In a thrilling start to the National League wild card series, the Atlanta Braves rallied to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 on Tuesday night in Atlanta. The turning point came in the eighth inning when Braves’ Austin Riley launched a three-run home run off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran, breaking a tie and securing the lead for Atlanta. Riley’s homer followed a single by Michael Harris II and a hit-by-pitch to Ozzie Albies, helping the Braves overcome a deficit against a typically reliable bullpen.
Duran, an All-Star closer who surrendered only two home runs throughout the regular season in 61 appearances, struggled under postseason pressure. Harris contributed significantly for Atlanta with three hits on the night. Riley’s go-ahead homer held added significance given his underwhelming regular season, during which he hit .219 with 19 home runs. “Especially knowing how my season was not the way I wanted it, that’s why the postseason is a clean slate,” Riley commented, noting his focus on helping his teammates succeed.
The pitching duel early in the game featured Braves ace Chris Sale and Phillies’ left-hander Jesus Luzardo. Luzardo, returning after missing time due to left shoulder inflammation, delivered a strong performance over five innings, allowing just one run on 77 pitches despite an initially planned abbreviated start. However, once Philadelphia turned to the bullpen, the Braves seized the moment. The Phillies’ relievers had struggled down the stretch, posting a 5.79 ERA in September—the worst mark in the majors.
With the Braves leading the series 1-0, they have an opportunity to clinch the best-of-three matchup on Wednesday and halt Philadelphia’s recent postseason dominance in the NL East rivalry. The Phillies had previously prevailed over Atlanta in the 1993 National League Championship Series as well as the 2022 and 2023 National League Division Series.
Meanwhile, in the American League wild card round, the Chicago White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 6-3 in Houston, taking a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three series. The White Sox, making their first postseason appearance since 2021, showcased resilience after consecutive 100-loss seasons—including a record 121 losses in 2024—to become the only Major League team to rebound from multiple 100-loss campaigns to reach the playoffs. Colson Montgomery’s solo home run and Sam Antonacci’s two RBIs contributed to Chicago’s early 3-0 lead after two innings, which they maintained to secure the victory.
The Astros, winners of the AL West with an 81-81 record, became the first team to advance to the postseason without a winning record. However, Houston continues to struggle at home in the playoffs, suffering its eighth consecutive home playoff loss in nine postseason appearances over the last decade. Astros manager Joe Espada expressed confidence in his team’s ability to bounce back. “Our backs have been against the corner before and I think that’s when we are our best, when we fight back,” Espada said. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday in Houston, with Houston aiming to force a deciding Game 3 in the series.