Good baseball teams find different ways to win.
One night after exploding for a season-high 19 runs and a franchise-record tying seven home runs, the Phillies scratched out a tightly contested 2-1 victory over the Braves on Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.
They improved to 78-57 on the season and 44-22 in their home ballpark.
Alec Bohm’s eighth inning sacrifice fly to the right field warning track off Braves reliever Pierce Johnson provided the winning run. The Phillies’ rally started with back-to-back singles by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper against Atlanta lefty reliever Dylan Lee, who exited following Harper’s ground ball up the middle that advanced Schwarber to third base.
Schwarber scored easily on Bohm’s fly ball and the Phillies seized control of a game that hung in the balance for the vast majority of the night.
“Nights like last night aren’t typically what you’re going to see in a playoff type of game,” Bohm said of the contrast between the Phillies’ last two wins. “So being able to stay in a game all the way through and find a way to win, play good defense, pitch well, and get timely hits, that’s kind of what playoff baseball’s all about.”
The Phillies retained their five-game lead over the Mets in the NL East. New York pounded the Marlins 19-9 on Friday night.
The Phillies were out-hit 12-6 by the Braves as the bats cooled off significantly following Thursday’s slugfest. They were unable to solve Braves righthander Bryce Elder, who entered his 23rd start of the season with a 6.12 ERA. Elder hardly looked the part of a struggling starter, allowing just one run on three hits in seven innings.
The Phillies utilized some small-ball tactics to score their first run of the game in the fourth inning. A leadoff walk by Schwarber was followed by a Harper bunt single down the third base line against a shifted Braves infield. After a Bohm flyout, Brandon Marsh delivered a RBI single to tie the game 1-1.
24 hours removed from his MLB record tying four-home run outburst, Schwarber was greeted with a standing ovation before his first at-bat of the game. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and scored both of the Phillies runs.
The Braves failed to capitalize on several opportunities to take control of the game early. Atlanta left six men on base in the first four innings against Phillies starter Ranger Suárez. The Braves finished the game 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
Suárez, the reigning NL Player of the Week, wasn’t nearly as sharp as his previous two outings. He scattered 10 hits over five innings with just two strikeouts and one walk.
“I was just battling and fighting,” Suárez said through team interpreter Diego D’Aniello. “We had to battle and fight every inning with runners in scoring position but the most important thing was to try to get out of it, try to get out of every one of those situations and just keep the game close so we can maybe get a win.”
Suárez escaped trouble throughout the evening. With the game tied in the top of the fifth inning, Suárez’s 92nd and final pitch resulted in a Marcell Ozuna fly ball to right field. Nick Castellanos made the catch then threw out Matt Olson at home plate for an inning-ending double play. Olson, attempting to tag up from third base, was unable to avoid a diving tag by Rafael Marchan.
“Just getting a jump and catch it,” Castellanos said of his role in the key double play. “And just get set to make the best throw that I can.”
Castellanos was removed from the game for defensive purposes following the eighth inning. The move conjured memories of Rob Thomson taking Castellanos out of a game in Miami two months ago. The veteran outfielder wasn’t happy with the decision and was benched the following game after making an ‘inappropriate’ comment to his manager.
What was the conversation like between Thomson and Castellanos this time?
“There was no conversation,” Castellanos said. (First base and outfield coach) Paco (Figueroa) was the one who told me.”
“I think we’re all at the point now where we’re all in,” Thomson said when asked if Castellanos was alright with being removed from the game. “Whatever is best for the team to win a game that night, we’re all in. Check your ego at the door and let’s go.”
Castellanos has been an everyday player throughout his 13-year career. He started all 162 games last season. But he now finds himself in an outfield rotation. He didn’t play three of the Phillies’ previous eight games prior to his start on Friday.
Castellanos was asked how he’s adjusting to not playing every night.
“It’s a big adjustment.”
Is it difficult at this stage of his career?
“Yes.”
How do you deal with it?
“The best I can.”
Castellanos figures to be in the lineup against Saturday against Braves lefthander Chris Sale.
Meanwhile the Phillies bullpen was flawless on Friday night. David Robertson, Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering and Jhoan Duran combined for four scoreless innings of relief.
“They did a great job,” Thomson said of his bullpen. “Four innings, gave up a couple hits but other than that they were really good, I was happy with it. And we should have all those guys (available) tomorrow.”
The Phillies can secure a series win over Atlanta with a win on Saturday.
While Friday’s victory wasn’t as emphatic as the previous night’s blowout, it was every bit as meaningful as the Phillies continue their quest for a second straight NL East title.
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