Braves beat Phillies 6-2 in Game 3, advance to NLDS against Dodgers
Michael Harris II’s three-run homer and a rare relief outing from Chris Sale on one day’s rest finished Philadelphia; Atlanta opens the Division Series Saturday in Los Angeles.
What we know: The Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night at Truist Park in the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series, ESPN and the Boston Globe (AP) reported. Michael Harris II hit a three-run homer in the first inning; Ozzie Albies added a two-run shot in the fourth and Matt Olson a solo homer in the seventh. Atlanta advances to a best-of-five NL Division Series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, with Game 1 set for Saturday in Los Angeles.
The win was Atlanta’s first playoff series victory against Philadelphia and its first postseason series win since the 2021 World Series, the Globe reported. Philadelphia had beaten Atlanta in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
How the pitching held: Left-hander Ray Kerr, making only his fourth career big-league start and his postseason debut, threw 3⅓ scoreless innings with one hit and one walk, ESPN and the Globe reported. Braves manager Walt Weiss wanted a lefty to face Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper at least once; Kerr got through the top of the order twice. Ace Chris Sale, who started Tuesday’s Game 1 win, came out of the bullpen on one day of rest for the final four outs, striking out Harper in the eighth and closing the ninth, ESPN said.
Weiss said Sale walked into his office Thursday and volunteered: “I feel amazing.” Sale threw 21 pitches after 95 in Game 1; Weiss said he did not yet know whether Sale could start Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday.
Phillies side: Aaron Nola was pulled after allowing three runs in 1⅔ innings. Zack Wheeler, pitching in relief, allowed Albies’s homer that made it 5-0; Jonathan Bowlan gave up Olson’s solo shot, the Globe reported. Philadelphia’s postseason exits have shortened in recent years after the 2022 World Series loss — NLCS, two NLDS, and now a wild-card exit.
What this means: Atlanta’s power and a short-rest Sale outing ended the Phillies’ season; the Braves now face a Dodgers club that has won the last two World Series, starting Saturday on the road.