(Philadelphia) Nick Castellanos became the first player to hit more than one home run in two consecutive playoff games, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 victory that allowed them to eliminate the Atlanta Braves for a second year in a row, Thursday.
Matt Strahm struck out backup hitter Vaughn Grissom with runners on first and third bases in the top of the ninth to help the Phillies win this second-round series in four games.
Fireworks lit up the sky above a frenzied Citizens Bank Park, the Liberty Bell rang and the defending National League champions flowed the champagne again.
Bryce Harper gave the Phillies a scare when he grabbed his right elbow, on which he underwent surgery, after a collision in the eighth. Matt Olson’s left knee hit Harper’s elbow on a first base play that ended the inning.
Harper, twice named the National League’s Most Valuable Player, flexed his elbow after a quick examination by medical staff. He stayed in the game in the ninth.
Trea Turner had two singles, a double and a solo home run in the fifth to give the Phillies a 2-1 lead. They are trying to win the World Series for the first time since 2008.
They will now face the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National Championship Series starting Monday in Philadelphia.
The Phillies weathered a few scares before once again eliminating the NL East champions, who finished with the best record in baseball this season at 104-58.
Before the collision involving Harper, rookie Johan Rojas made an important defensive play in the seventh with the bases loaded to end the seventh. He caught a strike from Ronald Acuna Jr. while running, depriving him of a strike that could have given the Braves the lead.
Wearing the powder blue uniforms with brown caps as they do every Thursday at home, the Phillies followed the same route as last year to advance to the championship series.
They first swept the first round series. Then, in the second round, they won the first game in Atlanta before losing the second. Like last year, they returned to Philadelphia and scored six runs in the third inning, en route to a victory in the third game.
A barrage of homers ultimately allowed them to eliminate the Braves, who were early eliminated by the Phillies for the second year in a row after winning at least 101 games in the regular season each time.