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Atlanta rides three home runs to series-clinching win
The Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 in Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park, winning the best-of-three matchup 2-1 and advancing to the National League Division Series for the first time since 2023.
Atlanta seized control in the first inning. After walks to Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson put two runners aboard with one out, Michael Harris II drove Aaron Nola’s 93.5 mph sinker over the right-center-field wall for a three-run home run. Ozzie Albies later hit a two-run homer off Zack Wheeler, extending the Braves’ lead to 5-0.
Philadelphia scored in the sixth after Kyle Schwarber singled and Bryce Harper doubled, with Alec Bohm’s groundout bringing home a run. Olson restored Atlanta’s five-run advantage in the seventh with a solo homer to center off a 92.1 mph changeup from Jhoan Duran. The Phillies added their final run in the eighth when Trea Turner’s sacrifice fly scored Derek Hill, who had tripled.
Chris Sale closes the door
Braves left-hander Chris Sale entered with two outs in the eighth, just one day after resting following his Game 1 start. He struck out Harper to end the inning.
Sale allowed a leadoff single to Bohm in the ninth but retired Bryson Stott on a fly ball before striking out Bryan De La Cruz and Otto Kemp in succession, sealing Atlanta’s 6-2 victory. Philadelphia, which entered the postseason as the National League’s third wild-card team, was eliminated.
Kim Ha-seong remains on the bench
South Korean infielder Kim Ha-seong was on Atlanta’s roster but did not play in Game 3. Mauricio Dubón started at shortstop and batted fifth as the Braves faced the right-handed Nola.
Kim, 30, went hitless in three at-bats with one walk and one run scored over the first two games of the series. His career postseason numbers stood at eight hits in 43 at-bats, a .186 batting average, three RBIs and a .542 OPS.
Dodgers await in the NLDS
Atlanta will next face the Los Angeles Dodgers, champions of the National League West, in the Division Series.
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