Monday, September 26, 2022

Game 152 - Fans Left Feeling Unappreciated


Braves 8
, Phillies 7 (11 Innings)
Game 152 - Sunday Afternoon, September 25th in Philadelphia
Record - 83-69, 3rd Place, 13 games behind the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies fell in 11 innings as the Braves simply outlasted them in this home regular season finale.

What It Means:  The Reds defeated the Brewers, dropping the Phillies' Magic Number to 8.

What Happened:  Kyle Schwarber, who addressed the crowd before the game, hit two home runs to raise his season tally to 42.  Rhys Hoskins stayed hot with a pair of doubles and two runs scored.  Brandon Marsh had three hits, but a misplayed fly ball in the first inning led to the Braves' first run.  The Phillies held a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the eighth, and with two outs and two strikes on the batter, David Robertson uncorked a wild pitch allowing the tying run to score.  The Phillies had runners in scoring position in both the ninth and tenth innings, but couldn't get them home.

Andrew Bellatti gave up a pair of runs in the 11th, and while the Phillies scored one run in the bottom half of their inning, it wasn't enough to stop the Braves.

Featured Cards/Field Report:  As has become an annual (non-pandemic season) tradition, we enjoyed this game as a family from the Diamond Club.  Doug almost immediately snagged a signature from Aaron Nola upon our arrival, as Nola was graciously signing from the corner of the Phillies' dugout.  Ben, Jenna and I found Milt Thompson and Mickey Morandini by the Ashburn Alley entrance, but we were too slow to get pictures with the Phillies' broadcast team stationed at the first and third base gates.  Interim manager Rob Thomson signed for a number of fans before the game too, with Doug adding his signature to the sweet spot of a game-used baseball.  And right before the start of the National Anthem, Doug made his way down to the seats along the right field foul line to secure his biggest autograph of the day from J.T. Realmuto.

The game itself was mostly exciting, but ultimately disappointing.  We waited through the entire two-plus hour rain delay to witness the team's demise in the 11th inning, and we were somewhat disappointed when no players took the field following the game as they've done in years' past.  We'll either be back to Citizens Bank Park in three weeks for the NLDS or in six months for the 2023 home opener.  Hopefully it's the former.


Transaction:
  Before the game, Brad Hand (lhp) was placed on the injured list with left elbow tendinitis and Chris Devenski (rhp) had his contract selected from the IronPigs.  Johan Camargo (inf) was designated for assignment to make room for Devenski on the 40-man roster.

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