Braves' Tyler Mahle pitches through pregame abdominal issue in Game 2 loss
Tyler Mahle threw seven strong innings despite an abdominal pull that made his start a game-time decision, as the Braves fell to the Phillies in a winner-take-all Wild Card Series Game 3 showdown.
Atlanta's Tyler Mahle delivered seven effective innings in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series, allowing only one run before exiting. After the game, manager Walt Weiss revealed Mahle had felt an abdominal pull before the start and was a game-time decision. > "We had a scare before the game. He felt an abdominal pull. We didn’t know if he was going to make the start," Weiss said. He added that Mahle worked through the discomfort after coming out of the bullpen, and his condition improved as the game progressed.
The Braves ultimately lost 2-1, with the Phillies rallying in the eighth and tenth innings. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper delivered back-to-back hits against reliever Dylan Lee in the eighth, and Alec Bohm drove in the decisive run in the tenth against Didier Fuentes.
Weiss defended his bullpen choices, noting that Lee had performed well in a similar high-leverage situation the previous day. > "Lee is our high-leverage lefty. He put down the same part of the order yesterday pretty easily," Weiss explained.
He also expressed confidence in pinch-hitter Dominic Smith, describing him as a "really good pinch-hitter" with a professional approach and a good chance of drawing a walk in the tenth inning.
The loss leaves the series tied, with a decisive Game 3 scheduled to determine which team advances.