ATLANTA – In a thrilling showdown on Wednesday, Alec Bohm propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves, launching a two-out home run in the 10th inning that not only secured the win but also forced a decisive third game in their National League Wild Card Series.
The Phillies, who had been trailing 3-1 in the seventh inning, showcased their resilience with back-to-back home runs from Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. Harper’s homer was particularly significant, as it came after he had made a crucial fielding miscue just an inning earlier.
Andrew Painter, a regular season starter, came to the rescue for the Phillies’ struggling bullpen, delivering three scoreless innings to close out the game. Painter’s performance was highlighted by his ability to strand two runners in the 10th, culminating in a critical strikeout of Dominic Smith following a successful Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge.
Under traditional extra-inning rules—without designated runners at second base—Bohm’s homer, a 357-foot blast to right field off right-hander Didier Fuentes, marked his third career postseason home run, showcasing his clutch hitting ability.
As the series progresses, the Phillies aim to maintain their postseason dominance over the Braves, having previously triumphed over Atlanta in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
In the seventh inning, a double by Drake Baldwin glanced off Harper’s glove in right field, allowing Sean Murphy to score and giving Atlanta a 2-1 lead. Harper, who had only recently returned to the outfield after a lengthy absence, acknowledged the mistake, stating, “Probably should have been caught, obviously.” Matt Olson’s subsequent sacrifice fly further extended the Braves’ lead.
The tide turned in the eighth inning when Schwarber and Harper hit back-to-back home runs off Dylan Lee, the winning pitcher from the Braves’ first game victory earlier in the series. Schwarber’s shot traveled an impressive 447 feet, while Harper’s followed closely behind at 418 feet.
On the mound, Tyler Mahle delivered a strong performance for Atlanta, allowing just one run on six hits over seven innings. Meanwhile, Cristopher Sánchez pitched 6 2/3 innings for Philadelphia, giving up three runs while throwing a career-high 116 pitches.
In the 10th, Painter faced some pressure after a one-out single from Mauricio Dubón. However, he struck out Austin Riley and then, after a bloop single from Michael Harris II, secured the final out with a called strike three on Smith, confirmed by the ABS challenge—an unprecedented ending for a postseason game.
Harper, who switched from first base to the outfield mid-season, mishandled Baldwin’s drive with runners on base, allowing for a crucial run that highlighted the intensity of the contest. Earlier in the game, Ronald Acuña Jr. had walked, stolen second and third base, and scored on Olson’s single.
The game saw its share of injuries as Edmundo Sosa left after reaching base on an infield single in the ninth, appearing to exacerbate a leg issue, prompting a pinch-running substitution.
Looking ahead, Game 3 is poised to be a nail-biter, with Braves RHP Grant Holmes set to either start or pitch in bulk relief against Phillies RHP Aaron Nola. As both teams vie for advancement, fans can expect a high-stakes clash filled with excitement.
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