The Atlanta Braves staked themselves to an auspicious 1-0 lead in an NL wild-card series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Third baseman Austin Riley, who struggled mightily at the plate this season, came through in the clutch, delivering a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth inning that fueled the 5-3 victory.
Riley hit that game-changing dinger off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran, whom interim manager Don Mattingly brought in an inning earlier.
Philadelphia, which stumbled into the postseason, is now a loss away from elimination. The Phillies are hoping left-handed ace Cristopher Sánchez will help them ward off that perilous fate.
He’ll be on the mound to start Game 2...
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