Braves Beat Phillies 6-2 in Game 3, Win NL Wild Card Series

The Atlanta Braves moved on with a 6-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series on Thursday night at Truist Park, taking the best-of-three matchup 2-1 and advancing to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series.

Atlanta grabbed control immediately and never let it go. Michael Harris II put the Braves ahead 3-0 with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning. Ozzie Albies added a two-run homer in the fourth, and Matt Olson later supplied a solo shot to give Atlanta its final margin. After Philadelphia forced a decisive third game with a 10-inning win in Game 2, the Braves answered with early power in the series finale.

The most notable tactical move came on the mound. Atlanta opened the elimination game with left-hander Ray Kerr, who delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and throwing 47 pitches. Kerr had said before the game, “I’m ready.” The Braves also showed how aggressively they planned to manage the night when Chris Sale, Atlanta’s Game 1 starter, appeared in relief in the eighth inning and struck out Bryce Harper on four pitches, all sliders.

Philadelphia managed only two runs. The Phillies scored once in the sixth inning and added another in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by shortstop Trea Turner. Philadelphia started right-hander Aaron Nola on regular rest, but the Braves’ early offense gave Atlanta room to dictate the game.

The result carried extra weight beyond simple survival. Atlanta entered the postseason as the National League East champion, the No. 3 seed and a 94-68 club, while Philadelphia was the No. 6 seed at 88-74. This was the only MLB wild-card series this year to reach a deciding Game 3. It also gave the Braves a breakthrough against a familiar October opponent after the Phillies had won each of the teams’ previous three postseason series, including National League Division Series matchups in 2022 and 2023.

There is little time to enjoy it. Because Los Angeles had a first-round bye, Atlanta now goes straight from a deciding wild-card game into the next round on the road. Game 1 of the NLDS is scheduled for Saturday in Los Angeles.