Harper rebounds from defensive error with game-tying homer as Phillies beat Braves 4-3
Bryce Harper's misplay in the seventh inning was followed by a tying home run in the eighth, helping Philadelphia defeat Atlanta 4-3 in Game 2 of the NL wild-card series.
Philadelphia rallied to a 4-3 victory over Atlanta in Game 2 of the National League wild-card series after Bryce Harper turned a defensive lapse into a game-tying home run. Harper misjudged a fly ball in right field in the seventh inning, allowing a runner to score and giving the Braves a 2-1 lead. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly extended Atlanta's advantage to 3-1.
Harper said the error was a learning moment and, after reflecting on his young son, focused on the next at-bat. In the top of the eighth, he hit a 418-foot homer to right-center, tying the game. "I wasn't not trying to hit a homer," Harper said after the swing.
The Phillies later secured the win in the tenth inning when Alec Bohm homered and rookie pitcher Andrew Painter delivered a strong relief effort. Manager Don Mattingly expressed confidence in Harper’s ability to handle pressure, noting his experience in big games. Braves manager Walt Weiss acknowledged the impact of late-inning home runs, referencing similar moments in baseball history.
The series is now tied at one win each, with Game 3 set for Thursday.