Jean Segura makes Braves pay for their decision with walk-off hit

Jean Segura's RBI base hit with two outs in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Phillies to a 3-2 walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves on opening day Thursday.

Braves right-hander Nate Jones walked Didi Gregorius intentionally to pitch to Segura with Bryce Harper on third. Segura bounced the first pitch over the third baseman's head to drive home Harper and send the crowd of 8,800 home happy on a frigid day at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies made several excellent defensive plays, including centerfielder Roman Quinn cutting down Ozzie Albies at the plate for the third out in the top of the 10th to keep the game tied at 2-2. Quinn threw a strike to catcher J.T. Realmuto, who caught the throw on a hop and never let Albies get to the plate.

Connor Brogdon pitched a scoreless top of the 10th and got the win. The new-look bullpen delivered 3⅓ scoreless innings.

One mistake

Phillies starter Aaron Nola cruised through the first six innings. He allowed just three singles and a double over that span. He took a 2-0 lead into the seventh and his pitch count was in good shape, mostly because he did not walk a batter.

Nola's gem started to unwind when he allowed a two-out double to Christian Pache in the seventh. Atlanta manager Brian Snitker sent Pablo Sandoval up to pinch hit and the veteran left-handed slugger changed the game when he slugged an 0-2 fastball into the right-field seats to tie the game at 2-2.

Giving Sandoval anything to get his bat on in that situation was a big mistake. Realmuto called for a fastball off the plate. The 92-mph pitch, Nola's 84th of the game, caught way too much plate and the quick-batted Sandoval, in swing mode with an 0-2 count, did not miss it.

On a day when he pitched so well, Nola walked off the mound disappointed.

Alvarado's adventure

Jose Alvarado opened his first appearance with the Phillies with five straight balls in the eighth inning. He ended up loading the bases on a walk, a one-out single and a two-out hit batsman (on an 0-2 pitch). Alvarado survived a line drive off the bat of Pache that landed just foul. He came back and struck out Pache on a 2-2 sinker that registered 100 mph and got out of the frame to keep the game tied.

Alvarado threw 21 pitches in his one inning of work. Nine were balls.

Bohm's defense

Alec Bohm delivered the first run of the season with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to left field in the first inning. 

Bohm played stellar defense at third base in his first opening day. He made a nice play on a slow roller that he had to charge, and he caught two tricky, wind-blown popups in foul territory.

Bohm's best glove contribution came when he leaped and snared Marcell Ozuna's hard line drive for second out of the sixth inning. There were runners on second and third and the Phils were up, 2-0, at the time. The play saved a run, maybe two.

Shortstop Gregorius also made a couple of clutch catches on wind-blown popups.

And then there was Quinn's throw and Realmuto's tag in the top of the 10th.

Haseley starts, departs

Adam Haseley started in center field, had a base hit in three trips, but left the game in the top of the eighth inning with hamstring tightness and was replaced by Quinn. Haseley will be reevaluated Friday.

Transaction

The Phillies officially added utility man Ronnie Torreyes to the 40-man roster. Reliever Kyle Dohy cleared waivers and was outrighted to the alternate site in Lehigh Valley.

Up next

Friday is an off day. The series resumes Saturday at 4 p.m. Zack Wheeler opposes Charlie Morton. Zach Eflin will pitch against Ian Anderson in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.

Subscribe to the Phillies Talk podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | Watch on YouTube