Brandon Marsh hit a three-run homer and J.T. Realmuto lined an inside-the-park home run that sent the Philadelphia Phillies bolting headfirst into the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2010 with an 8-3 win over the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 Saturday.
Realmuto became the first catcher to hit an inside-the-parker in postseason history and Bryce Harper punctuated the romp with a clinching home run that helped the Phillies take the NL Division Series 3-1 against the World Series champion Braves.
The Phillies will face either San Diego or the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. The Padres held a 2-1 lead over the Dodgers going into Game 4 of the NLDS matchup Saturday night.
Atlanta's loss meant Major League Baseball hasn't had a repeat champ since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.
Philadelphia finished third in the NL East, 14 games behind the 101-win Braves this season, but now is hitting on all cylinders under manager Rob Thomson. He took over for the fired Joe Girardi and transformed a team that was 22-29 in early June.
And the Phillies used a dose of Marsh Madness to keep the party rolling in October.
Philadelphia Phillies Brandon Marsh (16) reacts to his three-run homer during the second inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia Phillies Brandon Marsh (16) hits a three-run homer during the second inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves
Heck, call it Mash Madness, as the Phillies turned Citizens Bank Park into a cozy home bandbox for the second straight game -- and with another fired-up, towel-waving crowd along for every long ball.
After Rhys Hoskins spiked his bat on a three-run shot in a Game 3 win, it was Marsh´s turn in the second inning to hammer his own three-run homer in Game 4.
Braves starter Charlie Morton was hit on his pitching elbow by Alec Bohm´s single traveling 71.9 mph to lead off the inning. After being checked, Morton allowed a single to Jean Segura and hung a 2-2 curveball that the No. 9 hitter Marsh launched deep into the right field seats for bonus gacor a 3-0 lead.
Philadelphia Phillies J.T. Realmuto (10) celebrates with Philadelphia Phillies Jean Segura (2) after Realmuto's RBI-single during the sixth inning in Game 4 of baseball's National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves
The 24-year-old Marsh is known as much for his stringy hair and ZZ Top-esque beard as he is for being one of the top young players on the Phillies.