Riley’s Homer Lifts Braves Past Phillies in Game 1 of Wild Card Series
Austin Riley’s eighth-inning homer capped Atlanta’s comeback after Chris Sale struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings.
- On Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, the Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series after Austin Riley hit a decisive three-run home run off closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning.
- Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly deployed Duran in the seventh inning to protect a narrow lead after starter Jesús Luzardo pitched five innings of one-run ball. The strategy aimed to close out the game with his closer.
- The Braves finalized their postseason roster Tuesday by selecting infielders Rowdy Tellez and Luke Williams, while designating right-hander Ricky Vanasco for assignment. Tellez brings postseason power, having homered twice against Atlanta in the 2021 NL Division Series.
- Philadelphia faces elimination heading into Wednesday's Game 2, despite J.T. Realmuto's seventh-inning two-run triple that briefly gave the Phillies a 3-2 lead. The team now needs two consecutive wins to advance to the National League Division Series.
- Wednesday's Game 2 features Braves right-hander Tyler Mahle facing Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez, with the series winner advancing to the National League Division Series to face the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Don Mattingly’s decision to bring in closer Jhoan Duran in the 7th backfires in Philadelphia Phillies loss
After Jhoan Duran gave up a three-run homer to Austin Riley in the eighth inning of the Philadelphia Phillies’ 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Braves, Don Mattingly faced questions about why he turned to his closer so early.
Austin Riley’s three-run homer lifts Braves past Phillies in playoff opener - FINCHANNEL
Austin Riley hit a three-run home run with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 5–3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 29 in the opening game of their National League Wild Card Series. The home run turned a one-run Philadelphia lead into a two-run Atlanta advantage and put […]
"That's a Dagger": Bryce Harper & Phillies Manager React After His Decision Backfires in Team's Loss to Braves
The Phillies thought they had their best weapon on the mound when the game mattered most. Instead, Jhoan Duran became the unlikely face of a collapse that could send Philadelphia home. With the Braves turning a one-run deficit into a 5-3 lead, Austin Riley’s eighth-inning three-run blast flipped the game on its head and left […]
Mattingly’s decision to bring in Phillies closer Duran in the 7th inning backfires in loss to Braves
ATLANTA (AP) — Interim manager Don Mattingly wanted the Philadelphia Phillies' best reliever on the mound as early as possible in a tight opening game of a best-of-three National League
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