After a grueling season filled with highs and lows, the Philadelphia Phillies have claimed their first NL East crown since the 2011 season. A thumping 6-2 win over the Cubs was enough to see the Phils lift the title in front of a capacity crowd at Citizens Bank Park.
How the Phillies became NL East champions
JT Realmuto gave the Phillies a jolt to get things started.
With a runner on, the Phillies’ catcher launched a 2-run homer in the 2nd inning for the game’s first runs. While they were done for the inning, the offense wasn’t finished in the game.
In the 3rd inning, Kyle Schwarber led off with a solo shot, making it 3-0. His 37th homer of the year also gave him his 100th RBI of the season. He became the first Phillies player since Ryan Howard to have back-to-back 100-RBI seasons.
Trea Turner quickly followed with a double down the leftfield line. Nick Castellanos drove in his 85th run of the season later in the inning, naturally making it a 4-nothing ballgame.
In the 5th after a leadoff double, Bryce Harper stole 3rd and during the play, the Cubs threw the ball away at 2B trying to get Nick Castellanos. Harper scored due to the error. In the 6th, the Phillies got their 6th run on a double play after Brandon Marsh went 1st to 3rd on a Johan Rojas single.
With the offense in gear, the only question was if the Phillies’ pitching would hold up.
Aaron Nola, good through 6
On and off again ace Aaron Nola looked solid through 6 IP. He allowed just 4 hits and a walk in that span. But that wasn’t the end of his day.
Nola’s pitch count was nothing to worry about, so he came out to start the 7th inning. Things did not go as well as the first half-dozen innings. Isaac Paredes and Nico Hoerner had back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning, giving the Cubs their first run of the game. A walk and a single later, Nola was out of the game and the bases were loaded.
Matt Strahm was Rob Thomson‘s answer to the bases-loaded issue. He got 3 straight outs, allowing just 1 of the inherited runners to score.
Jeff Hoffman allowed only a walk in his inning pitched. The score stayed at 6-2 headed to the 9th inning.
The Phillies’ trade deadline addition Carlos Estévez was called upon for the 9th inning. It took just a single pitch to record the 1st out. On what could’ve been ruled an error, Christian Bethancourt drove a double to the wall in left field. The ball clanged off of Brandon Marsh’s glove.
Estévez quickly got a strikeout to get the 2nd out. The 3rd out didn’t come as quickly. A 9-pitch at bat to Mike Tauchman slowed things down with a walk.
A fly ball later and the Phillies were NL East champions for the first time since 2011. It’s the 12th time they’ve won the division in franchise history.
All eyes now turn to the postseason where the Phillies will face either the Diamondbacks or Brewers in the NLDS.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
