The Phillies' manager's decision to turn to closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning proved disastrous as the team blew a 3-2 lead and lost 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League wild-card series.
- Don Mattingly turned to closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning.
- Duran's outing proved disastrous as the Phillies blew a 3-2 lead.
- The loss puts the Phillies in a must-win situation for Game 2.
Don Mattingly's decision to turn to closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning on Tuesday proved disastrous for the Phillies as they blew a 3-2 lead and lost 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League wild-card series.
Duran made it out of the seventh before catastrophe struck in the eighth as the closer gave up a single to Michael Harris II and plunked Ozzie Albies, all before Austin Riley clobbered the go-ahead three-run homer at Truist Park.
The Blown Lead
The blown lead had an eerily similar feeling to previous postseason losses dating back to Game 3 of the 2023 NLCS, where the bullpen has gone 2-6 with a 5.58 ERA and has blown seven saves in seven chances.
Mattingly may have hoped the 28-year-old Duran could pitch three innings to protect a 3-2 lead even though he made just one multi-inning appearance in the regular season.
This decision was likely influenced by the fact that the Phillies' bullpen had struggled in the second half of the season, with a 5.79 ERA in September, worst in the majors. This statistic highlights the team's reliance on Duran, who had been used primarily in the ninth inning.
However, the Phillies' bullpen woes are not a new issue. In the 2023 NLCS, the team's relievers went 2-6 with a 5.58 ERA and blew seven saves in seven chances. This trend continued into the wild-card series, as the Phillies' bullpen struggled to hold onto a lead.
According to data from FanGraphs, the Phillies' bullpen has struggled with inherited runners, allowing 34.6% of them to score, which is the highest rate in the majors.
This reliance on Duran is a concern for the Phillies, as he has been used extensively in the ninth inning and has not been used in the seventh inning all season. Mattingly's decision to turn to Duran in the seventh inning was likely influenced by the team's bullpen struggles and the need for a multi-inning performance.
Duran's Disastrous Outing
Duran gave up a two-out single to Michael Harris II before hitting Ozzie Albies with a pitch and then giving up Austin Riley's three-run homer that gave Atlanta the lead.
When asked if he turned to Duran in the seventh because the Braves had the top of their lineup coming up, Mattingly said it wasn't a matchup decision.
This suggests that Mattingly was trying to get a multi-inning performance out of Duran, who had not appeared in the seventh inning all season. However, this decision ultimately backfired, as Duran was unable to protect the lead and the Phillies lost the game.
The Phillies' Struggles
Philadelphia's relievers had a 5.79 ERA in September, worst in the majors.
Mattingly was asked about his ninth-inning plan if Duran had protected the lead in the eighth.
This question highlights the uncertainty surrounding the Phillies' bullpen and the team's reliance on Duran. If Duran had been able to protect the lead, the Phillies would have had a chance to win the game in the ninth inning. However, with Duran's outing proving disastrous, the Phillies were forced to try and mount a comeback in the ninth.
The Next Step
The Phillies now turn to left-hander Cristopher Sánchez to start Wednesday's must-win second game of the series.
Duran's availability on Wednesday is uncertain after he threw 27 pitches while allowing three runs in two innings.
Sources
- New York Post: Don Mattingly explains decision that backfired in Phillies’ heartbreaking playoff loss to Braves
- Yahoo Sports: Mattingly’s decision to bring in Phillies closer Duran in the 7th inning backfires in loss to Braves
