After Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper got doubled off to end game two the NLDS Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia gave Haper and the Phils “bulletin board material.”
The young shortstop was caught mocking Harper and saying “atta boy Harper” while celebrating the win with his team. Going into game three that’s all the former MVP needed to rally the troops.
Philadelphia sent right-handed hurler Aaron Nola to the mound to oppose Braves righty Bryce Elder. Elder, who had a phenomenal season racking up twelve wins and a sub-four ERA was in for a rude awakening in Philadelphia.
After Ozzie Albies got Atlanta on the board in the third with a single allowing MVP front-runner Ronald Acuna Jr to score the Phils got to work.
Nick Castellanos led the bottom of the third off with a solo home run then, the floodgates opened. Brandon Marsh reached on a single before advancing to second on a ground out from Kyle Scwarber, and later advanced to third on an infield single by Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, that’s when the former MVP stepped up and left his mark on the game.
Harper, on a 2-1 pitch sent a ball high into the Pennsylvania night sky and put Philadelphia up 4-1 and those are all the runs the Phillies would need. Bryce definitely took notes before the game and stared down Arcia while rounding second.
That effectively ended Elder’s night giving him a final line of 2.2 innings, five hits, six earned runs, a walk, and four strikeouts. Not the kind of outing you were hoping for if you’re Braves manager Brian Snitker.
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto added two more runs after he doubled in the third off of relief pitcher Michael Tomkin took over. The Phillies never looked back or let their foot off the gas after that.
Philadelphia’s starter Aaron Nola was on his A-game going 5.2 strong innings, giving up six hits, two earned runs, a walk, and striking out a whopping nine batters. Between the big third inning from the Phillies offense and the start that Nola provided for them, they were in prime position to take a 2-1 series lead. But, Bryce wasn’t done yet. Coming up again in the fifth inning Harper put the nail in the coffin with another moon-shot that he sent out to dead center on a 1-1 pitch. Harper, again remembering those pregame notes once again stared down Arica while rounding the bases.
Bryce’s second home run of the night put Philadelphia up 7-1. Philly would add three more runs before the end of the game when Trea Turner, Nick Castellanos, and Brandon Marsh all hit solo home runs. Atlanta added their second and final run on an Orlando Arcia single in the sixth.
Philadelphia now looks to close out the series in game four where Braves Ace Spencer Strider heads to the mound against against the Phillies Ranger Suarez.
Citizens Bank Park will be absolutely rocking again hoping Bryce and the gang can wrap this series up in Philadelphia and that Atlanta doesn’t force a game five.