Riley homer lifts Braves past Phillies 5-3 in Wild Card opener
MLB reports a three-run eighth-inning home run off Jhoan Duran in Atlanta.
Atlanta beat Philadelphia 5-3 in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on September 29 at Truist Park. MLB's official report credits Austin Riley's three-run homer off Jhoan Duran with two outs in the eighth inning as the decisive swing.
The Phillies had led 3-2 after J.T. Realmuto's two-run triple in the seventh. Riley's home run changed that one-run deficit into Atlanta's two-run winning margin. The final score is distinct from either of those earlier game states.
Chris Sale recorded nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings in the Braves' start. MLB says he was charged with three runs; two scored on Realmuto's triple after Didier Fuentes entered from the bullpen. A pitcher can be charged for inherited runners even after leaving the mound.
The victory put Atlanta ahead in the best-of-three series, not through to the next round. MLB's report shifts attention to Game 2, but this article does not add a result for that game or treat a historical series-win percentage as a prediction.
This is original ScoreZaap summary writing from the linked MLB account. No player quotation or agency image has been copied. Read the baseball hub for available current scores, and the blog's RBI and earned-run guides for scoring context.