Harper Goes Deep, Phillies Blank Braves 3-0 in NLDS Game 1

Bryce Harper, a force to be reckoned with in postseason play, once again showed his mettle as he launched his 12th career postseason home run. This crucial blast, combined with a masterful pitching performance by Ranger Suárez and the Philadelphia bullpen, led the Phillies to a resounding 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Saturday night.

In a postseason clash between long-standing division rivals, the Braves, boasting 104 regular-season wins, found themselves in a familiar position—a game down to the Phillies, just as they did a year ago. The 2022 season witnessed the Phillies defeating the Braves 3-1 en route to an improbable World Series appearance. Now, they stand victorious again, heading into Game 2 of this best-of-five series on Monday night in Atlanta.

As expected, Bryce Harper was at the center of the action, reaching base in all four of his at-bats. He provided some breathing space for the Phillies with a liner into the right-field seats in the sixth inning, off the 20-game winner Spencer Strider.

Phillies’ manager Rob Thomson praised his team’s resilience, stating, “This team, to a man, has this innate toughness to them. They’re really resilient, and they just keep fighting. So it’s a great combination of talent and makeup that we have on this club.”

While the Braves boasted the most prolific offense in baseball during the regular season, tallying 307 home runs and over 5.8 runs per game, they were left empty-handed in their postseason opener, suffering their first shutout since May 12, and the first at Truist Park all season. They became the first team to lead the majors in runs and get shut out in their postseason opener since the 2001 Mariners.

Braves’ manager Brian Snitker acknowledged the Phillies’ pitching prowess, saying, “I think it was more their pitching than our hitting.”

Bryson Stott, the wild-card series hero, broke the scoreless tie with a run-scoring single in the fourth inning, driving in Harper after a wild pickoff throw by Strider resulted in an unearned run.

Harper extended the lead with his home run, a rare feat against Strider, who held an 8-0 record with a 1.90 ERA against the Phillies in the regular season but now stands at 0-2 against them in the postseason.

The eighth inning saw some controversy when the Phillies added their final run due to catcher interference. Despite a brief delay caused by fans throwing objects onto the field, the call was upheld, and the Braves couldn’t recover.

Philadelphia’s pitching was on full display as Suárez allowed just one hit in 3 2/3 innings. The Phillies quickly turned to their bullpen at the first sign of trouble, with relievers like Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Dominguez stepping up to secure the win.

As for Atlanta’s star, Ronald Acuña Jr., who made history with 40 homers and 70 stolen bases in a single season, he had a quiet night, going hitless until the eighth inning when he drew a walk but failed to ignite a comeback.

Video reviews played a role in overturning calls that benefited both teams, demonstrating the importance of technology in the game.

In other news, the Braves announced that Kyle Wright, plagued by injuries, will undergo surgery and likely miss the entire 2024 season.

Looking ahead, left-hander Max Fried will take the mound for the Braves in Game 2, while the Phillies will counter with right-hander Zack Wheeler. Fried, dealing with a recurring blister issue, looks to pitch through it, while Wheeler, a Smyrna native, aims to secure a win in front of friends and family.

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More about NLDS Game 1 Victory

• MLB: Official website of Major League Baseball.
• Philadelphia Phillies: Official website of the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Atlanta Braves: Official website of the Atlanta Braves.
• Bryce Harper: Bryce Harper’s player profile on MLB.com.
• NL Division Series: Information on the MLB National League Division Series.
• Truist Park: Truist Park, the home stadium of the Atlanta Braves.
• Kyle Wright: Kyle Wright’s player profile on MLB.com.
• Max Fried: Max Fried’s player profile on MLB.com.
• Zack Wheeler: Zack Wheeler’s player profile on MLB.com.