That is 0 articles you have read today.
The Aporia is free and carries no advertising, so readers are the only
thing paying for it. If you are getting this much out of it, a small
donation is what keeps it independent.
Daily limit reached
You have read 0 articles today.
That is more than the 15 a day The Aporia gives away,
and well past what it can carry on nothing. Your allowance resets at
midnight.
There is no advertising here and nothing about you is sold, so readers
are the only thing paying for it. If the site is worth this much of
your day, it is worth a few dollars.
Everything else stays open: the
maps, the
directory and
search do
not count against this, and neither does re-opening something you have
already read today.
In Game 3 of the National League wildcard series, Michael Harris II's three-run homer early in the game helped the Atlanta Braves defeat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night. The Braves' victory clinched their spot in the Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, marking the first time they have won a playoff series since winning the 2021 World Series. Ray Kerr pitched three scoreless innings to secure the win for Atlanta, while Aaron Nola struggled for Philadelphia, allowing three runs in just over an inning before being pulled from the game.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-02,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves played two closely contested games in their National League Wild Card Series, with the Phillies forcing a decisive Game 3 after winning 4-3 on Wednesday in extra innings. In this game, Alec Bohm's home run in the tenth inning secured victory for the Phillies, who had earlier rallied from a 3-1 deficit with back-to-back homers by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper. With momentum on their side, Philadelphia opted to start Aaron Nola, known for his durability and postseason experience, against an inexperienced Braves reliever Ray Kerr. Despite being the home team, odds makers are closely split on which team will win Game 3, reflecting the tight competition between these two rivals. Bettors can take advantage of promotions such as BetMGM's offer to receive up to $1,500 back in bonus bets if their initial wager does not succeed, valid for users in several US states including Arizona and Illinois. This deal aims to attract new gamblers while rewarding those supporting the Phillies' efforts to advance further in the playoffs.
Written for “Phillies vs Braves Wild Card Series” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 12 other(s) covering the same event.
Michael Harris II hit a three-run homer in the first inning, Ray Kerr threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-2 on Thursday night in the decisive Game 3 of their National League wildcard series.
asserted
Braves → hit → series
Ozzie Albies hit a two-run homer in the fourth and Matt Olson added a solo shot in the seventh for the Braves, who advance to a best-of-five Division Series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
asserted
who → hit → champion
The Braves won a postseason series for the first time since winning the 2021 World Series and earned their first playoff series win against the Phillies.
asserted
Braves → win → Phillies
Philadelphia beat Atlanta in the 1993 NLCS and the 2022 and 2023 NLDS.
asserted
Philadelphia → beat → NLCS
Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola was pulled after allowing three runs in 1 2/3 innings.
asserted
Nola → pull → innings
Nola walked Ronald Acuña Jr and Matt Olson with one out in the first before giving up the homer to Harris, who hit into two double plays in Wednesday’s 4-3 loss in 10 innings, which forced Thursday night’s game.
asserted
which → walk → game
Kerr made his postseason debut in only his fourth career start.
asserted
Kerr → make → start
Braves manager Walt Weiss wanted a left-hander to face Phillies left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper at least once.
asserted
hander → want → hitters
Kerr allowed only one hit – to Schwarber in the first – and one walk – to Schwarber in the fourth.
asserted
Kerr → allow → fourth
Right-hander Grant Holmes followed Kerr and allowed one run in two innings to earn the win.
asserted
Holmes → follow → win
Kerr left to a standing ovation from the sellout crowd and acknowledged the cheers by lifting his arm as he approached the dugout.
asserted
he → leave → dugout
Left-hander Chris Sale, the starter in Atlanta’s 5-3 win in Tuesday’s series opener, struck out Harper to end the eighth and closed out the win in the ninth by striking out Bryan De La Cruz and pinch-hitter Otto Kemp.
Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, the winning pitcher in Sunday’s 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay that clinched the wildcard spot, walked Austin Riley in the fourth before giving up Albies’ homer to right field that gave Atlanta a 5-0 lead.
asserted
that → strike → lead
Wheeler allowed two runs in four innings.
asserted
Wheeler → allow → innings
Jonathan Bowlan, Philadelphia’s fourth pitcher, gave up Olson’s homer to center field.
asserted
Bowlan → give → field
Kerr, 32, flourished in the postseason spotlight.
asserted
Kerr → flourish → spotlight
He pitched in only nine games after being recalled by Atlanta on 16 August.
asserted
He → pitch → August
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and didn’t pitch in 2025.
asserted
He → undergo → 2025
Philadelphia’s 2022 World Series loss to Houston began a streak of five straight postseason appearances with progressively quicker exits – the NL Championship Series, two NLDS exits and now the wildcard loss.
asserted
loss → begin → exits
The game drew a sellout crowd of 41,731 after the Braves fell short of sellouts in the first two games of the series, with school and work conflicting with the 2.15pm first pitch for many fans.
asserted
school → draw → fans
Afternoon starts also hurt attendance in other Wild Card Series games this week.
asserted
starts → hurt → games
The announced attendance at Truist Park was 30,127 on Tuesday and 37,150 on Wednesday.
asserted
attendance → announce → Wednesday
The Aporia
