Phillies Storm Back Late, Ride Long Ball to Force Game 3 Against Braves
Sep 30, 2026; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) speaks with outfielder Bryce Harper (3) after hitting a solo home run against the Atlanta Braves in the eighth inning during game two of the Wildcard round for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
They don’t call them Fightin’ Phils for no reason.
With the season on the line, the Phillies win a wild Game 2, taking the Atlanta Braves to extra innings in a playoff series for the first time since 1993, winning a tense 4-3 game where the Phils offense woke up late and the bullpen clamped down to force a Game 3 on Thursday.
The Phils had to come in with a plan against Tyler Mahle, who has been one of the best pitchers for Atlanta since the trade deadline. They’d have to leave the heartbreak of Game 1 in the past and focus on the task at hand, which is winning one inning at a time.
They were able to do so early. Bryce Harper got the scoring started in the first, singling home Trea Turner, who doubled to lead off the game, giving the Phillies an early 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the Braves answered back. Matt Olson singled home Ronald Acuna Jr. to tie the game at one. In the seventh, the Braves scored two runs, the first on a misplay by Harper in right field and then a sacrifice fly by Olson, giving the Braves a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the eighth, the Fightins awoke. Kyle Schwarber took on Dylan Lee, who hadn’t given up a home run to a left-handed batter all season took a flat slider over the Chop House in right to bring the Phils to within one.
After that, Harper had a chance to make up for the mistake in right field, and on essentially the same pitch that Schwarber got, Harper put a home run into right. Lee hadn’t given up two home runs to lefties in more than two years.
Andrew Painter entered in relief and pitched the Phillies into extra innings. After Dider Fuentes got Schwarber and Harper in the tenth, Alec Bohm got ahold of a high fastball and hit a home run to right to take the lead 4-3.
Bohm, after such a turbulent season on and off the field, delivered the game-saving hit. Painter shut the door, and they will play an all-or-nothing Game 3 Thursday, currently scheduled for 2 p.m. However, if the New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs Wednesday night, the Phillies and Braves will play at 8 p.m. on Thursday.
Sanchez Keeps Phillies in the Game
Cristopher Sanchez has had one issue all season long, and it’s been the first inning. In this game, he followed that pattern. Acuna Jr. walked to lead off the first, stole second and third base, and was driven in by Acuna with two outs.
The first inning was a straight steal, and the seventh inning was essentially defensive indifference. He avoided trouble until the sixth inning when the Braves loaded the bases, and Michael Harris grounded into a 3-2-3 double play to get Sanchez out of the inning.
He did get into trouble in the seventh, giving up two runs fueled by Phillies miscues in the field. He threw a career-high 116 pitches, and though he didn’t finish the inning, Alex McFarlane closed it out; the gutsy performance kept the Phillies in the game, giving the offense a chance to wake up and figure out the Braves bullpen. Though his final line won’t be the prettiest of the season, it was his most valiant.
Phillies Offense Responds Late
The Phillies offense has been touch and go the entire month of September, and Mahle kept them quiet after the first inning. They looked lost against him. Mahle kept them off balance all game with the way he was using the fastball and keeping it on the corners. This kept the Phillies guessing.
With the Phillies down in the seventh, Lee came in, and the big bats came through with back-to-back home runs to tie the game after the Braves took the lead in the seventh. When the Phillies needed it most, the superstars came through.
In the 10th inning, after Fuentes got Schwarber and Harper, Bohm went the other way for a home run to take the lead in the game, coming through in the clutch. It was Bohm’s first opposite-field homer since Opening Day.
The Phils lived to fight another day thanks to the home run in this game. The way they kept fighting and not giving at-bats away is a very good sign for Game 3 and gives them something to build on in a double-elimination game.
Bullpen Paints A Masterpiece
The Phillies’ No. 1 issue this season and in Game 1 has been the bullpen. With Jhoan Duran unavailable Wednesday after the extended load in Game 1, it seemed bleak.
Those questions were answered. After pitching a masterful eighth and ninth, interim manager Don Mattingly opted to send out Painter for the tenth inning to get the final three outs.
As you’d expect, a team with championship DNA was not going to go down without a fight, and after singles by Mauricio Dubon and Harris, Painter leaned on his fastball and changeup and got Austin Riley, taking the chance away from him to play the hero to the hometown fans once again. He overpowered Olson, Riley, and Dom Smith in the 10th inning to close out his first playoff appearance in the most pressure-packed situation possible and passed the test.
Painter has certainly turned the page on his struggles of the first half and provided stability to a bullpen that needed it now more than ever.
Steve Hamilton
Steve may have been born in California, but don’t let that fool you. After dating a local woman and clashing with her and her family over sports for decades, he has an affinity for Philly sports. Balancing love for Philly and Bay Area sports teams may seem impossible; we can all agree that the Cowboys are the true evil.
Get New Articles Emailed Right To Your Inbox:
