With the World Series over, ending the MLB season, we will look back on the season with both good and bad memories from the Phillies.
The Phillies started their Post-Season journey against the Marlins, where they quickly won the wildcard series 2-0. The Phillies played better, looked good, and prepared for their NLDS showdown against the Braves.
Their series against the Braves started out with a 1-1 series tie. During their loss in Game 2, Orlando Arcia, Braves shortstop, said “Ha-Ha, atta-boy Harper!” after he got doubled up, losing the game.
This passive-aggressive statement fueled Harper and the Phillies to have a monster of a Game 2, which tied the record for home runs in a playoff game, with a shocking total of 6. The Phillies then followed up their dominant win with a 3-1 lead to punch their ticket to the NLCS.
Unexpectedly, the Phillies were playing the 84-win Diamondbacks in the NLCS. The Phillies started out with a 2-0 lead, with what seemed to be their destiny to go to the World Series. But in the bottom of the 9th in a 1-1 game, Craig Kimbrel blew the lead and the Phillies lost out in the desert.
Craig Kimbrel blew another lead, this time in the bottom of the 8th, for a second straight loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Phillies came back for the last game in Arizona, with a 6-1 win. They had bounced back to a 3-2 lead with the next 2 games back in Philly. Fans thought for sure that the Phillies’ strong home-field advantage would be all that it took to get the Phillies into the World Series.
During those last 2 games, the Phillies offense didn’t show up. Their offense only scored 3 runs, with their best players, Bryce Harper, Kyle Shwarber, and Nick Castellanos, going an abysmal 1-28.
Bryce Harper summed up his performance over the last two games by saying, “I feel like I let my team down and, you know, letting the city of Philadelphia down as well.”
This lack of offense led the Phillies to lose the next 2 games. While the loss was tough for the passionate Philadelphia Phillies fans, there is no doubt that the Phillies looked great besides the NLCS games 3, 6, and 7. The other good news is that the Diamondbacks lost in the World Series to the Texas Rangers, 4-1.
