PHILADELPHIA _ The conditions were beginning to turn miserable on Thursday night when Hector Neris finally left the Phillies bullpen, jogged through the outfield, and headed for the mound. A misty rain swept through windy Citizens Bank Park and the Braves had runners on second and third with two outs.
This _ a 9-5 win over the Braves _ was a win the Phillies needed to keep their playoff hopes afloat. But their chances felt just as slim as their playoff odds _ 2.6-percent before the game started, according to FanGraphs _ as Neris entered.
The Cubs, Brewers, and Mets all won before the Phillies threw their first pitch. The calendar is nearing October and the Phillies cannot afford to lose any more ground.
So they asked Neris for a four-out save. He had not had a save longer than three outs since June 25. But this was a game the Phillies needed.
First, they needed him to get just one. He battled Dansby Swanson for seven pitches; five of them Swanson fouled off. Finally, Neris threw a fastball and Swanson lined out sharply to right field. The rally was extinguished, the Phillies were three outs away from a needed win, and their playoff dreams remained.
The Phillies are off Friday before opening a two-game series Saturday against the Red Sox. They then travel to Atlanta, Cleveland, and Washington before finishing the season with the always-troubling Marlins.
The road to October will be difficult, but there's a chance. And if the Phillies reach the playoffs, it will be nights like Thursday that get them there.
Adam Haseley hit a two-run homer and made a terrific sliding catch, Cesar Hernandez slapped a leadoff homer, and Maikel Franco slid past an ill-applied tag by Brian McCann in the sixth after Hernandez singled to right.
After Neris escaped the eighth, Sean Rodriguez provided some breathing room with an RBI double to left field. If that was not enough, J.T. Realmuto powered a two-run homer through the rain. Neris jogged to the mound with a one-run lead in the eighth and returned to it in the ninth with a four-run cushion.
The Phillies have 16 games remaining. They will lean on their offense to hit them to the playoffs and cross their fingers that the other teams in the race stumble just enough. But they will also lean heavily on their bullpen and pitchers who were far from their plans when the season began.
Kapler used five relievers Thursday night after he lifted Drew Smyly after just four innings. The Braves tagged him for a pair of homers and a three-run Phillies lead was down to just one.
Kapler knew the best route to a win was through his bullpen. It is safe to expect nights like this as the manager tries to squeeze every win out of his team.
Jared Hughes, Ranger Suarez, Blake Parker, Jose Alvarez, and Neris combined to allow just one run. They answered Kapler's call and provided the heavy lifting. Parker allowed the lone run on a home run in the seventh inning to Ronald Acuna.
The homer sailed toward the Phillies bullpen, catching Neris by surprise as he leaped dramatically off his chair out of the way. The Phillies still had a one-run lead and their closer was safe. They would soon need him.
