Stott’s Grand Slam Sends Phillies to NLDS Rematch with Atlanta
Wednesday night was a night to remember for the Philadelphia Phillies and their fans as the team secured a 7-1 victory over the Miami Marlins in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series. The hero of the game was Bryson Stott, whose sixth-inning grand slam sealed the Phillies’ spot in the NL Division Series and set up a rematch with the Atlanta Braves.
Stott, who had previously claimed that he never pimps home runs because he never hits them far enough, couldn’t help but admire the magnitude of his hit as he watched the ball soar into the right-center-field seats. His immediate reaction was to slam his bat into the turf in jubilation.
Speaking after the game, Stott said, “I blacked out. I didn’t know I did that. I’ll have to go back and watch it.” But for now, the team had other celebrations in mind.
The Phillies have a reputation for enjoying their victories to the fullest, and catcher J.T. Realmuto made it clear that they were ready to let loose. Realmuto said, “Don’t give the Phillies a reason to party. These guys like to have a good time. We like to celebrate together, and that’s part of the reason we play so well on the field.”
However, the Phillies know that their work is far from over. The team fell just two wins short of the World Series last year, and they are determined to go all the way this time around. Their focus now shifts to the NLDS, where they will face off against the Braves.
The Phillies enter the best-of-five series as underdogs, just as they were against Atlanta last year. But that didn’t stop them from coming out on top with a series victory in four games. Realmuto expressed his confidence, stating, “We feel like this is what this team is built for. We’re built for postseason success. With the run that we went on last year, all that did was give us even more confidence that we have what it takes to get it done.”
The Phillies demonstrated their postseason prowess against Miami, with outstanding performances from pitchers Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler. Nola pitched seven scoreless innings in Game 2, following Wheeler’s impressive 6 2/3 innings in Game 1. This duo has now achieved back-to-back postseason games with six-plus innings and one or fewer runs allowed for the second time.
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker couldn’t hide his admiration for the Phillies’ pitchers, saying, “Wheeler and Nola, those guys are going to haunt my dreams.” Realmuto found the comment all too familiar, highlighting the team’s consistently strong performances.
Offensively, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner contributed to the scoring, giving the Phillies an early lead before Realmuto’s home run in the fourth inning extended their advantage to 3-0. The decisive moment came in the sixth inning when the bases were loaded for Stott, leading to his grand slam.
As Bryce Harper watched Stott’s memorable hit, he couldn’t contain his excitement. Harper said, “I was standing on second base, just laughing and smiling. Just a really cool moment for him. I gave him a big hug and told him I love him, man.”
This victory marked the Phillies’ second champagne celebration in just over a week, reaffirming their postseason ambitions. However, they are fully aware that their toughest challenge lies ahead against the Braves.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson has already made decisions regarding the starting lineup for the NLDS, but he has chosen to keep them under wraps until he informs the pitchers involved. Left-hander Ranger Suárez is the favorite to start Game 1, although right-hander Taijuan Walker and lefty Cristopher Sánchez remain viable options. Wheeler will take the mound for Game 2, with Nola following in Game 3.
The Braves, on the other hand, are expected to rely on Spencer Strider for Game 1 and Max Fried for Game 2. Both teams possess immense talent, but the Phillies are not intimidated by their formidable adversaries. Realmuto stated confidently, “We feel like we line up well with them. We’re going to have to play really good baseball to beat them, but we have the confidence in the guys in this clubhouse.”
The Phillies firmly believe that they have the necessary depth and talent to make a deep playoff run. Realmuto emphasized the team’s collective confidence, stating, “We don’t have to rely on one certain player or one certain pitcher. I just feel like we have the depth to have success in the postseason.”
Now, all eyes are on the Phillies as they prepare to face the Braves in Game 1 at Truist Park on Saturday. With their sights set on the World Series, the team is ready to bring their A-game and prove that they are built for the pressures of postseason success.