In game one, the Braves trailed late while trying to mount a comeback against typically dominant closer Jhoan Duran.With two outs in the bottom of the 8th down 3-2, third baseman Austin Riley delivered, launching a game-changing homer to give Atlanta a 5-3 lead.
Raisel Iglesias closed it out to give them a 1-0 series lead.This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.
This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.Philadelphia turned the tables in game two, just when it seemed like the Braves would close out the sweep.With the score tied at one, Bryce Harper misplayed a routine fly ball to right field in the bottom of the 7th, allowing a run to score and setting up another to come in on a sacrifice fly.
In the 8th, he made up for it.After Kyle Schwarber demolished a ball to make it 3-2, Harper followed it up with one of his own to tie it at 3.
Alec Bohm broke the tie in the 10th, and Andrew Painter finished out the save for Philly.PHILLIES AND BRAVES REACH WILD CARD GAME 3 AFTER TWO MASTERPIECE CONTESTS NO OTHER SERIES MATCHEDPhiladelphia Phillies outfielder Bryce Harper rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning during Game 2 of the Wild Card round of the 2026 MLB playoffs at Truist Park in Cumberland, Ga., on Sept.30, 2026.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)The late-inning heroics set up a winner-take-all game three back at Truist Park on Thursday night.Division rivals.
Primetime.Win or go home.
Packed house.That's what playoff baseball is all about.
And the Braves stars made sure the home fans would go home happy.Philadelphia started the game at a bit of a disadvantage thanks to their late-season pitching plans.Because the Arizona Diamondbacks refused to exit the wild card race, the Phillies were forced to start Zack Wheeler on Sunday afternoon and punch their ticket to the postseason...