The Philadelphia Phillies have won an MLB postseason series for the first time since 2010.
Philadelphia went into St. Louis and swept the Cardinals 2-0, completed with a victory of that same score in Game 2.
The Cardinals got two runners on in the top of the ninth, but Zach Eflin — who started 13 games for the Phillies this season and 115 times in his career — earned the save by getting Tommy Edman to pop out.
Bryce Harper got the scoring started by crushing a home run in the top of the second. This is why the Phillies signed Harper to a $330 million contract ahead of the 2019 season.
Bryce Harper crushes a dinger. 1-0 Phillies.
pic.twitter.com/gYUuV8ZBlG — The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 9, 2022
That would turn out to be all the scoring Philadelphia needed on the night (Kyle Schwarber — pictured above in the locker room celebration — added a sacrifice fly).
Aaron Nola was terrific for the Phillies, throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings. The Cardinals had zero extra-base hits on the night, and superstars Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado combined to go 0-for-8 with five strikeouts in a must-win game.
Aaron Nola's 5th and 6th Ks.
Thru 6. pic.twitter.com/dycTHcCesB
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 9, 2022
This is certainly not how Cardinals legends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina wanted to see their careers end. It’s a very disappointing finish to the season for a St. Louis squad that went 93-69 and won the NL Central by seven games.
The Phillies advance to take on the defending champion Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. Philadelphia (87-75) finished 14 games behind the Braves and New York Mets (101-61; the Braves won the tiebreaker) in the NL East.
Baseball fans have had plenty to say about the Phillies sweeping the Cardinals to advance to the NLDS:
https://twitter.com/JATayler/status/1578958124647878657