NewzATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Chris Sale came out of the bullpen on one day of rest to get the final four outs and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night in the decisive Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series.Surprise starter Ray Kerr threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings for Atlanta, and Ozzie Albies launched a two-run homer in the fourth. Matt Olson added a solo shot in the seventh as the Braves advanced to a best-of-five Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.“I told our guys, `Man, all year long when the stakes have been the highest, when the challenges have been the toughest, we’ve been at our absolute best.' So it doesn’t surprise me that we played the way we did tonight,” Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said.The Braves took a postseason series for the first time since winning the 2021 World Series and earned their first playoff series win against the Phillies. Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NL Championship Series and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.After winning the NL East by six games over Philadelphia this year, the Braves came out on top in their postseason matchup, too.“Those guys kind of went start to finish in this division,” Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said.
“Over the course of the 162 (games), they were the best team in our division.”Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola was pulled after allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings. and Matt Olson with one out in the first before giving up the homer to Harris, who hit into two double plays in Wednesday's 4-3 loss in 10 innings which forced Thursday night's game.Kerr made his postseason debut in only his fourth career start. Braves manager Walt Weiss wanted a left-hander to face Phillies left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper at least once.Kerr allowed only one hit — to Schwarber in the first — and one walk — to Schwarber in the fourth.
Kerr left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd and acknowledged the cheers by lifting up his arm as he approached the dugout.“Hopefully, Ray Kerr became a bit of a household name tonight. Like I said, he’s very grateful to be here. He’s got a grateful heart, and he was very excited about the challenge tonight.
As you saw, he wasn’t rattled at all. ATLANTA (AP) — Michael Harris II hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Ray Kerr threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night in the decisive Game 3 of their National League Wild Card Series.Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Matt Olson added a solo shot in the seventh for the Braves, who advance to a best-of-five Division Series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.The Braves won a postseason series for the first time since winning the 2021 World Series and earned their first playoff series win against the Phillies. Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola was pulled after allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Right-hander Grant Holmes followed Kerr and allowed one run in two innings to earn the win.Kerr left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd and acknowledged the cheers by lifting up his arm as he approached the dugout.Left-hander Chris Sale, the starter in Atlanta's 5-3 win in Tuesday's series opener, struck out Harper to end the eighth and closed out the win in the ninth by striking out Bryan De La Cruz and pinch-hitter Otto Kemp.Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, the winning pitcher in Sunday's 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay that clinched the wild-card spot, walked Austin Riley in the fourth before giving up Albies' homer to right field that gave Atlanta a 5-0 lead. Wheeler allowed two runs in four innings. Jonathan Bowlan, Philadelphia's fourth pitcher, gave up Olson's homer to center field.Kerr, 32, flourished in the postseason spotlight.
He pitched in only nine games after being recalled by Atlanta on Aug. He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and didn’t pitch in 2025.Philadelphia's 2022 World Series loss to Houston began a streak of five straight postseason appearances …
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