The Phillies fans got just what they wanted Thursday night: a 3-1 win over the Braves to earn a trip to the NCLS for the second year in a row and a reaction from Orlando Arcia and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the process.
The two Braves All-Stars had enough of the chirping across the two nights at Citizens Bank Park after a 10-2 Game 3 victory in Philadelphia that was highlighted by Bryce Harper’s two staredowns at Arcia and cold nights at the plate.
In response, Arcia and Acuña made gestures throughout the night to mock the crowd.
During one moment, Arcia seemed to be mocking Phillies fans by pointing to his ringer finger.
Arcia won a World Series title with the Braves during the 2021 season.
Moments later, he turned around and was spotted mouthing back to the fans and sticking his tongue out.
Acuña, standing next to him on the dugout rail, raised his hand twice to turn Arcia back around to face the field, trying to help his teammate block out the noise.
The Braves got first on the board in Game 4 with a home run from Austin Riley in the fourth inning, which Acuña celebrated by making a lip-zipping gesture to the fans.
The one run lead didn’t last long, though.
Nick Castellanos tied the game in the bottom of the inning with a solo homer and Trea Turner’s solo shot in the fifth gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead.
The rowdy atmosphere — paired with the must-win stakes against the team that knocked them out in the playoffs a year prior — can certainly allow for emotions to run high.
Arcia, however, did start the chirping with Philadelphia after he mockingly said “Atta boy, Harper” after the Braves’ Game 2 win that ended with Harper being doubled up at first base.
The night made for another early exit for the best offensive team in baseball, which tied the MLB record with 307 home runs this season.
The Braves also became the second team in league history with five players with 30 or more homers.
The Phillies also sent the Braves home last year after a 3-1 series win that also featured a Game 2 loss.
Philadelphia will now face the Diamondbacks in the NLCS starting Monday night.
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