Braves Defeat Phillies to Advance in National League Wild Card Series

The Atlanta Braves defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 6–2 at True East Park in Atlanta, Georgia, securing a 2–1 victory in their National League Wild Card series and advancing to the Division Series. The win marks Atlanta’s first postseason series victory since their 2021 World Series title and their first-ever postseason series win against Philadelphia, having lost in 2022 and 2023.

Atlanta Claims Wild Card Series Over Philadelphia

The decisive Game 3 victory on October 2, 2024 (Korean time), propelled the Braves past a rival that had eliminated them in consecutive postseasons. Following the final out, players gathered inside the clubhouse batting cages, which had been wrapped in large plastic sheeting, to spray champagne and beer in a postgame celebration.

“The feeling is great,” Ozzie Albies said after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning. “To win at home against a team that has eliminated us the past few years feels amazing.”

Michael Harris II Responds After Early Struggles

Michael Harris II rebounded from a difficult outing in Game 2, where he hit into two double plays, by launching a three-run home run in the first inning of Game 3. “Of course you want to do well in every situation, but baseball doesn’t always go that way,” Harris said. “Especially in the postseason, emotions are bound to run high. Sometimes feelings pour out, and you have to find a way to calm down.”

Harris explained his approach during the first-inning at-bat, noting that early baserunners put the opposing pitcher under pressure. “I was looking for a pitch I could handle and put a good swing on it,” he said. To maintain focus, Harris revealed that the team spent more time discussing fantasy football in the clubhouse before the game than baseball itself, a routine he credited with helping keep the roster relaxed under pressure.

Dodgers Wait as Division Series Opponent

While the Braves celebrated their advancement, the Los Angeles Dodgers awaited their next opponent, having secured their rest while broadcasting the Wild Card action on the Dodger Stadium scoreboard during their own intrasquad workouts. Austin Riley acknowledged the intense scrutiny awaiting the club in the next round. “They’re going to examine us under a microscope,” Riley said. “It’s going to be tough everywhere. But we believe we can do it, and we plan to attack from the very start.”

Bench coach Walt Weiss, who has spent nine seasons with the organization, pointed to the team’s resilience throughout the 162-game schedule. Reflecting on an 11-game deficit that was trimmed down to two games before a late-season surge, Weiss noted that the roster’s ability to bounce back defines their identity.

Braves Defeat Phillies in Wild Card Series

When did the Atlanta Braves secure their Wild Card series victory over the Philadelphia Phillies?
The Braves won Game 3 of the National League Wild Card series on October 2, 2024 (Korean time), taking the series 2–1 at True East Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

Who hit key home runs for Atlanta in the decisive Game 3?
Michael Harris II hit a three-run home run in the first inning, and Ozzie Albies added a two-run home run in the fourth inning.

More on this story: Atlanta Braves beat Philadelphia Phillies to face Los Angeles Dodgers · Phillies and Braves Set for Winner-Take-All NL Wild Card Game 3