Hoskins, Harper homer in Phillies NLDS game 3 rout of Braves
Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper both homered as the Phillies routed the Braves 9-1 in Game 3 of the NLDS.
Phillies Beat Braves; LEAD NLDS 2-1
- Winning Pitcher: Aaron Nola (2-0, 0.00)
- Losing Pitcher: Spencer Strider (0-1, 19.29)
- Save:
The Phillies certainly did not disappoint in their first playoff game in front of the home fans at Citizens Bank Park in 11 years. Just like the series clinching victory over the St. Louis Cardinals will forever be known as the Nick Castellanos game, game three of the NLDS will be remembered for Rhys Hoskins’s three run home run and his subsequent bat spiking celebration.
Much like the sixth inning for the Braves that propelled them to victory in game two, the Phillies used a huge six run effort in the third inning of Game Three to take control of the series. In the first two innings, Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider held the Phillies hit list with a combination of 100 mph fast balls and elite movement on his off speed pitches. But in the third inning the Phillies finally figured out Strider, scoring four runs off the presumptive favorite for NL rookie of the year.
With a 1-0 lead, and two men on base, Rhys Hoskins came to the plate with an opportunity to redeem himself for aa huge defensive error in game two and his lackluster performance at the plate throughout the playoffs.
On the first pitch Hoskins saw from Strider he unleashed on a 93 mph four-seam fastball, sending it into the left field bleachers, and causing Citizens Bank Park to erupt in pandemonium. Hoskins jubilantly spiked his bat into the ground while looking towards his teammates in the dugout, before sprinting around the bases. From that moment on, the Braves had no chance in hell of winning this game. After Strider exited the game, Bryce Harper hit the first pitch he saw from Braves relief pitcher Dylan Lee 401 feet to right field, giving the Phillies a 6-0 lead. This sent all 45,538 Phillies fans to their feet.
With the 6-0 deficit the Braves were no match for Phillies ace Aaron Nola; he continued his impressive run of starts by throwing six scoreless innings and striking out six Braves hitters. Nola was impressive, scattering five hits and working through two Phillies defensive errors, all while keeping a potent Brave lineup completely off balance. José Alvarado, Brad Hand, and Connor Brogdon conspired to finish off the game for the Phillies with three scoreless innings of relief. It was clear after the third inning that the Braves had lost the momentum of the game and would not be able to overcome Nola and the energy of the home crowd at Citizens Bank Park. Suddenly the Phillies find themselves juts one victory shy of their first trip to the NLCS since their loss to the San Francisco Giants in 2010. For a team that entered the post season with few expectations, the opportunity to take down the defending World Series champion and division rival, the Atlanta Braves, is a dream come true. This clubhouse is playing loose, fueled by the lack of respect from the National media and backed by the overwhelming belief of the people of Philadelphia.
Listen, there is obviously magic in the air. The Eagles are 5-0. The Sixers will win the NBA championship. And the Phillies all of a sudden are playing like the best team in the National League. There is really no reason this team can’t win at this point; between the pitching of Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, and a lineup that can score runs off of anybody, it really feels like the destiny of this team is the World Series.
The good news is that we won’t have to wait long to find out. Game 4 is Saturday at 2:07 pm with Pat Burrell set to throw out the first pitch. I think that we’ll know whether Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton is up to the moment right away. This could be the greatest weekend in Philadelphia sports history: the Phillies punching their ticket to take on the Dodgers in the NLCS and the Eagles bating the Cowboys, moving to 6-0.
RING IT.
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies will look to punch their ticket to the NLCS for the first time since 2010 with a win over the Atlanta Braves in game 4 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park with the first pitch scheduled for 2:07 pm EST.
FS1 will carry the broadcast of the game.
TBD (0-0, 0.00) will take the mound facing off against Charlie Morton (9-6, 4.34)
Aaron Nola escapes the Braves threat in the first inning.
Aaron Nola finished off Vaughn Grissom to end the 2nd inning send CBP into a frenzy.
Rhys Hoskins cant handle the poor throw to first base from Alec Bohm allowing Ronald Acuña Jr to reach base for the second time today.
Braves starter Spencer Strider throws the pick-off attempt into foul territory allowing Brandon Marsh to advance from first to third base.
Bryson Stott puts the Phils on the board with a sacrifice fly off Spencer Strider in the 3rd inning.
1-0 Phils
Rhys Hoskins answers all the doubters with one huge swing in the 3rd inning to add onto the Phils big 3rd inning.
4-0 Phils
Bryce Harper takes Lee on his first pitch to send CBP into a frenzy and put the Phils up big in the 3rd inning.
6-0 Phils
Nola strikes out Marcel Ozuna for the second time this afternoon to end the Braves half of the 4th inning.
Rhys Hoskins makes his second fielding error of the game to extend the 6th inning.
Just one batter later Michael Harris II makes the Phils pay for the Hoskins error with an RBI single to put the Braves on the scoreboard.
6-1 Phils
Kyle Schwarber finally has his first hit of the 2022 postseason. Welcome Kyle!
Bryce just misses his second home run on the afternoon, but still drives in a run with an RBI double in the 7th inning.
7-1 Phils
Nick Castellanos drives in two more runs with an RBI single in the 7th inning to blow open the ball game.
9-1 Phils!!!!!!!
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
