Bryson Stott's Epic Grand Slam Helps Phillies Sweep Marlins, Advance To NLDS

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Across the first sixteen odd innings of the two game Wild Card series, the Phillies inched and clawed and growled their way through a powerful Miami pitching staff, putting up a run or two here or there.

But in the bottom of the sixth, the dam broke.

The Phillies loaded the bases with a walk, a single, and an error, to bring up Bryson Stott. The Bank trembled at its moorings. Cameras shook. Forty five thousand stood and a sea of red and white and powder blue roared.

Left hander Andrew Nardi was quick to deliver. The first pitch was a high and inside four seam fastball.

Stott, leaning slightly back with a trademark calm, turned on it with an Utleyesque flash of the bat. The grand slam ball soared over left center and well into the stands.

It was more than the Phillies needed. The swing reaffirmed all the inertia of a series that was owned by the south Philly phanatics on and off the field from the first pitch Tuesday night. The Phillies won, 7-1.

The win advances them to the National League Division Series for the second year in a row. And just like last year, they'll face their divisional archrivals, the Atlanta Braves, in the National League's penultimate round. The Phillies won this series convincingly in 2022, three games to one.

Stott wasn't the only star Wednesday night. After a tumultous year, the longest tenured Phillie, Aaron Nola, returned his vintage ace form the moment his team needed him the most. He was nearly perfect for seven shutout innings. Rookie sensation Orion Kerkering and offseason acquisition Gregory Soto closed the door in the 8th and 9th. The Marlins scored two runs in 18 innings against the Phillies staff.

The first two games in the best of five NLDS series will be in Atlanta on Oct. 7 and Oct. 9. Games 3 and 4 will be in Philadelphia on Oct. 11 and Oct. 12. If neccessary, Game 5 would be back in Atlanta on Oct. 14.

The winner of that series will face the winner of the other NLDS matchup featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks. The Phillies opponent in that round last year, the San Diego Padres, did not qualify for the postseason this year.