After a historic ending to Game 2 of the NLDS, which saw the Atlanta Braves complete the first 8-5-3 double play to end a postseason game, the trash talking from the Braves locker room made its way to the ears of Bryce Harper. Decked out in “Prime” gear heading into the ballpark on Wednesday, Harper took a page from the book of Coach Sanders and decided that the Braves were making it “personal”
Harper went 2-for-5 with two home runs as the Phillies dominated Bryce Elder, making his first postseason start of the season, on the way to a 10-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Wednesday night.
After the wild conclusion to Game 2 on Monday night, word got out that Braves SS Orlando Arcia was making a mockery of the base running blunder by Harper that squashed a Phillies comeback attempt and led to a Braves victory, evening the series at 1-1.
Apparently word got out to Harper because he answered the call in front of the home crowd, making it a point to stare down Arcia each time he rounded second base on his way home after sending the ball into the stands.
The Phillies offense complimented an impressive performance by Aaron Nola and four relievers to push the 104-win Atlanta Braves to the brink of elimination. The Phillies can advance to the NL Championship Series for the second straight season with a win at home on Thursday.
Nick Castellano also homered twice and Philly rebounded from the devastating loss on Monday night. With Trae Turner and Brandon Marsh also going yard, the Phillies set a franchise record with six home runs in total.
Tabbed with the start early on Wednesday morning, Braves P Bryce Elder continued to display his inconsistency during one of the biggest starts of his career. Elder (0-1) only managed to make it through 2.2 innings while giving up five hits and the aforementioned six homeruns.
Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia did their best to contribute to the Braves offense but the six runs given up in the 3rd were just too much for the Bravos to overcome. Albies finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and Arcia added the other run for a Braves offense that has been noticeably struggling this series since finishing the regular season as one of the most productive offenses in Major League history.
AJ Smith-Shawver made an appearance in relief and didn’t seem to fare any better than Elder. The rookie entered in the fifth inning and seemed to follow suit with Elder by going 2.2 innings and giving up three hits, all homeruns.
With Game 4 scheduled for 8:07pm on Thursday, the Braves look to bounce back in a big way by sending 20-game winner and potential NL Cy Young candidate Spencer Strider to the mound. Strider went seven innings in Game 1, allowing one ER on five hits with eight strikeouts but the Braves came up short 3-0.
Ranger Suarez, who logged a no-decision in his Game 1 start, will take the mound for the Phillies in Game 4.