Braves Take Game 1 on Riley's Dramatic Blast
ATLANTA — Austin Riley, who endured a career-worst regular season, delivered the biggest hit of his postseason career on Tuesday night. His two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card Series at Truist Park.
The blast came off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran, who had been summoned in the seventh inning for a bold, multi-inning save attempt. After retiring the first five batters he faced, Duran surrendered a single and a walk. Riley then pounced on a 99.9 mph fastball over the middle of the plate, driving it 385 feet to right-center field.
"You couldn't tell this year if he was the leading MVP candidate or if he was struggling," Braves manager Walt Weiss said of Riley. "He was the same guy every day. Stuff like this doesn't happen if you ride that roller coaster of emotion as a player."
Riley admitted he wasn't sure the ball was gone off the bat. "No, I did not," he said after a long pause. "I was praying it was going as I was running to first." He added, "That's the beauty of the postseason: clean slate."
Sale Shines, Luzardo Matches Him
The Braves' victory was set up by a stellar outing from veteran left-hander Chris Sale. The 37-year-old, a former Cy Young Award winner, delivered 6 1/3 innings — a playoff career high — while striking out nine, also a postseason best. Sale allowed three earned runs, though two scored after he exited.
The Phillies countered with lefty Jesús Luzardo, who was making his first start since returning from a shoulder injury. Pitching for the second time in three days, Luzardo exceeded expectations with five innings of one-run ball. He kept the Braves off balance for much of the night.
Philadelphia took a 3-2 lead in the top of the seventh when J.T. Realmuto laced a two-out, two-run triple into the right-field corner off reliever Didier Fuentes. Realmuto, who had endured an 0-for-34 stretch late in the regular season, came through in a key moment.
A Rivalry Renewed with High Stakes
The Braves and Phillies have developed one of baseball's most heated rivalries in recent years. Philadelphia eliminated Atlanta in the 2022 and 2023 NLDS, and the Braves are seeking revenge. Tuesday's win gives Atlanta a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-three format.
"That's usually how it goes when these two teams play each other," Weiss said, acknowledging the tight, back-and-forth nature of the contest.
The game also featured a controversial managerial decision. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly chose to use Duran, typically a one-inning closer, for a six-out save. The move initially worked, but ultimately backfired when Riley connected. As noted by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel, Mattingly's early move to Duran, "our best guy," did not pay off.
Riley's Redemption Arc
Riley entered the postseason with a .219 batting average, a career low. His power numbers were down across the board, and he had been a focal point of fan frustration. But his mental approach never wavered, according to Weiss.
The homer was reminiscent of Riley's clutch reputation in past postseasons. In 2021, he was named NLCS MVP after hitting .431 with three home runs in the Braves' World Series run. Now, he has a chance to author another memorable October.
"He's been through a lot this year," Weiss said. "But he's the same guy every day. That's why you stick with him."
What's Next for the Braves and Phillies
The series continues Wednesday night at Truist Park. The Phillies will look to even the series and avoid elimination, while the Braves can advance to the NLDS with a win.
Atlanta is seeking its first postseason series victory since 2021, when it won the World Series. The Phillies, meanwhile, are aiming to return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2022.
For Philadelphia, the loss raises questions about bullpen usage and whether Mattingly's aggressive tactics will pay off in the long run. For Atlanta, the win validates the team's resilience and its ability to win tight games — a hallmark of its recent success.
As the series unfolds, all eyes will remain on Riley, whose redemption story could become one of the defining narratives of the 2026 postseason. For now, the Braves have seized control, and the Phillies are left searching for answers.
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