The Phillies can still topple the champs, but they can’t waste another chance

Rob Thomson stood on the top step of the dugout, his back to the field, and surveyed the scene.

The Phillies had just lost for the first time in the postseason, 3-0, late Wednesday night in Atlanta, in rain-delayed Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Braves. And as the players headed for the tunnel that leads to the clubhouse to pack their bags for one more night in a hotel before finally, mercifully coming home after a 17-day, five-city odyssey, they walked by the manager, who waited until the last of them had passed.

» READ MORE: Kyle Schwarber is the leader of the Phillies. Just like he was for his high school show choir.

”Obviously we wanted to win both of these games,” Thomson said later. “We had an opportunity to. But to leave here with a split and go back home in front of a packed house of passionate people, I think they’ll give our guys a little shot in the arm.”

Maybe Thomson will be right about that last part. Surely, he’s spot-on about the first. By the time Aaron Nola takes the mound at 4:37 p.m. Friday, Phillies fans will have waited 4,025 days for playoff baseball to return to Citizens Bank Park. Games 3 and 4 are sold out. It’s going to be a madhouse.

In splitting the first two games, the Phillies also achieved the goal of most road teams in a short series. Pick off a game in the other team’s ballpark, seize home-field advantage, and take your chances. That’s the objective.

But when you come at the champs, you best not miss. And it’s tough to shake the feeling that, well, maybe the Phillies did.

Because for their five consecutive division titles and their 2021 World Series trophy, the Braves were as vulnerable as they get 14 innings into the series. The Phillies jumped on them for six runs in the first three innings of Game 1, held on for a 7-6 victory, and sent ace Zack Wheeler to the mound once the rain stopped Wednesday night. He dazzled, as usual, retiring the first nine batters and 17 of the first 18. The Braves weren’t even making hard contact.

The Phillies’ path for vanquishing the St. Louis Cardinals in the wild-card series — Wheeler, Nola, and it’s all o-vah — seemed to be in play again.

Indeed, the Braves were on the ropes. Until they capitalized on a ball going underneath Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins’ mitt and scratched out three runs in the sixth inning. Until shortstop Dansby Swanson made a diving over-the-shoulder catch to rob J.T. Realmuto of a hit and third baseman Austin Riley ran down a foul pop and caught it while crashing into the rolled tarpaulin.

» READ MORE: Can Citizens Bank Park save the Phillies? They’re counting on it after blowing their edge in Game 2.

And until the Phillies managed three hits and dropped the only game in the best-of-five series that will be started by Wheeler, unless he somehow comes back for Game 5 on three days’ rest for the first time in his career.

How often does it work out for the challenger when the champ is allowed to get up off the canvas?

”We had Wheels on the mound. He pitched great. He did his thing,” said Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies’ leader and leadoff hitter who is 0-for-16 with eight strikeouts so far in the playoffs. “We weren’t able to push any runs across for him. But you have to feel excited. That’s going to be the biggest thing going into Philly. It’s going to be an exciting atmosphere. That will be on our side. It’s not the No. 1 scenario. You want to be going back 2-0. But it’s a pretty good place to be at still.”

The Phillies love their chances with Nola in Game 3. But now, they will need to rely on the underbelly of the pitching staff in Game 4 Saturday and possibly Game 5, which would be back in Atlanta on Sunday.

Through the first 33 innings of the playoffs, 498 of the Phillies’ 563 pitches were thrown by six pitchers (Wheeler, Nola, Ranger Suárez, José Alvarado, Zach Eflin, and Seranthony Domínguez), who combined to get 90 of 99 outs.

Thomson hasn’t named a Game 4 starter and doesn’t intend to until the Phillies get through Game 3. But he will have to choose from among Noah Syndergaard, rookie lefty Bailey Falter, and veteran right-hander Kyle Gibson — or some combination thereof. Falter hasn’t pitched since Oct. 5, and as a team, the Braves hit lefties better than righties in the regular season. Gibson had a 9.73 ERA over his final six starts.

» READ MORE: Who has the ninth? As Domínguez dominates, Phillies also remain confident in Eflin

Syndergaard is the likeliest choice, with a scoreless 16-pitch eighth inning in Game 2 serving as a potential tune-up after he hadn’t pitched since Oct. 1. But what if the Phillies need him in relief Friday?

The Braves have pitching challenges, too.

Postseason veteran Charlie Morton is a decent bet to start Game 3, although manager Brian Snitker wouldn‘t divulge his plans even after the Braves arrived in Philadelphia. Flame-throwing rookie Spencer Strider is on the roster, but how and when he would be used remains a mystery. Considering he hasn’t pitched since Sept. 18 because of a strained muscle in his side, it’s doubtful he will give the Braves much length. But could he, say, open Game 3 and come out of the bullpen in a Game 5?

”He’s kind of right where we want him to be,” said Snitker, who shared only that Strider threw a “light” bullpen session Tuesday.

Still, it feels like the Phillies must be perfect to take two of the next three games. The gap between them and the Braves is closing, but it still exists.

And the Braves have been here before. They lost to Milwaukee in Game 1 of the Division Series last year and won the next three games.

”We know the caliber of team over there,” Hoskins said, “and the way that they can string together some wins.”

» READ MORE: Phillies should be glad to get a split despite Zack Wheeler’s loss in Game 2 | Marcus Hayes

After dropping Wheeler’s start, the Phillies must worry that the momentum resides with the champs.

”Not while we get to play at home,” Hoskins said. “Just because I think the atmosphere is going to give us all kinds of momentum.”

That’s the outlook Thomson is hoping the Phillies will carry into Game 3.

”Friday, I think, is going to be electric at the ballpark,” he said. “Just knowing that it’s been a long time since our fans have seen this ballclub in the playoffs, I think they’re going to be riled up pretty good.”

The Phillies still have a shot at taking down the champs. This time, they best not miss.