Phillies vs. Braves highlights, score: Bryce Harper, bullpen lead Philly in stunning Game 1 shutout win

The National League Division Series opened at Truist Park on Saturday night time and, like ultimate yr, the Philadelphia Phillies went at the street and took Game 1 from the Atlanta Braves (PHI 3, ATL 0). Game 1 ultimate season used to be a chaotic high-scoring affair. Game 1 this yr used to be a lot tighter, with seize protection and pitching ruling the night time.

Bryce Harper scored Philadelphia’s first two runs in very other ways. In the fourth inning he drew a stroll, complicated to 2d when Spencer Strider threw away a pickoff, then scored on Bryson Stott’s two-out, two-strike unmarried. In the 6th, Harper introduced a missile of a solo house run. It left his bat at 115 mph. Look at this blast:

In the ultimate two postseasons Harper is 10 for 18 with 3 house runs towards the Braves. He has tormented them. Harper and Stott went a blended 4 for five with a homer and 3 walks in Game 1. The remainder of the Phillies went 2 for 26 (.077). 

Lefty Ranger Suárez began and confronted the minimal thru 3 innings, however as soon as the Braves threatened in the fourth, supervisor Rob Thomson went to his bullpen. Six relievers — Jeff Hoffman, Seranthony Domínguez, José Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Matt Strahm, Craig Kimbrel — held the Braves scoreless around the ultimate 5 1/3 innings.

The recreation’s greatest outs got here in the 8th inning, when Trea Turner made a super diving forestall to start out an inning-ending double play with runners at the corners. Game 1 used to be the primary time in greater than two calendar years — since Aug. 28, 2021 — the Braves have been close out at house.

The Phillies now lead the best-of-three sequence 1-0. Historically, the workforce that wins Game 1 of a best-of-five has long past directly to win the sequence 71% of the time. Sunday is an off-day and Philadelphia will give the ball to ace Zack Wheeler in Game 2 on Monday. Atlanta will get started Max Fried, their ace, regardless that he hasn’t pitched since Sept. 21 on account of a blister.

Atlanta received an MLB-best 104 video games all over the common season. They should win Game 2 to steer clear of going to Citizens Bank Park down 2-0 in the NLDS.