Categories: 2024 Postgame Recaps

Key hits — and outs — and a (barely) spotless bullpen give Phillies big win in Atlanta

Orion Kerkering threw a much-needed 1-2-3 eighth on Wednesday. (John Adams/Icon Sportswire)

Final score: Phillies 3, Braves 2

In a game that perhaps spiced up the rivalry between two NL East foes who seem destined to meet up in the postseason yet again this fall, some small ball and a great-yet-terrifying bullpen gave the Phillies the last laugh in a series-tying victory over the Atlanta Braves.

After falling behind 2-0, the Phillies strung together just enough key hits — and, maybe more critically, some key outs — and a struggling bullpen reverted back to its early season ways, at least for a night, by the skin of its collective teeth.

It wasn’t easy, for bullpen or team. It rarely is, these days. But what it’s worth as a postseason preview without a terrifying finish? The Phillies are 74-52.

Highlights

Orlando Arcia got the Braves on the board in the fourth, hitting a two-run homer after Jarred Kelenic’s leadoff single. Arcia, infamous in Philadelphia for “atta boy Harper” and a subsequent stare down by the Phillies slugger in last year’s NLDS, gave Harper a stare down of his own as he rounded the bases.

The bottom of the lineup started a rally in the sixth, and the top took care of the rest. Edmundo Sosa singled and Johan Rojas doubled before Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner scored them on a sacrifice groundout and sacrifice fly, respectively.
After Nola departed with two on and one out in the sixth, Jeff Hoffman rolled a double play ball by Gio Urshela to keep it knotted up at two.
Weston Wilson, who is on fire (see more below), doubled to kick off the eighth, before Bryson Stott moved him to third and Brandon Marsh drove him in with a sac fly.

The ninth inning was dreadful, until it was over. Carlos Estévez put two on with one out, then two in scoring position with two outs, before Whit Merrifield — who else? — came to the plate with a chance to win it. He hit a spinner that Bryce Harper smothered and picked up before stepping on first for the win.

Notes

The aforementioned Weston Wilson tidbit:

Terrifying as it was, the bullpen combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Hoffman threw 2/3 of an inning, Matt Strahm threw a scoreless seventh, Orion Kerkering threw a much-needed perfect eighth and Estévez just barely got the save.

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