After grounding into two double plays in the previous game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Michael Harris II was determined to bounce back. His chance came quickly as he smashed a three-run homer in the first inning. Chris Sale entered the game from the bullpen with just one day of rest to secure the final four outs, helping Atlanta to a 6-2 victory over the Phillies in Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Ray Kerr, a surprise starter, delivered 3 1/3 scoreless innings for Atlanta, while Ozzie Albies added a two-run homer in the fourth. Matt Olson contributed with a solo shot in the seventh, propelling the team to the next round against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a best-of-five Division Series.
Manager Walt Weiss expressed his confidence in the team’s performance, highlighting their resilience in high-stakes situations throughout the season. Harris, despite his two double plays in the previous game, showcased his postseason prowess with a .426 batting average, two home runs, and five RBIs in his first eight playoff games.
The win marked Atlanta’s first postseason series victory since their 2021 World Series triumph and their first playoff series win against the Phillies, a team that had previously ended their postseason hopes in past years.
Albies expressed satisfaction in defeating the Phillies, who had been a formidable opponent in past playoff matchups. Meanwhile, Philadelphia faced another disappointing postseason exit, continuing a streak of early playoff departures since their 2022 World Series loss to Houston.
Looking ahead, Atlanta is set to face the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in the Division Series opener on Saturday, challenging the two-time defending World Series champions.