No. 2: Phillies' NLDS Game 4 win versus Braves on Oct. 12
Game 4 of the NLDS between the Phillies and Braves last year was perhaps the game of the year for Philadelphia. The game was a low-scoring affair, as neither club could manufacture much offense. Philly starter Ranger Suárez and Atlanta ace Spencer Strider each kept their respective teams in the contest.
However, the difference offensively was two solo home runs by Nick Castellanos and one by Trea Turner, all hit off of Strider. Atlanta came close to potentially changing the outcome of the game in the top of the seventh inning.
Young centerfielder Johan Rojas, who displayed his defensive talents throughout his rookie season for Philadelphia, made a key defensive catch to keep the Phillies in the lead.
JOHAN ROJAS, YOU BEAUTIFUL HUMAN pic.twitter.com/DLWja1CH0K
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 13, 2023
Atlanta's bullpen kept the talented Philadelphia offense from adding to its two-run lead. The Phillies relievers managed to do the same against a Braves team that put up elite offensive numbers during the regular season.
NEXT STOP: NLCS pic.twitter.com/Y1K4yJypXu
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 13, 2023
The Phillies went on to defeat their NL East rival in the NLDS for a second consecutive season. Philadelphia's onslaught of offense and solid pitching was enough to defeat an Atlanta ballclub that entered the series with high expectations to win its second championship in three years.
No. 1: Michael Lorenzen throws a no-hitter on Aug. 9
No-hitters in baseball have lost their uniqueness in sports in recent years. Due to analytics and load management, many managers are now reluctant to leave a starting pitcher in a game to potentially achieve the feat. It has become more common for a starter and the relievers to achieve a combined no-hitter in today's game.
On Aug. 9, recently acquired pitcher Michael Lorenzen was in a position to throw a no-hit game in just his second start in a Phillies uniform. Despite racking up more than 100 pitches, manager Rob Thomson elected to keep the 32-year-old in the contest.
Michael Lorenzen throws the 14th no-hitter in Phillies history. His family's reaction is everything. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/9NARDYMwK0
— MLB (@MLB) August 10, 2023
In front of his family and thousands of Phillies fans in attendance, Lorenzen achieved a rare feat for a pitcher in today's game. He's the first Philadelphia pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Cole Hamels did so on July 25, 2015, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Lorenzen's no-hitter was the first thrown by a Phillies pitcher at Citizens Bank Park since the late Roy Halladay. The former multi-Cy Young Award winner threw multiple no-hitters during the 2010 season. His second was during Game 1 of the NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. The contest was his first career postseason appearance.
Lorenzen left Phillies fans in amazement following the completion of his rare accomplishment. The no-hitter was the 13th thrown by a single pitcher in the team's history and the 14th in the history of the club.