9/24 Game Recap: Phillies lose to Braves 6-3

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - Despite the recent struggles the Phillies have traversed through, I do not feel as worried about tonight’s loss as I did with say Tuesday’s loss to Toronto. Unlike those games last week, when many began to believe that it would be yet another late September collapse that would bring the Phils to their knees.

Tonight there seemed to be calmness around this team, sort of like a “we got this” type of attitude, or a “we’ve been here before” feel. The Phillies band of young players has rapidly matured this season and we have seen that through the course of the last few months as they have needed to step into big roles for a team fighting for their playoff lives.

Speaking of young players stepping into big roles, one of them started tonight’s game, that being the Lefty Bailey Falter. Since becoming a starter, first in the absence of Zach Eflin, And then for the injured Zack Wheeler beginning in mid-August, the young Falter would strive to make his mark on this Phils rotation. Which he would soon do to great effect, Falter was awarded a rotation spot as Noah Syndergaard was demoted to the bullpen. But in his first game as an “official” starter Falter struggled giving up 6 runs on 10 hits. However, it’s hard to be mad at Falter who has been debatably the Phillies best pitcher for the ladder half of the last month.

Today’s game also saw some nice play from two guys who have respectively struggled since they’ve been lifted from the IL. First and foremost was one Bryce Aaron Max Harper who is batting a mere .157 in the month of September. Harper, blasted a 6th inning home run to deep left field cutting the Atlanta advantage to just 4. While Seranthony Dominguez who was also recently removed from the IL pitched his way to a 4-batter 7th inning helping the Phils bullpen to a scoreless day. The Phils are no doubt looking to get Dominguez back on track in time for the playoffs in hopes he can serve as a late-inning option come October.

It’s never easy to lose a game to a division rival in the midst of a pennant race, so much as any game. But no matter what the situation may be, there is always tomorrow. And tomorrow for the Phillies holds a chance to win this 4 game series with the Braves and head out on a crucial road trip one game closer to their first postseason birth in 10 years. But for now wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon, and good night, but of course Go Phils!