In a breathtaking display of power, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a resounding 10-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves, putting the Phillies on the cusp of advancing to the National League Championship Series. This win positions Philadelphia just one victory away from eliminating their division rivals from the NL Division Series for the second consecutive season.
Harper and Castellanos each delivered two home runs, and they were joined by Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh, who also added homers to the Phillies’ stunning offensive performance. Aaron Nola (2-0) took command on the mound, striking out nine over 5 2/3 innings, further solidifying the Phillies’ 2-1 lead in this best-of-five series. The eagerly anticipated Game 4 is slated to take place on Thursday night in Philadelphia.
The Phillies’ mastery at home during the playoffs continued, as they have now posted an impressive 9-2 record at home since 2022. Notably, they dispatched the Braves in the NLDS in four games last year, securing a 2-0 record against them in Philadelphia and ultimately earning a trip to the World Series.
Bryce Harper, who made the first multi-homer playoff appearance of his career, showcased his big-game prowess. This remarkable performance came in response to a baserunning mistake in Game 2 that contributed to a 5-4 win for the Braves. Phillies manager Rob Thomson praised Harper’s ability to rise to the occasion, stating, “He’s a big-game player, he really is. These moments, he steps up. I think he wanted to correct himself for the baserunning error, so that gets him going a little bit.”
Harper and Castellanos, who had only one postseason home run between them prior to this game, joined an elite group in Major League history by both hitting two homers in the same playoff game. They became just the fourth set of teammates to achieve this feat, joining the ranks of the 1932 New York Yankees, the 2020 San Diego Padres, and the 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers.
Harper’s emphatic home runs were accompanied by intense staredowns of Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia, who had previously mocked him during the Braves’ post-Game 2 celebration. Harper’s unyielding response spoke volumes about his determination.
The Braves, who boasted the best regular-season record in baseball, now find themselves teetering on the edge of elimination. Despite their reputation as an offensive powerhouse throughout the season, they have been limited to a mere seven runs and two home runs across three games in this series.
Phillies’ starting pitcher Aaron Nola played a pivotal role, permitting only two runs on six hits and one walk. The bullpen, featuring Matt Strahm, Seranthony Dominguez, Orion Kerkering, and Michael Lorenzen, contributed 3 1/3 scoreless innings to secure the victory.
This decisive victory in Game 3 pushes the Philadelphia Phillies one step closer to their aspirations of reaching the National League Championship Series once again. The stage is set for a thrilling Game 4 in Philadelphia, where the Phillies aim to clinch their ticket to the next round.
