producing since being moved down in the Phillies lineup back on Sept. 9 and his 429-foot blast in the sixth inning was his third home run dating back to his lineup demotion.

While Realmuto’s homer went far, and Castellanos’ went even further, Schwarber’s sixth-inning home run was the most majestic of the three

With Ryan Howard in attendance, Schwarber sent a ball over the Chop House in right field that landed 483 feet from home plate.

It was Schwarber’s 45th long ball of the season and the second longest home run hit by a Phillie dating back to 2015.

Outside of Wheeler and the lineup, the Phillies bullpen also put together a strong performance. Gregory Soto delivered a two-strikeout, 1-2-3 seventh inning, with Matt Strahm and Dylan Covey finishing things off in the eighth and ninth.

While they all won’t go this way, tonight’s win was the perfect blueprint the Phillies are looking to follow come playoff time.

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