Atlanta Braves
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By: CHARLES ODUM AP
ATLANTA (AP) — Austin Riley hit a three-run homer off All-Star closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves rallied past the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3 on Tuesday in the opener of a best-of-three National League Wild Card Series.
BRAVES WIN!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/1uALAJubwV
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Duran (0-1), who allowed just two homers in 61 regular-season games, gave up a single to Michael Harris II before hitting Ozzie Albies with a pitch. Riley drove the go-ahead blast over the wall in right-center field. Harris had three hits.
Game 1 ✔️ pic.twitter.com/BElIoJnSyw
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
The Braves can clinch the series on Wednesday and end the Phillies’ history of postseason success in the NL East rivalry. Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Riley’s go-ahead homer was especially satisfying after he hit only .219 with 19 homers in a frustrating regular season.
#LetItFly https://t.co/phnx0uqwL7
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
“Especially knowing how my season was not the way I wanted it, that’s why the postseason is a clean slate,” Riley said, adding he was “trying to do something good” for his teammates. Riley’s go-ahead homer was especially satisfying after he hit only .219 with 19 homers in a frustrating regular season.
LET IT FLY, AUSTIN!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/fMljqixlHk
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Braves ace Chris Sale said Riley never let his struggles affect his approach to the game during the regular season.
OZZIE, WE 👏 LOVE 👏 HIM 👏#LetItFly https://t.co/Zlmoz8DGXE pic.twitter.com/Vm6NIKirAg
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
“You couldn’t tell if he was the leading MVP candidate or if he was struggling,” Sale said. “I really mean that. He’s the same guy. He kept doing the work and had a great moment.”
Straight dealing 🔥#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/UwhaK0kcmn
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Sale dueled early against Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo, who was sharp after missing time down the stretch with left shoulder inflammation. Luzardo was expected to make an abbreviated start, but he pitched one-run ball over five innings with 77 pitches. “In my mind if we got 75 pitches from him today, we would be in a pretty good spot,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said of Luzardo. “… He kind of gave us more than we thought honestly.”
Got 'em 💪#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/r9JSyyDM75
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Atlanta pounced when Philadelphia went to the bullpen — a common theme for the Phillies as they slumped into the postseason. Their relievers had a 5.79 ERA in September, worst in the majors
https://t.co/45TTdErV6G pic.twitter.com/QXd7HDKAI0
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Albies hit a tiebreaking triple off Alex McFarlane in the sixth for a 2-1 lead. Center fielder Derek Hill had an opportunity to make a leaping catch of Albies’ drive at the wall, but he appeared to jump too high. The ball hit Hill’s wrist below his glove. J.T. Realmuto put Philadelphia ahead 3-2 with a two-run triple in the seventh inning — right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. bobbled the ball near the wall, but he wasn’t charged with an error.
Cy Sale 🫡 pic.twitter.com/IXtRSHQ1eA
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Mattingly handed the ball over to Duran in the seventh, perhaps hoping the 28-year-old had three innings in him to close things out. Duran made just one multi-inning appearance this season.
Line 'em up!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/ysgjQ6nNCS
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Sale gave up three runs as he faded in the seventh in his effort to deliver as the ace of Atlanta’s depleted rotation.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Sale hit Bryan De La Cruz with a pitch with one out in the seventh before giving up a single to Bryson Stott. Right-hander Didier Fuentes then gave up Realmuto’s two-run triple to the right-field corner.
How we got here 🫡 pic.twitter.com/rP5kUYDtRj
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Alec Bohm hit a high fastball from Sale for a run-scoring double over Harris in center in the first inning. Sale didn’t give up another hit until Edmundo Sosa doubled with two outs in the fifth.
Today's ceremonial first pitch: Braves Hall of Famer Brian Snitker!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/Pyxs7U4c50
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Luzardo gave up three hits with six strikeouts. He pitched longer than many expected after throwing a scoreless eighth inning in Sunday’s 7-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays that clinched the wild-card berth.
Oh you want another angle of Austin's home run? Here you go!#LetItFly pic.twitter.com/zpReoBGRU6
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for the save after Dylan Lee (1-0) threw a scoreless eighth.
What an incredible day!
Let's do it again tomorrow 😎#LetItFly: https://t.co/muLWeDe0fc pic.twitter.com/qKXINe3uO1
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 30, 2026
100 at 37
The 37-year-old Sale threw a 100-mph fastball to Bryce Harper in the first inning. He joined Aroldis Chapman for Boston last season as the only pitchers 37 or older to throw a 100-mph pitch in the postseason since tracking began in 2008.
🎟️ https://t.co/muLWeDe0fc https://t.co/Zk5SZ9HGXp
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 29, 2026
No sellout
The 2:15 p.m. first pitch, with potential fans in school and at work, hurt the attendance. The announced attendance was 30,127 with gaps of empty seats throughout Truist Park, especially in left field. The Braves ranked 10th in the major leagues in attendance with a total of 2,800,446 and an average of 34,573 with 25 sellouts.
Today's postgame press conference with Chris Sale and Austin Riley: pic.twitter.com/ktz5R9EnzM
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) September 30, 2026
Up next
Braves RHP Tyler Mahle (7-10, 3.99 ERA) is expected to face Phillies LHP Cristopher Sánchez (18-7, 2.91) in Wednesday’s second game of the series. Mahle was 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA in nine games with Atlanta.
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