Alec Bohm hit a tie-breaking home run in the 10th inning, and Andrew Painter secured a 4-3 victory for the Philadelphia Phillies over the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday, forcing a decisive third game.
The Philadelphia Phillies kept their postseason hopes alive on Wednesday at Truist Park, overcoming a pair of costly defensive miscues and a late Atlanta lead to defeat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 in 10 innings. With the victory, the Phillies leveled the National League Wild Card Series at one game apiece, setting up a winner-take-all Game 3.
Alec Bohm and Bryce Harper Spark the Extra-Inning Comeback
For much of the afternoon, the game looked like it might slip away from Philadelphia due to fundamental errors in the field. In the bottom of the seventh inning, Alec Bohm failed to secure an out on a sacrifice bunt, and Bryce Harper misplayed a fly ball hit by Drake Baldwin in right field. The resulting extra bases allowed Sean Murphy to score, and Matt Olson followed with a sacrifice fly to give Atlanta a 3-1 advantage.
Harper quickly made amends in the top of the eighth. Facing high-leverage lefty Dylan Lee—who had not allowed a home run to a left-handed batter during the entire regular season—Kyle Schwarber launched a 447-foot drive. Harper immediately followed with a 418-foot shot of his own, knotting the score at 3-3.
In the 10th inning, playing under traditional postseason rules without automatic runners on second base, Bohm delivered the decisive blow. He drove a 357-foot, two-out home run to right field off right-hander Didier Fuentes.
Bohm added that he really don’t want the season to end,
reflecting on a rocky year marked by a .249 batting average and pending free agency.
Andrew Painter and J.T. Realmuto Seal Victory with History
Needing three scoreless frames to close out the win, regular-season starter Andrew Painter stepped out of the bullpen and delivered a stellar relief performance. Painter stranded two runners in the 10th inning, striking out pinch-hitter Dominic Smith on an 0-2 fastball that home plate umpire Adam Beck initially called a ball.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto immediately initiated the Automated-Ball Strike Challenge System, marking the first time a postseason game has ever ended on a strike-zone appeal. Replays confirmed the pitch clipped the inside of the strike zone, sealing the 4-3 win.
When we can keep those challenges for late in the game, we have all the confidence in the world with J.T. using them, and we always want to reserve one for J.T.
Andrew Painter, via MLB
Deciding Game 3 Matchup and Broadcast Details
The series concludes with a decisive Game 3 on Thursday. The Atlanta Braves are expected to hand the ball to right-hander Grant Holmes to start or pitch in bulk relief, while the Philadelphia Phillies counter with right-hander Aaron Nola. Zack Wheeler is also an option for later innings depending on how the game unfolds.
Depending on the outcome of other playoff schedules, the game time is set for either 2 p.m. or 8 p.m. ET. The matchup will broadcast nationally on NBC and stream on Peacock, with live radio coverage available on 94WIP and WDEL 101.7 FM/1150 AM.
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