Phillies Manager Explains Late-Game Decision in Wild-Card Loss

Philadelphia Phillies manager Don Mattingly addressed the decision to bring in closer Jhoan Duran in the seventh inning during Game 1 of the National League wild-card series, a move that preceded a late collapse and a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Duran allowed a single and a walk before Austin Riley hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning. "Any time you lose a game late, obviously it’s frustrating, but in our minds we had our best guy out there," Mattingly said postgame. "You live with this one."

Mattingly stated that the team had discussed using Duran for the seventh and eighth innings if the opportunity arose. Duran had been highly effective during the regular season, allowing only two home runs in 61 appearances, though he had not pitched in the seventh inning prior to this game. Typically, he has been utilized in the ninth inning.

"We talked about it before the game: if we were at the top, we were getting to the top, go seventh, eighth [innings]," Mattingly explained. He added that he would have checked with Duran about his availability for the ninth inning if the game had progressed differently.

The Phillies have a history of late-game struggles in recent postseasons. Since Game 3 of the 2023 NLCS, the bullpen has posted a 2-6 record with a 5.58 ERA and has blown seven saves in seven opportunities. This loss puts the Braves in a position to potentially end a trend of the Phillies defeating them in the playoffs, a streak that dates back to the 1993 NLCS and includes wins in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, with Cristopher Sanchez set to pitch for the Phillies against the Braves' Tyler Mahle.