The Braves defeated the Phillies just six times in 19 tries last season. They seemed to take out a year’s worth of frustration on Saturday night.
In the rubber-match of the season’s opening series, the Braves broke out the bats and destroyed their rivals 13-2. They rallied from at least a two-run deficit in each of the three games.
The Phillies had more errors (four) than runs. The Braves had 19 hits, with just one leaving the park.
Here’s what Braves players said after the game:
Third baseman Ryan Flaherty, who had four hits and scored four runs, becoming the third third baseman in team history to do so:
On the series:
“It’s just nice to come out and win the first two of three. If we can do that then we’ll be alright.”
On making history:
“Better making history for that then something else. That’s cool.”
First baseman Freddie Freeman:
On 19 hits:
“It’s a beautiful thing. It really is. I don’t know that we’re going to get 19 hits every game, but we’re not going to hit the ball over the fence. That’s how we need to score runs.”
On Dansby Swanson’s success at the plate:
“It’s great. He’s a big part of this team. When you get him going, and what we saw in 2016 is what we’re seeing now, hope he can continue to do that.”
On the series:
“Getting a series win, we’ll take that. We played really good baseball this whole series. So it’s nice going into the off day and we have to prepare for a tough matchup (the Nationals) these upcoming games.”
Starter Brandon McCarthy:
On his start:
“Rocky but I’m glad I got through it. I’m glad we got through it. It was not a sharp day, not a day I felt in control. Offense did everything we needed it to do. Stewart did a great job getting me through it, picking me up and dragging me to the finish line. The runs made it easier where I could just go out and throw and not have to fight myself too much.”
On his early impressions of the team:
“We can do a lot of damage without hitting the ball out of the park so far. I think before Lane (Adams) hit that home run, a 15-run game without a home run in Major League Baseball in 2018, that’s not common. There’s a lot of guys with really good approaches who aren’t giving up at-bats and that’s a really positive thing from where we’re going to go as the season goes. You don’t forfeit at-bats, you stay in front of things. So many guys just hit the ball where they’re supposed to, hit the ball where it’s pitched. It’s really encouraging.”
Catcher Chris Stewart:
On helping McCarthy:
“I don’t know that I got him through. We worked together. I think he didn’t have a real good feel those first two, three innings. Then he threw his cutter. I think that was the big thing, locating his release point.”
On having a two-hit, two-RBI day:
“I think I’m going to wake up here any second. Just try to take advantage of my opportunities and it worked out tonight.”
