ATLANTA, GA — The calendar hasn’t flipped to October just yet, but for Austin Riley, it most definitely has.
Yep. October arrived early for the 29-year-old right-handed slugging third baseman as Riley delivered the goods for Atlanta Tuesday afternoon on a go-ahead three run home run in the eighth inning of Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Phillies.
As clutch as it gets, two outs and two on while down a run.
Austin Riley’s eighth inning go-ahead three-run home run in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series Tuesday afternoon sent Truist Park into absolute pandemonium – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
“Everybody knows kind of how my (regular) season went, not the way I wanted it to,” Riley said after Tuesday’s 5-3 come from behind victory, putting the Braves up 1-0 in the best of three NL Wild Card Series and Philadelphia on the brink of elimination.
In 159 games this regular season, Riley hit 19 home runs and recorded 72 RBI on a slash line of .219/.290/.364 (.654 OPS).
“But that’s the beauty of the postseason. You kind of get a clean slate and go out there and try to do something for the boys and for this city.”
Flipping the October Script: Four of Austin Riley’s six career postseason homers have been of the go-ahead variety and three of those have been hit in the eighth inning or later – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
And on the mound in front of a Truist Park crowd of 30,127 in the eighth inning?
One of the best closers in the game, Dominican right-hander Jhoan Durán who was called out of Philadelphia’s bullpen in the seventh to replace rookie reliever Alex McFarlane.
Before Tuesday afternoon’s Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series between the Phillies and Braves, Jhoan Durán had made just one multi-inning appearance this season and 29 throughout his MLB career – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
A not so shocking move from Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly all things considered, up 3-2 in the seventh with Atlanta’s most dangerous part of the lineup due up—number nine, one and two, Dominic Smith (strikeout), Drake Baldwin (ground out), and superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. (fly out), respectively.
What followed was three, four, five and six stepping up to the plate in the eighth—Matt Olson (line out back to Durán), Mauricio Dubón (fly out), Michael Harris II (single) and Ozzie Albies (hit by pitch).
Then in the six hole, Riley (three-run HR), the difference-maker of Game 1.
This was after a star performance on the bump from Philadelphia left-hander Jesús Luzardo, pitching for just the second time after a stint on the injured list due to left shoulder stiffness and going five shutout innings with six strikeouts on 77 pitches (48 for strikes).
“Anytime you lose a game late, obviously it’s frustrating, but in our minds we had our best guy out there,” said Mattingly of the decision to go to the All-Star Durán earlier than usual.
“You live with this one.”
Don Mattingly and the Phillies’ backs are against the wall headed into Wednesday with the Braves up 1-0 in the best of three NL Wild Card Series – Image Credit: Simon Lindenblatt/Latino Sports
Durán said, “I threw the first (seventh) inning and I go back to the dugout and they said be ready for another inning and so I go back out there and try to do my work. It’s hard to see something like that. I missed with the pitch and I paid the price.”
Though many question the move and still are, Phillies superstar Bryce Harper (0-4, two strikeouts) was not one of them during Tuesday’s postgame, stating, “That’s a dagger. Obviously, you have the lead going into the eighth and the best closer in the game on the bump. Riley just got to it. We have to flush it as quickly as possible and come back tomorrow.”
Looking Ahead to Game 2
With Philadelphia’s season on the line, 2025 National League LatinoMVP Starting Pitcher of the Year Cristopher Sanchez (18-7, 2.91 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Phillies in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series Wednesday afternoon as the Braves go with RHP Tyler Mahle (7-10, 3.99 ERA)—first pitch at 2:00pm ET from Truist Park in Atlanta.
Cristopher Sánchez will be taking the ball for Philadelphia with the Phillies’ season on the line Wednesday afternoon at Truist Park – Image Credit: Ernesto Diaz/Latino Sports
“Always feel good with Cristopher out there,” Mattingly noted. “The playoffs are momentum-based it seems like, and really momentum starts with your starting pitcher.”
“He goes out and gives you a good start to the game, it’s just a game at that point.”
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