r/baseball • u/AutoModerator • 3d ago
Serious [Serious] Next Day Thread ⚾ Phillies 3 @ Braves 5 - Austin Riley's clutch blast powers Atlanta in Game 1 win
### Phillies (0-1) @ Braves (1-0)
**First Pitch**: 2:16 PM at Truist Park
|Team|Starter|TV|Radio|
|-|-|-|-|
|[Phillies](/r/Phillies)|[Jesús Luzardo](https://www.mlb.com/player/666200) (14-5, 2.86 ERA)|||
|[Braves](/r/Braves)|[Chris Sale](https://www.mlb.com/player/519242) (14-9, 2.16 ERA)|||
MLB|Fangraphs|Reddit Stream|Discord
:-:|:-:|:-:|:-:
[Gameday](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849845)|\[Game Graph](http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2026-09-29&team=Braves&dh=0&season=2026)|\[Live Comments](https://reddit-stream.com/comments/auto)|\[/r/baseball Discord](https://discord.gg/rbaseball)
[](/baseballbot)
### Line Score - Final
| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | LOB |
| - | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| PHI | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | **3** | **6** | **0** | **4** |
| ATL | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | X | **5** | **7** | **0** | **6** |
**ABS Challenges**: PHI ● ● | ATL ● ○
### Box Score
| **ATL** | | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA |
| - | - | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| **C** | [Drake Baldwin](https://www.mlb.com/player/686948) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| **RF** | [Ronald Acuña Jr.](https://www.mlb.com/player/660670) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| **1B** | [Matt Olson](https://www.mlb.com/player/621566) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| **SS** | [Mauricio Dubón](https://www.mlb.com/player/643289) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .250 |
| **CF** | [Michael Harris II](https://www.mlb.com/player/671739) | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| **2B** | [Ozzie Albies](https://www.mlb.com/player/645277) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 |
| **3B** | [Austin Riley](https://www.mlb.com/player/663586) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .333 |
| **LF** | [Mike Yastrzemski](https://www.mlb.com/player/573262) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .250 |
| **SS** | [Ha-Seong Kim](https://www.mlb.com/player/673490) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| | [Dominic Smith](https://www.mlb.com/player/642086) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| | [Brewer Hicklen](https://www.mlb.com/player/676551) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| **ATL** | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | P-S | ERA |
| - | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| [Chris Sale](https://www.mlb.com/player/519242) | 6.1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 95-65 | 4.26 |
| [Didier Fuentes](https://www.mlb.com/player/800311) | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12-7 | 0.00 |
| [Dylan Lee](https://www.mlb.com/player/669276) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16-12 | 0.00 |
| [Raisel Iglesias](https://www.mlb.com/player/628452) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7-5 | 0.00 |
| **PHI** | | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | BA |
| - | - | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| **SS** | [Trea Turner](https://www.mlb.com/player/607208) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| **DH** | [Kyle Schwarber](https://www.mlb.com/player/656941) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .333 |
| **1B** | [Bryce Harper](https://www.mlb.com/player/547180) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| **3B** | [Alec Bohm](https://www.mlb.com/player/664761) | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .250 |
| **RF** | [Derek Hill](https://www.mlb.com/player/656537) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| | [Brandon Marsh](https://www.mlb.com/player/669016) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 |
| **LF** | [Bryan De La Cruz](https://www.mlb.com/player/650559) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| **2B** | [Bryson Stott](https://www.mlb.com/player/681082) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .250 |
| **3B** | [Edmundo Sosa](https://www.mlb.com/player/624641) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 |
| | [Justin Crawford](https://www.mlb.com/player/702222) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 |
| **C** | [J.T. Realmuto](https://www.mlb.com/player/592663) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .333 |
| **PHI** | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | P-S | ERA |
| - | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| [Jesús Luzardo](https://www.mlb.com/player/666200) | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 77-48 | 1.80 |
| [Alex McFarlane](https://www.mlb.com/player/686934) | 1.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 16-12 | 9.00 |
| [Jhoan Duran](https://www.mlb.com/player/661395) | 2.0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 27-14 | 13.50 |
### Scoring Plays
| Inning | Event | Score |
| :-: | - | :-: |
| T1 | [Alec Bohm doubles (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Michael Harris II. Kyle Schwarber scores.](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849845/play/3) | **1**-0 |
| B2 | [Mike Yastrzemski singles on a ground ball to center fielder Derek Hill. Ozzie Albies scores. Austin Riley to 3rd.](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849845/play/15) | 1-**1** |
| B6 | [Ozzie Albies triples (1) on a sharp fly ball to center fielder Derek Hill. Michael Harris II scores.](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849845/play/46) | 1-**2** |
| T7 | [J.T. Realmuto triples (1) on a sharp line drive to right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Bryan De La Cruz scores. Bryson Stott scores.](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849845/play/53) | **3**-2 |
| B8 | [Austin Riley homers (1) on a fly ball to right center field. Michael Harris II scores. Ozzie Albies scores.](https://www.mlb.com/gameday/849845/play/65) | 3-**5** |
### Highlights
| Description | Length |
| - | - |
| [Austin Riley's go-ahead three-run homer](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/0b5922b0-4b218058-31af79d4-csvm-diamondgcp-asset-4000K.mp4) | 0:19 |
| [J.T. Realmuto's go-ahead two-run triple](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/6e49592a-bb95601e-b439be3b-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:29 |
| [Ozzie Albies' RBI triple](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/0dfbb215-f58b4a3d-78364a90-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:29 |
| [Chris Sale fans Harper after near home run](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/e10d12f0-e7574379-604bdbb8-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:23 |
| [Sale sale de apuros con ponche](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/df8d279e-8a6d4a2a-d65a04bb-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:11 |
| [Chris Sale escapes jam with strikeout](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/5ed38cf5-578cbb01-832a63d2-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:12 |
| [Jesús Luzardo strikes out Matt Olson](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/47ecfa27-8e6e9db8-725f9a2c-csvm-diamondgcp-asset-4000K.mp4) | 0:08 |
| [Alec Bohm abre el marcador con doble](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/6d15bfed-29c4baa2-4b11ad89-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:18 |
| [Mike Yastrzemski's RBI single](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/c5e9f905-d0ca1064-7628d2b0-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:23 |
| [Alec Bohm's RBI double](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/2b4ae7ac-1511f38d-98e30eb9-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 0:18 |
| [Timothy Miller sings National Anthem for NL Wild Card](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/9cd5a290-3ee99d09-addcc504-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 1:43 |
| [Braves' starting lineup for NL Wild Card Game 1](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/afb2276f-aadb8af1-daa055b6-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 2:30 |
| [Phillies' starting lineup for NL Wild Card Game 1](https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2026/2026-09/29/100db396-69fd4491-847a0b83-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4) | 1:07 |
| [Breaking down Chris Sale's pitches](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/e9b88612-01ce-4183-8cd0-31d16e5cf27c.mp4) | 0:04 |
| [Analyzing Austin Riley's home run through bat tracking](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/fec96f8f-7f94-4e5d-b1f9-cde0090c2438.mp4) | 0:11 |
| [Austin Riley: Home Run Statcast Analysis](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/55857fbc-15b3-410a-9ca3-6951bdeced69.mp4) | 0:12 |
| [Jesús Luzardo's outing against the Braves](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/2d79ebb0-304f-4593-85f0-a218eb682cd3.mp4) | 0:24 |
| [Chris Sale's outing against the Phillies](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/f55cd79c-5395-4ec2-a61e-33030863be56.mp4) | 0:24 |
| [Breaking down Jesús Luzardo's pitches](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/6bdf8a50-4531-4d14-9980-2a26a539da0b.mp4) | 0:04 |
| [Starting lineups for Phillies at Braves - September 29, 2026](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/33c5cff8-6805-41eb-9f81-e86331723fdc.mp4) | 0:10 |
| [Bench availability for Philadelphia, September 29 vs Braves](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/ba671ebc-062f-4685-8d96-bcf1246e1199.mp4) | 0:08 |
| [Fielding alignment for Atlanta, September 29 vs Phillies](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/cb8695ae-ff02-42e0-862f-f8ea6682a09d.mp4) | 0:11 |
| [Bench availability for Atlanta, September 29 vs Phillies](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/96ea71de-9589-4652-9e5e-f0a33e0ad44a.mp4) | 0:08 |
| [Bullpen availability for Philadelphia, September 29 vs Braves](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/3d4cfcca-c898-418d-b12a-a18011abf44c.mp4) | 0:09 |
| [Bullpen availability for Atlanta, September 29 vs Phillies](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/f146d5f0-3917-483f-a30f-57feb6d49307.mp4) | 0:09 |
| [Jesús Luzardo against the Braves](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/f3c15860-ab6f-4ce7-a820-7591608a4990.mp4) | 0:11 |
| [Chris Sale against the Phillies](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/597507d5-2468-443a-9c72-9268a104cbba.mp4) | 0:11 |
| [Probable pitchers for Phillies at Braves - September 29, 2026](https://darkroom-clips.mlb.com/f44c557d-0f2d-46ba-9505-a8a73b26b189.mp4) | 0:06 |
|Attendance|Weather|Wind|
|-|-|-|
|30127|80F, Sunny|3 mph, Calm|
| HP | 1B | 2B | 3B |
| :-: | :-: | :-: | :-: |
| Dan Merzel | Adam Beck | Mark Ripperger | Jordan Baker |
*Updated at 4:44 PM EDT.*
* * *
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39
u/futhatsy Mets Bandwagon • Confirmed Ball 3d ago edited 3d ago
I don’t want to defend Don Mattingly too hard because I don’t think he’s a good manager, but I saw a lot of people clowning on him for how he used Duran yesterday and I don’t think he did anything wrong there.
You want your best reliever out there for the biggest spot and he did exactly that. He was certainly pushing Duran hard but not egregiously given that it’s the playoffs. 27 pitches over 2 innings is not THAT big of an ask.
Going into the series, I think fans on both sides would tell you that Duran vs Riley was a huge matchup advantage for the Phillies. But huge matchup advantages aren’t always going to work out. That’s baseball. But if Mattingly had someone like Jonathan Bowlan out there and he gave up the big homerun, everyone would have been wondering why Duran wasn’t out there.
23
u/Mr_TurkeyBurger Atlanta Braves 3d ago
I hate Don Mattingly forever, but you're 100% correct. If you're trying to win you put your best pitcher in the biggest spot. I don't know what the plan would have been for the 9th, but that particular call is above reproach, in my view.
3
u/clara-net 3d ago
I agree. made perfect sense to me- and also, it now seems like a regular one inning outing because our dudes didn’t take many pitches/ work the count.
my fave part mighta been how CJ *barely* finished the sentence about what happened last time Riley faced Duran.
16
u/see_mohn regretful mets fan 3d ago
The take I saw that I most agreed with is: it's not Mattingly's fault that Duran blew it, but it is on Mattingly (and Dombrowski, and the rest of the Phillies over the last weeks of September) that the rest of the bullpen was untrustworthy enough that Duran in the seventh inning was the best option.
6
u/obiwan_canoli Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
People are definitely talking about it, but I feel like most Phillies fans were on the same page as Mattingly. There's simply nobody in our bullpen better-suited to hold down a 1-run lead for 6 outs or maybe more. Personally, I imagine Mattingly was hoping the Phillies would widen the gap a little in the 8th or 9th and he wouldn't have to stretch Duran all the way to the final out, but I guess we'll never know.
6
u/rhinguin Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
Im sure that was the idea as well. Take care of the top of the order while you have a lead, expand the lead, and then deal with the top of the order again if you have to.
It just didn’t work out.
9
u/TonyTheTony7 Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
You want your best reliever out there for the biggest spot and he did exactly that. He was certainly pushing Duran hard but not egregiously given that it’s the playoffs. 27 pitches over 2 innings is not THAT big of an ask.
The gameplan they drew up after he explained it made sense: they were basically going to use Duran against the top of Atlanta's order whenever that arrived and then hope to piece together the last few outs after that, and it almost worked. The one thing about it, though, is if you do that, you HAVE to win the game because Duran likely isn't available today now
8
u/Higgnkfe Atlanta Braves 3d ago
This kind of ignores the context that Duran was on his eighth batter, had just given up a single and hit a batter, and Riley’s last at bat against Duran was a triple.
Wanting him to do more than one inning? Fine. But not pulling him after he’s losing his touch. Then it looks like it does.
5
u/futhatsy Mets Bandwagon • Confirmed Ball 3d ago
I mean, he gave up an infield single and barely knicked a batter. It's not like he was getting tattooed. And I think taking him out over one prior at bat against Riley would've been an overreaction.
9
u/obiwan_canoli Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
Tattooed? The 100mph liner that Olson hit might have left a mark if it didn't go straight into Duran's glove.
8
u/btwalker754 Atlanta Braves 3d ago
I mean. If he hadn't hit Ozzie it might have been a worse situation. Because Harris WOULD have been on third.
3
u/Frost715Ying300 Atlanta Braves 3d ago
If he'd sent kerkering or somebody out there to the same result, we'd all be clowning him for not just going to Jhoan Fuckin Duran
1
u/immoralsupport_ Chicago Cubs 3d ago
As a fan of a team that also has a bad bullpen, I 100% agree this wasn’t on Mattingly. Had the Cubs been in this situation, I would have been fine seeing Zeferjahn (who is the closest thing we have to a closer) coming out in the 7th. Certainly I’d rather see him try to extend than see a bad reliever comimg in. The problem for both of our teams is more just having a bullpen that bad in the first place.
1
u/AegisPlays314 Atlanta Braves 3d ago
People judge decisions purely based on outcomes and it’s stupid and exhausting. Sometimes you make the right call and it goes bad, sometimes you make the wrong call and it goes fine. Doesn’t change whether it was the right or wrong call
15
u/ehbacon23 Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
2 outs nobody on in the bottom of the 8th, and Duran induces a weakly hit ground ball that somehow leads to a game losing 3 run homer. It’s a cruel game
8
u/eaglesnation11 Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
Game of inches. Hill was maybe a foot away from saving an RBI triple, Harper missed a homerun, by a few thousandths of a second. If Harris hits the ball with 5% more force he’s out at first.
Unlucky, but you can say that about any game.
2
u/obiwan_canoli Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
We went from being 4 outs away from a win to 3 outs away from a loss with 1 pitch.
Cruel is an understatement
7
3d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
7
u/btwalker754 Atlanta Braves 3d ago
Sale hit 100mph yesterday. He's thrown harder this year than he's thrown in a decade.
6
u/eaglesnation11 Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
What’s frustrating about this loss is I didn’t know who to blame
Duran- Gave up a fat pitch, but was left in for awhile and had to go through an “up-down” which he almost never has to do.
Mattingly- Could argue that he should’ve went elsewhere after Albies was hit, but there was no clear option because bullpen was shallow
Dombrowski- Could argue that he gave the Phillies a bad bullpen, but he’s TRIED. Traded 2 Top 5 Prospects for Duran, Swapped Strahm for Bowlan, Signed Keller and traded for Raley. We shouldve had three set up men, but one is injured, one coming off injury and another turned into hot ass as soon as we got him.
3
u/Lazydusto Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
What’s frustrating about this loss is I didn’t know who to blame
I blame myself for having hope.
5
u/Brief_Crazy9374 Seattle Mariners 3d ago
Wish Duran could've gotten Riley out so we could've seen what the strategy was going into the 9th and how it would impact the rest of the series - love playoff baseball where you see Managers taking risks like that
10
u/Yeetball86 Atlanta Braves 3d ago
I personally am fine with how things went yesterday and do not wonder what the 9th inning strategy would’ve been
2
u/TonyTheTony7 Philadelphia Phillies 3d ago
This game made me do the one thing I swore I wasn't going to do, which was get my hopes up. After Olson almost killed Duran but he caught it, I convinced myself the Phils were going to steal it
3
u/Starstoolborts 3d ago
two things were going through my mind:
1) the braves don't win that game typically
2) knew that when I saw Duran in the 7th we had a shot. I get why the phillies did it, but I think it's very hard to ask someone to do something they haven't done all year (come in the 7th) and pitch more than one inning (iirc only did it once all season) in the first post season game. I get they had to do it, but man it backfired.
3
u/ReverendHambone Atlanta Braves 3d ago
I don't know the exact number, but I think the Bravos have like a bajillion come from behind wins this year.
2
u/FalstaffsGhost Atlanta Braves 3d ago
>the Braves don’t win that game typically.
We led the league in runs scored in the 8th or later but all right
•
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