Philadelphia Phillies find a way to win in double overtime

After failing to score for four straight innings, the Philadelphia Phillies pulled off a most unlikely win over the Atlanta Braves just before midnight.

I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty shocked that the Philadelphia Phillies actually found a way to defeat the Atlanta Braves after taking the game into the 11th inning.

After entering the eighth inning with a 4-3 lead, Gabe Kapler‘s squad once again looked primed to drop a should be victory, but when instant replay overturned the would-be go-ahead run that left the game tied at 4-4 going into the ninth, it once again became anyone’s ball game.

With Pat Neshek unavailable to play after being placed on the disabled list due to a shoulder injury, the Phillies had to once again turn to Hector Neris to close out the ninth and after giving up a three-run blast on opening day, the righty reliever looked poised under pressure and retired his batters in order to send the game into overtime.

And for a while there, it seemed like the game would never end.

After neither side scored a run in the 10th, the Fightin’ Phills finally retook the lead off of a flyout to left center by Carlos Santana that scored a streaking J.P. Crawford from third base, effectively ending the game, and securing the very first win of the Kapler-era.

While it was still far from a perfect outing, game two of the MLB season actually showed a fair bit of promise for the Phillies moving forward.

Sure, Kapler one again surprisingly pulled his starting pitcher before the seventh inning, but unlike on opening day, the Phillies bullpen actually played some really great baseball, collectively striking out six batters without allowing a single home run in route to Drew Hutchison‘s first win as a member of the team.

In addition to the bullpen’s improved play, Phillies fans from all over the world got their first look at recently extended rookie Scott Kingery in the red pinstripes and for the most part, he came as advertised.

While he didn’t bash in a homer like his ex-Iron Pigs teammate Rhys Hoskins, Kingery did record his first two hits as a pro, and played some solid defense in his first start of the season at third base, playing in place of Maikel Franco.

Dubbed a potential cornerstone player in the vein of Chase Utley, if his major league debut is of any indication, it’s going to be fun to watch number four continue to develop, regardless of the team’s record.

And fear, not Phillies fans, you hopefully won’t have to wait too long for more baseball.

With their final game in Atlanta set for March 31st, the Phillies will have a chance to steal the series from the Braves, before taking the show on the road to New York, to face off against the Mets on April second.

Next: The Philadelphia Phillies lay an egg on opening day

Fight on Phillies, fight on!

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