Be honest. When this series started Friday, you were already doing the "here we go" face.
Braves come to town with a chance to bury us. They take two of the first three. The lead's back to a number we don't like. Every national media guy dusted off the "Phillies fading" take they've had saved in drafts since June.
Then Monday happened.
1-0. Two hits. Twelve strikeouts. Jesús Luzardo threw the first shutout of his entire career — 150 starts, zero shutouts, until last night — against the team we're chasing, in the game we absolutely could not lose.
That's not a start. That's a statement.
109 pitches, 1 hour 51 minutes, no mercy
Let's sit with the details, because they're ridiculous.
Luzardo didn't walk a batter until the ninth inning. The whole game took an hour and fifty-one minutes. That's not a baseball game, that's an episode of television. People got to CBP, bought one beer, and the Braves were already on the bus.
Twelve strikeouts. Two hits. Against Atlanta's lineup, with Acuña doing his personal crusade against us all weekend.
And this is the same guy who just won NL Pitcher of the Month for August. He's not having a hot stretch anymore. This is just who he is now, and I'd like to formally apologize for every doubt I had in April.
Schwarber being Schwarber
Of course the only run was a Schwarber solo homer.
Eighth inning, 0-0, tension in the building thick enough to chew, and Kyle Schwarber does the one thing Kyle Schwarber was put on this earth to do. One swing. Ballgame.
The man doesn't do context. He doesn't care that it's a pitchers' duel. He sees a baseball, he hits it into the seats, he jogs. Beautiful in its simplicity.
1-0 wins in September against the division leader are a specific kind of stressful that takes years off your life. Worth it. Every time.
So where does that leave us
Series split. Four back with three weeks to play.
Could be better. Friday and Saturday stung and I'm not going to pretend they didn't. But losing three of four there was on the table, and instead we walk out of the weekend with the ace dealing, the split secured, and the season very much alive.
And here's the thing: we get them again. Friday. In Atlanta. Three more.
Win that series and this race is real again. Get swept and, well, we don't talk about that. But Luzardo on the road this year? The man does not lose away from home. Truist Park should be nervous.
One more thing about Sunday
Series finale in Atlanta. Eagles opener against Washington at the Linc, 4:25.
Same day.
Division race on one screen, Birds on the other, every bar in this city operating at full capacity. September 13th is going to be an absolutely unhinged day to live here and I cannot wait.
Rest up. Hydrate. We're gonna need it.
