Phillies Red October Memories: Bryson Stott Grand Slam Finishes Marlins

After the Philadelphia Phillies broke a long playoff drought with a wild card berth in the MLB Playoffs in 2022, the city suddenly remembered the euphoria of Red October at Citizens Bank Park.

The Golden Era of Phillies baseball took a sharp turn after a disappointing playoff exit in 2011, but the expectation of an annual playoff appearance is back.

The rally towels at Citizens Bank Park in Red October create some of the best memories in the history of Philadelphia sports.

October 4, 2023
National League Wild Card Series Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park
Phillies 7, Miami Marlins 1

The MLB postseason structure expanded to six teams per league in 2022, the first time the Phillies had clinched a bid since 2011.

They remarkably swept both National League Wild Card series in 2022 and 2023 in a three-game format that can make even the strongest regular-season teams quiver.

The Phillies entered the playoffs in 2023 as heavy favorites over an upstart Miami Marlins team in the first round. Rhys Hoskins never appeared in a game in 2023, but he reignited a Red October crowd that helped the Phillies to a World Series appearance in 2022 by throwing out the first pitch at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies jumped out early and never looked back. Zack Wheeler cruised through 6 ⅔ dominant innings in a 4-1 victory to open the playoffs. 

Game 2 didn’t offer much stress either. The Phillies took an early 3-0 lead in good position to finish the sweep, but the real highlight came in the sixth inning.

Bryson Stott stepped to the plate with the sacks full and the Marlins in desperation. He opened up on a first-pitch fastball and crushed it over 400 feet into right-center field for the second grand slam in Phillies playoff history. He threw down a bat spike on his way to first base reminiscent of Rhys Hoskins in 2022.

The Phillies didn’t toy around in the first week of the playoffs. They had momentum entering an NLDS rematch against the Atlanta Braves.