PHILADELPHIA — Nick Castellanos blasted two more home runs, Johan Rojas preserved a tight lead on a running catch and the Philadelphia Phillies finished off the Atlanta Braves 3-1 on Thursday to win their National League Division Series in four games.
For the second straight year, Philadelphia upset its higher-seeded division rival in the best-of-five NLDS to advance to the best-of-seven NL Championship Series. The Phillies will host the Arizona Diamondbacks for Game 1 on Monday.
Castellanos — who entered play Wednesday with one career playoff homer in 26 games — became the first player in major league history to hit two home runs in back-to-back postseason games. Philadelphia’s Trea Turner went 4-for-4 with the go-ahead solo homer.
Ranger Suarez (1-0) went five innings and limited the Braves to one run on three hits. He struck out two without issuing a walk. Atlanta ace Spencer Strider (0-2) yielded all three Phillies home runs.
The Braves fell to the Phillies in the NLDS for the second straight October after winning the 2021 World Series. Atlanta was shown the door despite posting the best record in baseball at 104-58, its second straight 100-win season.
Austin Riley hit his second home run of the series for Atlanta’s first hit and only run of the night. The fourth-inning shot curled toward the foul pole and just over the left field wall.
Castellanos answered in the bottom of the inning by launching a first-pitch slider into the left field seats.
Turner copied Castellanos one inning later, sending an identical Strider offering into left to put Philadelphia ahead for good.
In the sixth, Castellanos connected with a 100 mph fastball for the home run that wound up chasing Strider. The Braves’ 20-game winner allowed three runs on seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
With two outs in the seventh, Atlanta loaded the bases on consecutive walks by Kevin Pillar, Orlando Arcia and Michael Harris II. Ronald Acuna Jr. skied one to deep center, but Rojas snagged it over his left shoulder at the wall to quell the threat.
Philadelphia’s Gregory Soto allowed runners to reach the corners with no outs in the ninth before Matt Strahm came on and earned his first career postseason save.
–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media