Rob Thomson managed one of the best baseball games you'll ever see on Saturday night in a Game 1 NLDS win over the Braves.
Joe Giglio compared Thomson's fearlessness to that of former Eagles Super Bowl winning head coach Doug Pederson.
"Topper reminds me of Doug Pederson the more I watch him manager," Giglio said on Monday's 94WIP Midday Show live in Atlanta. "He has a great feel for the moment, he is fearless in October to make big moves. And I know we go back last year to the World Series, but I thought Topper managed his butt off to get them there and he's doing it again this year."
Thomson pulled starter Ranger Suarez in the fourth inning after just 53 pitches and one hit allowed, sensing trouble. He then went to the bullpen pitcher-by-pitching, inning-by-inning going to Jeff Hoffman to finish the fourth, Seranthony Dominguez in the fifth, Jose Alvarado in the sixth, Orion Kerkering in the seventh, Matt Straham in the eighth, and Craig Kimbrel to close it out in the ninth.
Thomson revealed after the game that he decided not to tell Suarez of his plan before the game and Suarez agreed that Thomson managed the situation correctly.
The Phillies completed the combined complete game shutout, beating the Braves 3-0 and taking a 1-0 series lead.
