The Philadelphia Phillies kept their season alive Wednesday with a dramatic 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Alec Bohm delivered the biggest hit of the night, launching a two-out solo home run in the top of the 10th inning to give Philadelphia the lead for good. The victory evened the best-of-three series at 1-1 and set up a winner-take-all Game 3.
With the game tied 3-3 in the 10th inning, Bohm stepped to the plate against Braves right-hander Didier Fuentes.
After the first two Phillies batters were retired, Bohm sent a 1-1 fastball over the right-field wall for a 357-foot solo homer. It was his third career postseason home run and his first playoff homer since 2023.
The homer gave Philadelphia a 4-3 advantage and put the Phillies three outs away from forcing a decisive Game 3.
Philadelphia entered the eighth inning trailing 3-1 and facing elimination.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper changed the game with back-to-back home runs to open the inning. Schwarber’s blast cut Atlanta’s lead to one before Harper followed with a solo homer to tie the game at 3-3.
Harper’s home run was particularly important because his defensive misplay in the seventh inning had helped Atlanta take the lead. Drake Baldwin’s double glanced off Harper’s glove and brought home Sean Murphy, while Matt Olson’s sacrifice fly made it 3-1.
Instead of allowing that mistake to decide the game, Harper responded with one of Philadelphia’s biggest swings of the night.
The Phillies also received a huge contribution from rookie Andrew Painter.
Painter entered the game in the eighth inning and pitched the final three innings. He allowed Atlanta to put runners on base in the 10th, but he escaped the threat and preserved Philadelphia’s one-run lead.
With two outs and runners on base, Painter struck out pinch hitter Dominic Smith after the Phillies successfully challenged the strike call through MLB‘s automated ball-strike system. The strikeout ended the game and secured Painter’s first postseason victory.
The Phillies’ victory means the series will be decided in Atlanta.
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, at Truist Park. Because the other Wild Card Series have already been decided, Phillies-Braves will be the only playoff game on Thursday and has been moved to an 8 p.m. ET start, with coverage on NBC and Peacock.
The Phillies have not officially announced their starting pitcher. Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler are among the team’s options, while the Braves are expected to use Grant Holmes in some capacity, potentially after an opener.
The winner of Game 3 will advance to the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For Philadelphia, Bohm’s home run bought the team one more game. Now, both teams have everything to play for in a winner-take-all showdown.
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