Philadelphia Phillies has started their National League Division Series campaign with a bang, thumping and beating Atlanta Braves 3-0 at Truist Park.
“That’s one of the best teams in baseball, one of the best offenses, and one of the best starters in the game, and we were able to take them down [in] Game 1,” Bryce Harper said.
The Braves had an MLB-best .871 OPS against lefties this season, the seventh-highest OPS by any team against southpaws since 1974.
Philadelphia’s relievers averaged an MLB-best 96.3 mph on their fastballs this season.
Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez started the game but was replaced in the fourth inning.
Bryson Stott doctored an 0-2 fastball to left field for a two-out RBI single in the fourth inning to score Harper and give the Phils a 1-0 lead.
Harper whacked a first-pitch slider from Strider into the right-field stands for a solo home run in the sixth inning to make it 2-0.
“Strider, man, he’s one of the best in the game, if not the best right now, striking guys out,” Harper said.
“He had a phenomenal year, so it’s always a tough at-bat. You know he’s going to come at you and throw his best at you. So just trying to get a pitch over and was able to get the slider up and do some damage.”
Speaking bout the coach, Phillies left-hander José Alvarado said: “I’m going crazy today. Not crazy, like aggressive. And the result? He made it, using a lot of relievers today.”
