Austin Riley delivered a three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday, lifting the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 comeback victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park. The Braves were trailing 3-2 when Riley connected against Phillies closer Jhoan Duran with two outs, sending a drive to right-center field after Michael Harris II singled and Ozzie Albies was hit by a pitch; Harris finished with three hits.
Atlanta had tied the game in the second inning after Mauricio Dubón doubled and later scored on Mike Yastrzemski’s RBI single. Ozzie Albies then put the Braves ahead in the sixth with a triple that brought Harris home, but Philadelphia quickly answered, taking the 3-2 lead in the seventh after J.T. Realmuto delivered a two-run triple off Atlanta rookie Didier Fuentes. Realmuto’s triple came after Bryson Stott singled and Bryan De La Cruz reached on a hit-by-pitch.
The hit followed Chris Sale’s exit after he allowed a single and hit a batter, ending a strong postseason outing in which he struck out nine and held Philadelphia to one run through six innings. Philadelphia’s Jesús Luzardo, who had recently returned from a shoulder issue, allowed one run and three hits while striking out six over five innings.
The victory gives Atlanta a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series and puts the Braves one win away from advancing to the National League Division Series. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET in Atlanta, with the Phillies needing a victory to extend the series. The winner will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
Editorial credit: Marcus E Jones / Shutterstock.com
