Even though it is several weeks before Halloween, the first game of the NLDS cast a chill wind through the Atlanta Braves, who suffered a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the series Saturday night.
Atlanta’s regular-season offensive firepower went silent as the Braves were held without an extra-base hit, left seven on base, and went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Scary indeed.
Phillies’ third starter, Ranger Suarez, didn’t allow a hit until there were two outs in the fourth. He and their bullpen were the figurative Brom Bones (the Headless Horseman) to the Braves’ Ichabod Crane in this rendition of a frightening Halloween classic, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Chilling, Not Thrilling
Rare Home Shutout
The shutout was a rarity. This was the first time the Braves had been shut out at home since August 2021 against the Giants. Atlanta was shut out twice this season in San Diego and in Toronto.
On Saturday, that seemed like so long ago.
The chilling offensive performance on Saturday wasted a decent outing by Braves’ 20-game winner Spencer Strider, who allowed two runs and struck out eight in seven innings.
The Phillies scored in the fourth inning as Bryce Harper walked and then moved to second on an errant pickoff attempt by Strider. The attempt came with an 0-2 count on Bryson Stott, who brought Harper home with a single to left field.
Harper extended the lead in the sixth with a solo shot that snuck over the wall in right field. The homer came on a slider down and in and didn’t appear to be a bad pitch.
Their final run came in the eighth as a catcher’s interference call forced home Trea Turner to ground out the scoring.
Missed Opportunities
The Braves had opportunities in the opener and failed each time.
In the fourth, Matt Olson lined a single to left. Ozzie Albies reached on a force play. Olson was initially called out, but the Braves challenged, and the call was overturned. Phillies manager Rob Thomson then went to reliever Jeff Hoffman, who walked Marcell Ozuna to load the bases. However, Michael Harris II went down swinging to leave the grounds full.
Atlanta threatened in the sixth when Orlando Arcia led off the inning with a single and then advanced to third on a pinch-hit single by Eddie Rosario. With the top of the order up, Seranthony Dominguez struck out Ronald Acuña Jr. looking and Austin Riley swinging.
In the eighth, Acuña worked a leadoff walk and moved to second on a single by Riley. Olson flew out to center for the first out. Albies sent a sharp grounder toward the middle, but Turner made a diving stop and flipped the ball to second for the first out of an inning-ending double play.
It only gets scarier. The Braves encounter the daunting task of facing Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola in Games 2 and 3.
On Monday, Atlanta turns to left-hander Max Fried and his infamous index finger blister to even the series in Game 2 before heading to Philadelphia for Game 3 on Wednesday.
Main Photo Credits: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
