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.
The Philadelphia Phillies take down the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 in the game and Wild Card Series!
Philadelphia will take on the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS. ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/egdk7NJD2K
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 9, 2022
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:
Look at all the Eagles fans on the trip here to Arizona celebrating Phillies first playoff series win in 12 years
Philly going for Cardinals sweep
🎥 @greenlegion pic.twitter.com/vf2SHnZVYC— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 9, 2022
The Phillies all BELTING out Robyn's Dancing On My Own is killing us 😂😭 pic.twitter.com/CObR5RigAj
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 9, 2022
The two longest playoff droughts in MLB entering this season (Mariners since 2001, Phillies since 2011) were both snapped this year.
Now both the Mariners and Phillies will be advancing to the Division Series after they swept their Wild Card Series on the road. pic.twitter.com/eHTKmfyozT
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 9, 2022
That's Tough🔥🔥🔥 @Phillies
— Joel Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) October 9, 2022
Zack Wheeler can start Game 2 in Atlanta on regular rest.
Aaron Nola can start Game 3 in Philly on an extra day of rest.
Ranger Suarez ready for Game 1.
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) October 9, 2022
Phillies shut out the Cardinals, and the @MLB careers of Yadier Molina and Albert Pujols have ended. We’ve known for months that this day would come, yet the finality is jarring. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 9, 2022
With the Cardinals loss tonight, Albert Pujols' career is officially over. His accolades include:
3x MVP
11x All Star
2x World Series Champion
6x Silver Slugger
2x Gold Glove
2001 Rookie of the Year
703 Home Runs
2,218 RBI
3,384 HitsCongrats on a great career Albert ♥️ pic.twitter.com/hn8QvxSrlm
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 9, 2022
October wins:
Cubs: 3
Cardinals: 2— CHGO Cubs (@CHGO_Cubs) October 9, 2022
The Cardinals are 1-9 in their last 10 playoff games
— MLB Errors (@mlberrors) October 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/JATayler/status/1578958124647878657
