Philadelphia continued its postseason surge on Wednesday, forcing a decisive third game in the National League Wild Card Series with a 4‑3 victory over the Atlanta Braves. The win was capped by a dramatic two‑out home run by third‑baseman Alec Bohm in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Late‑Game Heroics
Trailing 3‑1 in the seventh, the Phillies answered with back‑to‑back homers from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Schwarber’s 447‑foot blast and Harper’s 418‑foot shot off Braves reliever Dylan Lee erased the deficit and tied the game.
Atlanta reclaimed the lead in the seventh when Drake Baldwin’s double glanced off Harper’s glove, allowing Sean Murphy to score. Harper, who returned to the outfield late in the season, was not charged with an error despite the misplay.
Pitching Duel
Atlanta starter Tyler Mahle allowed one run on six hits over seven innings. Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sánchez worked 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs while delivering a career‑high 116 pitches.
Reliever Andrew Painter, making his first postseason appearance, steadied the Phillies’ bullpen with three scoreless innings. He struck out Dominic Smith on an ABS challenge after a controversial ball‑in‑the‑strike‑zone call, marking the first postseason strike‑zone appeal to be upheld.
Key Moments
In the 10th, Painter gave up a single to Mauricio Dubón, then struck out Austin Riley before allowing a bloop single to Michael Harris II. He then delivered a 0‑2 fastball that clipped the strike zone, prompting a robo‑ump challenge that confirmed the ball was indeed a strike.
Harper, who transitioned from first base to the outfield at the trade deadline, was positioned shallow when Baldwin’s drive came his way. He reached up, but the ball bounced off his glove for a double.
Injury Update
Atlanta’s Edmundo Sosa left the game early in the ninth after aggravating a leg injury. Pinch‑runner Derek Hill replaced him.
Looking Ahead
The series now shifts to Thursday for Game 3. The Braves are expected to start right‑hander Grant Holmes (10‑6, 3.44 ERA), while Philadelphia will likely turn to ace Aaron Nola (7‑12, 4.67 ERA) on the mound.
Philadelphia’s postseason dominance over Atlanta is notable; the Phillies also defeated the Braves in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
