Even the best have their day off. And this happened for the Atlanta Braves, who had posted the highest percentage for slugging, the highest OPS+, and had also tied for the MLB record for home runs. They couldn’t score against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, which was quite a first for the team at home this season.
On the other hand, the team from Philadelphia scored thrice- and while it was less than what the Phillies would have liked, it was still more than enough for a 3-0 win in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. For the Atlanta Braves, the first postseason game did begin with what seemed like a promise. They had waited patiently in the interim, staying completely fresh with multiple scrimmage games the past week.
Phillies Dismantle The Atlanta Braves 3-0
Saturday could have been quite an opportunity for the Number 1 for a 104-win juggernaut to put out their wrath on their rival who had sent the Braves packing the previous October. Throughout the summer, the outrageously long and deep offense of Atlanta had been wreaking havoc upon anybody who dared to share their diamond with the team. And as it turned out, Truist Park could have served the best possible place- with the Braves fans coming up in droves. But what happened after that was an absolute dismantling- with a 1-0 series deficit- the first home shutout since August 2021, and trash on the diamond itself.
The series between the Atlanta Braves and the Phillies was considered to be a heavyweight brawl, with two extremely magnificent lineups going head to head-against each other. But it was pitching that took the main stage in Game 1. Bryston Stott’s RBI single managed to give the team from Philadelphia an early lead in the fourth inning, while Bryce Harper then ripped out a heat-seeking missile off a Spencer Strider first-pitch slider.