The Atlanta Braves' offense finally woke up against the Philadelphia Phillies in NLDS Game 2. The Braves scored five unanswered runs against the Phillies for a 5-4 comeback win at Truist Park. Atlanta was shutout in Game 1 of the series and did not have a hit against Zack Wheeler through five innings in Game 2 on Monday night. Travis d'Arnaud and Austin Riley both hit two-run homers late in the game, with Riley's serving as the game-winner.
The Braves also had a defensive walk-off of sorts. The game ended on a highlight-reel double play as center fielder Michael Harris II made a leaping grab on a hard-hit ball off the bat of Nick Castellanos, and Bryce Harper was doubled up at first base (more on that below).
The series is tied 1-1 and shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 and 4 later this week.
Now for some takeaways from Game 2.
The Phils made some noise in the ninth, first with Bryce Harper's leadoff walk. With one out and Harper still on first, Nick Castellanos put a charge into one and drove a Raisel Iglesias pitch to deep center. That's when Harris took over:
If Harris doesn't come up with that, then it's a tie game and Castellanos is in scoring position. Instead, it's the Braves' first win of the 2023 postseason. As for Harper getting doubled up, he made the right decision. That ball is usually a hit (.610 expected batting average on it), and if it gets down Harper has to score with two outs and his team down by a run in the ninth. It was a risk but one worth taking.
In Game 1 against Philly, the Braves failed to notch an extra-base hit in game for just the seventh time this season. Game 2 looked like a similar story for an Atlanta team that during the regular season slugged a towering .501 – a ridiculous figure at the team level. Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated them with his high fastball for much of the night and didn't allow a hit until the sixth (a single). In the seventh, though, veteran backstop Travis d'Arnaud brought the Braves within a run with his 10th career playoff homer:
In the eighth, Austin Riley flipped the script entirely with a clutch two-run homer that turned a one-run Atlanta deficit into a one-run lead:
The Riley 9-iron improved the Braves' chances of winning Game 2 by more than 50%. Suffice it to say is a massive swing. Speaking of which:
Call NLDS Game 2 an instant classic, especially from the Atlanta purview.
The lefty Fried a frontline ace when healthy, but health has eluded him for much of his career, particularly in 2023. Fried during the regular season was limited to just 14 starts because of hamstring, forearm, and blister issues. Because of those blisters, Game 2 occasioned his first start since Sept. 21.
Whether it was the layoff, a Phillies lineup that's pretty strong against left-handers, lingering effects of the blisters, or some combination thereof, Fried didn't have it. A 30-pitch first inning set the tone, and he wound up allowing three runs on six hits in four innings of work. He struck out three but walked four, and it took him 95 pitches to get through those four innings. Fried's struggles, though, weren't enough to sink the Braves thanks to some clutch bats and a clutch glove.
This best-of-five NLDS is now, in essence, a best-of-three since it's tied 1-1. The big difference is the Phillies have snatched away home-field advantage the rest of the way since Games 3 and 4 will take place at Citizens Bank Park. If there's a Game 5, it'll be back in Cobb County. On that point, it's perhaps worth noting that the Braves this season were 52-29 on the road (the same as they were at home), while the Phillies were 49-32 at home.
Of note is that the Braves will face Phils co-ace Aaron Nola in Game 3. Wheeler, and likely Fried, would be in line to start a decisive Game 5 if it's necessary.
With one out and Harper on first, Castellanos sent a shot to deep center field. It looked like it might get over the head of center fielder Michael Harris, but he made a leaping catch up against the wall for the second out. Meantime, Harper was trying to score from first if the ball got down, so once the catch was made, he had to try and get all the way back to first. He didn't.
The Braves stormed back in three innings from a four-run deficit to steal Game 2 and even this series going to Philadelphia. This series continues there on Wednesday.
AJ Minter, the lefty, was left in to face lefty-swinging Bryce Harper, but he walked him. The Phillies now have the tying run aboard for JT Realmuto with Nick Castellanos on deck and closer Raisel Iglesias is coming in. This is what it's all about, people. Get that popcorn if you have time.
Minter walks Harper to begin the ninth. In comes Iglesias. Intrigue!
How about that? The Braves were down 4-0 and hadn't even had a hit when this game was in the sixth inning. And now it's 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, after Braves third baseman Austin Riley hit a two-run shot to flip the game on its head.
The Braves got one back in the sixth, a two-run homer from Travis d'Arnaud in the seventh and then this Riley shot in the eighth.
The Phillies won Game 1, 3-0, so the 104-win Braves were in danger of falling behind 0-2 in the best-of-five NLDS. Instead, they'll have the lead going to the ninth inning for closer Raisel Iglesias.
Riley now has four homers and 15 RBI in 34 career postseason games. He had 37 home runs and 97 RBI this regular season, his third straight year with at least 33 homers and 93 RBI.
Acuña to second on the Albies tapper, but there are now two outs for Austin Riley. High drama.
Hoffman plunks Acuña with the first pitch. The 73-steal man represents the tying run at first base. Realmuto is the best throwing catcher in baseball. Fun!
Acuña hit by pitch. Uh oh, Phillies
Harris flies out and here comes Hoffman to face Acuña and Albies (and Riley, if necessary).
Alvarado still in to face the lefty Michael Harris. If he stays in to face Acuña and Acuña connects, the ball might disintegrate on contact.
Phillies have a 71.8% chance of winning Game 2, but it certainly feels like less than that.
Weird challenge by the Phillies there. Challenged that d'Arnaud caught Schwarber's popup behind the plate after it hit the net. Not sure how you get a definitive angle of that. The call stood. He's out. (You get two challenges in the postseason and you don't get bonus points for not using them. Might as well let it rip at some point.)
Figure some combination of Alvarado and Hoffman to get through the eighth, then Kimbrel for the ninth? They like to give Kimbrel a clean inning rather than bring him into the middle of a frame. Also, Olson will get another at-bat and the Phillies have already used their best LHRP. Either he'll face a RHP or Matt Strahm or Gregory Soto (or Cristopher Sánchez?).
Phillies starter Zack Wheeler dominated the Braves for most of Game 2. He had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings, but then the Braves were able to get one run on a walk, single and error. Matt Olson led off the seventh with a single and then, with one out, Travis d'Arnaud homered to make this a brand new ballgame.
It's worth mention that before this game, d'Arnaud had hit .389/.450/.611 in the regular season against Wheeler and he was 1 for 3 against him in the playoffs last season. He also is the catcher who has caught the second-most innings from Wheeler in his career, due to their time together with the Mets.
Basically, d'Arnaud is very familiar with Wheeler and had hit him well. Given that it was the third time he was seeing him in Game 2, there's an argument that Wheeler should've been removed before the home run.
Also, d'Arnaud now has 10 career postseason home runs. Among catchers, he's tied for third all-time with Johnny Bench and Javier Lopez. Jorge Posada and Jason Varitek are tied for first with 11 apiece.
Allowed a leadoff single to Olson. Alvarado and Hoffman are getting loose, but Wheeler's still in there. Still 4-1 Phillies. I reckon Wheeler is done if another batter reaches.
It's the third time through the order for Wheeler and Matt Olson led off with a single in the 7th.
Zack Wheeler dominated the Braves through 5 2/3 innings. He hadn't walked anyone nor allowed a hit while having struck out eight. Then he walked Braves' leadoff man Ronald Acuña Jr. Ozzie Albies followed with a single to right field. On the throw back into the infield, Phillies shortstop Trea Turner couldn't handle it and that allowed Acuña to score.
Finally, after getting shut out through the first 14 2/3 innings of the playoffs, the best offense in baseball in the regular season scored its first run of the 2023 playoffs.
Still, Wheeler struck out Austin Riley to end the inning and the Phillies have a 4-1 lead.
... I'll note the Braves have not been shut out in back-to-back games since they were shut out in both games of a doubleheader by the D-backs on April 25, 2021. Those were seven-inning games though. They were last shut out in back-to-back nine-inning games from Sept. 1-2 by (who else?) the Phillies.
All that stands between Wheeler and a perfect game bid is Trea Turner's error on Matt Olson's routine grounder in the second inning. He has been in total control. I don't remember anything that was remotely close to a hit. Wheeler has thrown 71 pitches.
The Phillies have stolen six bases in 10 non-Max Fried innings this series (Fried has a great pickoff move). The Braves have some trouble stopping the running game and the Phillies are attacking that weakness.
Castellanos bloop single, steals second, gets to third on throwing error during said steal and scores on a sac fly from Bryson Stott.
13 innings into the NLDS, the highest scoring team in baseball during the regular season has had three runners make it as far as third base.
The Braves could use just one run to improve their psyche.
But he's thrown 95 pitches. I have to think his night is over. He faced 22 batters and 10 reached base. Phillies up 3-0 and Wheeler has yet to allow a hit or a walk (or a hit batter).
See here, see here:
Fried has needed 76 pitches to get nine outs.
Through two innings, the Phillies had a 1-0 run lead against the Braves in Game 2 of the NLDS. They left the bases loaded in the first inning, so perhaps some Phillies faithful might've had a little anxiety over a missed opportunity. Bryce Harper and JT Realmuto were here in the third inning to alleviate some of those thoughts.
Harper came up with one out and singled to left center on a nice piece of hitting. Realmuto followed with a homer to right-center:
That, too, was a pretty nice piece of hitting. We can say that on home runs, too, you know. It doesn't have to just be reserved for punching singles the other way.
It was a 411-foot shot for Realmuto and, more importantly, now a 3-0 Phillies lead.
Braves starter Max Fried hadn't started a game since Sept. 22 due to a blister on his pitching hand. He's had to work way too hard early and won't be going deep into this game.
