The Phillies vs Braves game delivered a dramatic postseason finish as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 in Game 3 of their wild-card series on Thursday night.
With their season on the line, the Braves produced an early offensive surge and held Philadelphia at bay to advance to the National League Division Series. The victory also ended Atlanta’s long wait for a winner-take-all postseason win against a backdrop of difficult playoff history with the Phillies.
Braves Beat Phillies 6-2 in Game 3
Atlanta wasted little time taking control of the decisive game. After Ray Kerr worked through the top of the first inning, Michael Harris II gave the Braves an immediate boost with a three-run home run in the bottom half.
The blast put Atlanta ahead 3-0 and gave the Braves the early cushion they needed in a winner-take-all matchup.
Harris was not the only Atlanta hitter to leave the ballpark. Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies also homered, giving the Braves three home runs in the 6-2 victory.
The combination of early power and timely pitching allowed Atlanta to maintain control throughout the game.
Phillies vs Braves Postseason History Takes Another Turn
The result was particularly significant because Philadelphia had previously dominated this postseason matchup.
Before Game 3, the Phillies had won all three previous postseason series against the Braves. Philadelphia eliminated Atlanta in both 2022 and 2023, including seasons in which the Braves had won more than 100 regular-season games.
This time, Atlanta avoided another early postseason exit and finally got past its division rival in October.
The Braves’ victory changed the recent postseason narrative between the two teams and sent Philadelphia home after a decisive Game 3.
Braves End 30-Year Winner-Take-All Drought
Atlanta also ended a notable postseason drought with the victory.
The Braves had not won a winner-take-all postseason game since Game 7 of the 1996 National League Championship Series. Remarkably, Atlanta also hit three home runs in that game, with Andruw Jones, Fred McGriff and Javy Lopez providing the power.
Three decades later, Harris, Olson and Albies matched that home-run total in another elimination game.
For Atlanta, the connection between the two postseason moments added another layer to an already historic victory.
Phillies’ Winner-Take-All Struggles Continue
The loss extended Philadelphia’s difficult record in winner-take-all postseason games.
The Phillies have not won a winner-take-all postseason game since 1980. That streak continued after Atlanta jumped out to its early lead and prevented Philadelphia from mounting a comeback.
Philadelphia had entered the matchup with recent postseason success against Atlanta, but the Braves reversed that trend when it mattered most.
Braves Move on to Face Dodgers
The Braves now turn their attention to the NLDS, where they will face the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The upcoming series will be another major postseason test for Atlanta. The Braves last met the Dodgers in the postseason in the 2021 NLCS, when Atlanta won the series in six games before going on to capture the World Series.
Five years later, Atlanta has another opportunity to challenge Los Angeles in October.
For now, the biggest story from the Phillies vs Braves game is Atlanta’s 6-2 win, three-home-run performance and its first postseason series victory over Philadelphia.
The Braves have finally cleared a hurdle that had ended their postseason hopes in previous years. Now their attention shifts to the Dodgers and the next stage of October baseball.
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