The Atlanta Braves secured a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday, Sept. 29, after third baseman Austin Riley hit a go-ahead three-run home run in the eighth inning. The Braves now lead the best-of-three series and can clinch a spot in the NL Division Series with a win in Game 2 on Wednesday.
Phillies manager Don Mattingly used closer Jhoan Duran earlier than usual, a decision that initially appeared successful before Duran allowed Riley’s decisive home run. The Phillies had held a 3-2 lead entering the eighth inning, but Duran’s struggles shifted momentum in Atlanta’s favor.
Core Developments
Riley’s clutch home run broke a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning, marking his third go-ahead postseason homer in the eighth inning or later—a franchise record for the Braves. Riley, who struggled during the 2026 regular season with a .654 OPS and 19 home runs, now stands as the team’s postseason hero. Braves manager Walt Weiss emphasized the significance of Riley’s performance, stating, "Nothin’ that happened in the regular season really matters. It's a clean slate."
Mattingly’s bullpen strategy came under scrutiny after Duran, the Phillies’ top reliever, allowed the go-ahead home run. Mattingly defended the move in a postgame press conference, saying, "We talked about it before the game—if we're getting to the top (of the Braves' lineup) then he'd go (pitch the) seventh, eighth (inning)." The Phillies’ lead evaporated, and Atlanta took a 5-3 advantage that held through the ninth inning.
Game Recap and Implications
The Phillies had entered the game with a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning after J.T. Realmuto’s two-run triple off Braves starter Chris Sale. However, Duran’s struggles in the eighth inning—including a hit batsman and a three-run home run to Riley—turned the tide. Atlanta’s Raisel Iglesias closed out the game in the ninth to preserve the win.
For the Braves, the victory puts them one win away from advancing to the NLDS, where they would face the Los Angeles Dodgers. Atlanta dominated the Dodgers in six regular-season meetings, winning five times. Braves ace Cristopher Sánchez, who led MLB in bWAR with a 2.91 ERA and 231 strikeouts, is scheduled to start Game 2.
The Phillies, meanwhile, face elimination after squandering a late lead. Their late-season struggles—including a four-game losing streak before clinching the Wild Card spot—were compounded by the bullpen misstep. The team’s postseason run now hinges on a must-win Game 2.
Postseason Context and Records
Riley’s home run tied him with Troy Glaus, Bernie Williams, Jose Altuve, and Freddie Freeman for the most go-ahead postseason homers in the eighth inning or later in MLB history. His performance follows a disappointing regular season, where he posted a .737 OPS in 2025 and a .654 OPS in 2026. Weiss’s postgame remarks underscored the narrative of redemption in the postseason, a recurring theme for Riley, who excelled in the 2021 season with 33 home runs and a Silver Slugger award.
The Braves’ path to the NLDS remains uncertain, with Sánchez set to face the Phillies’ lineup, which includes left-handed hitters who have struggled against left-handed pitching. Atlanta’s ability to overcome this matchup will determine whether they advance to face the Dodgers.