Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series is officially on, and boy, did the Phillies make us wait for it. After an absolutely wild Game 2, these rivals are headed for a winner-take-all showdown Thursday in Atlanta. We’re talking about pure chaos here, and it’s exactly what October baseball is all about.
Braves Dominated The Regular Season, But That Means Zip Now
Let’s rewind a bit, just to remember how we even got here. The Braves absolutely owned the regular season series against the Phillies, no question about it. They won 9 of the 13 games, outscoring Philly 66-43 across those matchups. Atlanta kicked things off with a three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park back in April, then grabbed two of three at Truist Park the very next week. The teams split four games in Philadelphia in early September, but the Braves wrapped up their head-to-head schedule by winning two of three at home. Their record against the Phillies was impressive: 5-2 in Philadelphia and 4-2 at home. That’s a serious edge. But hey, it’s the postseason, right? Throw all that out the window.
Game 1 Was A Punch-Counterpunch Classic
Talk about starting the playoffs with a bang! Game 1 was an instant classic. The Braves snagged a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an Ozzie Albies RBI triple. You thought that was it, right? Nope. J.T. Realmuto stepped up in the top of the seventh and returned the favor with his own triple, driving in two runs and putting the Phillies up 3-2. Realmuto looked like the hero, almost. But then Austin Riley crushed a 3-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, putting the Braves ahead for good. That was a gut punch for Philly, but it showed everyone this series wasn’t going to be boring.
Phillies Star Power Ignites Unreal Game 2 Comeback
Then came Game 2. Oh. My. Goodness. These teams delivered another absolute classic. Bryce Harper made an error in the bottom of the seventh, and suddenly the Phillies were down 3-1, staring elimination right in the face with only six outs left. You could feel the season slipping away. But then, the stars showed up when it mattered most. Kyle Schwarber and Harper, yeah, the guy who just made the error, hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth to tie the game! Pure pandemonium. And then, in the 10th inning, Alec Bohm launched the go-ahead homer to keep the Phillies’ season alive! What a comeback, what a game.
Now, a winner-take-all Game 3 awaits on Thursday in Atlanta. We don’t even know the pitching matchup yet! It’s going to be a battle to the finish, and you know both teams are leaving everything on the field. Get ready, this is going to be an insane one!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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