Monday, October 2, 2023

Game 162 - Offense, Nick Nelson (!) Handle Mets in Regular Season Finale

2022 Topps Chrome Platinum
Anniversary #322
Phillies 9
, Mets 1
Game 162 - Sunday Afternoon, October 1st in Flushing
Record - 90-72, 2nd Place, 14 games behind the Braves

One Sentence Summary:  The Phillies finished off the regular season with an impressive performance against the Mets, winning 9-1.

What It Means:  It's the first season since 2011 the Phillies have won at least 90 games.  The Marlins will come to Philadelphia for the Wild Card Series, beginning Tuesday night.

What Happened:  Nick Nelson saved the bullpen with 5 1/3 innings of relief, allowing a run on two hits on his way to his first (and only) win of 2023.  The Phillies offense was fairly quiet early on, with Bryson Stott driving in the game's first run with a third inning single.  Tim Locastro homered off Nelson in the bottom of the third to tie it up, but Alec Bohm untied it in the sixth with his 20th home run of the season.  The Phillies piled on from there with RBI hits from Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Garrett Stubbs and a sacrifice fly from Bohm.  Marsh added a three-run home run in the ninth, his 12th of the year, to put the game away.

Stott, Bohm, Marsh and Stubbs were a combined 9 for 17 at the plate with five runs scored and eight RBIs.

Featured Card:  Nelson was due to get the featured card, but I wanted to pay tribute to Bohm and his 20th home run.  With his blast, the Phillies had six players with at least 20 home runs in one season for the first time in franchise history.  Bohm joined Kyle Schwarber (47), Nick Castellanos (29), Trea Turner (26), Bryce Harper (21) and J.T. Realmuto (20).

Transaction:  Nelson (rhp) was recalled to eat innings and Michael Plassmeyer (lhp) was optioned to the spring training complex in Clearwater.

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