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Phillies vs. Braves Wild Card Series: Inside Don Mattingly's Jhoan Duran decision
CBS Sports • • general
Key Points:
- The Phillies lost Game 1 of the Wild Card Series to the Braves 5-3 after leading 3-2 in the seventh inning, with a key moment being the decision to bring in closer Jhoan Duran early.
- Manager Don Mattingly surprised many by using Duran in the seventh inning, deviating from his usual ninth-inning role, aiming to leverage his best reliever against the top of the Braves' lineup.
- Duran struggled after two outs in the eighth, allowing an infield single, hitting a batter, and giving up a three-run homer to Austin Riley, turning the Phillies' lead into a deficit they could not overcome.
- Mattingly defended the decision, emphasizing the strategy to use the best reliever to extend the lead into the ninth inning, acknowledging the risk but preferring this approach over saving him for a potential ninth-inning save.
- Despite the loss, Mattingly expressed frustration but stood by his choice, noting that sometimes even well-planned strategies fail in postseason baseball.
