The Philadelphia Phillies had the Atlanta Braves on the ropes in the NLDS. And then they blew it.
Zack Wheeler pitched five no-hit innings before giving up three runs late, but the Phillies still had a lead going into the bottom of the eighth inning. And then they blew it.
A commanding 2-0 lead in the series was well within reach....and then they totally blew it.
Who is to blame?
3. Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper can't escape at least a little bit of blame coming out of Game 2.
He got doubled off for the final out of the game in stunning fashion. Sure, it would have been difficult to predict Michael Harris would make that catch or that Austin Riley would come up with a play at first. Harper was in a tough spot there. But the Phillies need him to be on his game, to be better than the average player. In that moment, he got caught and it cost the team.
The ending wasn't the only issue to Harper's performance on the night either. He was 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position and struck out once.
2. Trea Turner
Trea Turner was a defensive star in Game 1. So it was especially disappointing to see him make two errors in Game 2 on what should have been easy plays.
Turner started his night strong. He hit a double and went on to score the first run of the day in the first inning. But his fielding error in the bottom of the second inning put Matt Olson on first. He was lucky Zack Wheeler was absolutely dealing and struck out the next three batters he faced to end the inning without incident.
The next error was more costly. In the bottom of the sixth, Turner handed the Braves their first run on a fielding error.
Obviously, it took more than one run to give away the game, but it was a moment that gave the Braves hope. That was the last thing Philly needed to gift their opponents on the brink of despair.
Turner has been important to the Phillies ever since breaking out of his early season slump. He needs to move on quickly from this performance so that he doesn't end up in another.
1. Jeff Hoffman
When it comes down to it, the Phillies bullpen is most to blame for blowing the game. Specifically, Jeff Hoffman, who gave up the winning home run.
At the end of a strong playoff outing, Zack Wheeler gave up a seventh-inning home run to see his lead cut to just one run before being replaced by Jose Alvarado. Alvarado took care of business, striking out two to get out of the seventh, then generating an out to start the bottom of the eighth. So things started alright for the bullpen.
That's when Hoffman took the mound and things went downhill.
Hoffman inherited one out and no men on base. He promptly hit Ronald Acuña Jr. with his first pitch, which turned out to be a portent of things to come. In a 3-2 count against Austin Riley, he hung a slider for the Braves batter to blast into the stands for the go-ahead runs.
The Phillies called on Hoffman with a lead to protect and he wasn't able to do it. It's really that simple. The loss is on him, literally.
Philadelphia needs their bullpen to take care of business if they want to advance. A blown save in Game 2 doesn't bury them in the series, but it certainly gives the Braves new life.
