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By Jon Paul Hoornstra
Contributing Sports Writer
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When the Philadelphia Phillies scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning Tuesday, Sept. 29 in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves, they held a 3-2 lead with nine outs to go.
Manager Don Mattingly did something sensible if unconventional: he called on his best reliever, closer Jhoan Duran, to face the top of the Atlanta Braves' lineup.
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For a moment at least, the decision looked sensible. Duran retired pinch hitter Dominic Smith, leadoff batter Ronald Acuña Jr., and All-Star catcher Drake Baldwin in order in the seventh inning. Six outs remained.
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Everything changed — the game, the series, the wisdom of Mattingly's decision — when Duran allowed a three-run home run to Braves third baseman Austin Riley in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Phillies suddenly trailed 5-3, which proved to be the final score of Game 1.
Atlanta needs to win only one of the final two games of the best-of-three series to advance to the NL Division Series. Game 2 is Wednesday in Atlanta.
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In his postgame press conference, Mattingly defended his decision to use his closer earlier than usual, saying "we talked about it before the game — if we're getting to the top (of the Braves' lineup) then he'd go (pitch the) seventh, eighth (inning)."
"Anytime you use a game late obviously it's frustrating," Mattingly conceded. "But in our minds, we had our best guy out there. You live with this one."
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What's frustrating for Phillies fans is the fact that they had a lead at all after a trying final week of the regular season. They lost four consecutive games leading up to Sunday's Game 162, narrowing their lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks to a single game for the third and final NL Wild Card berth.
A victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday saved the Phillies' season and set up a road game in Atlanta, who won the National League East and were the clear favorites in the series. A win Tuesday would have been a major upset for the Phillies.
Instead, it puts them in an uncomfortable yet familiar place: needing a win to save their season.
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