Austin Riley homer plays key role in Atlanta Braves win over Philadelphia Phillies

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/atlanta-braves/0UPxbDYA/"]The Braves[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/baseball/atlanta-braves-0UPxbDYA/philadelphia-phillies-QTNHA4p4/?mid=8K1rnJEt"]seized a 1-0 lead[/a] in the best-of-three National League wildcard series, with the winner to face the reigning World Series champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-dodgers/nwPDBpVc/"]Los Angeles Dodgers[/a] in the best-of-five divisional round.[/p][p]Trailing 3-2, Atlanta seized the lead for good when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/harris-michael/hrPKZMHe/"]Michael Harris[/a] singled, took second base after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/albies-ozzie/4Y95MeKQ/"]Ozzie Albies[/a] was hit by a pitch and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/riley-austin/EyoXiRgB/"]Riley[/a] smashed a home run to right field off [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/philadelphia-phillies/QTNHA4p4/"]Phillies[/a] relief pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/duran-jhoan/r3UhT63h/"]Jhoan Duran[/a].[/p][p]"[b]He left something over the plate and I got a good swing at it,[/b]" Riley said. "[b]It means a lot. I've been grinding for these guys and the city all year.[/b][/p][p]"[b]To finally come up big for them was huge. It's not over yet but a nice start for sure.[/b]"[/p][p]Later, wildcard series openers find [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/boston-red-sox/zaXTinF3/"]Boston[/a] at the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-york-yankees/SrC4LDIT/"]New York Yankees[/a] and the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-white-sox/SW9D1eZo/"]Chicago White Sox[/a] at Houston in the American League with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chicago-cubs/j7ZnBQFi/"]Chicago Cubs[/a] at San Diego in the NL.[/p][embed guid="63f530d2-e3b2-482e-99ac-8ab3b257a938" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2105034325343498693?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Atlanta went 9-4 against the Phillies in the regular season and won the NL East division by six games over Philadelphia.[/p][p]The Phillies opened the scoring in the first inning when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/schwarber-kyle/jPbF6sQD/"]Kyle Schwarber[/a] walked and raced home on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/bohm-alec/QgTNAl1m/"]Alec Bohm[/a]'s double to centerfield.[/p][p]The Braves equalized in the second when Albies walked, took third on a fielder's choice and scored on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yastrzemski-mike/nJtgDWFG/"]Mike Yastrzemski[/a]'s single to centerfield.[/p][embed guid="58356848-d413-4ed3-911c-00489cf3759a" url="https://x.com/MLB/status/2105035922752278544?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Atlanta grabbed a 2-1 edge in the sixth when Harris singled to left and scored on an Albies triple to the centerfield wall.[/p][p]The Phillies seized a 3-2 lead in the seventh after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-la-cruz-bryan/xK24k3oT/"]Bryan de la Cruz[/a] was hit by a pitch and took third on [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stott-bryson/O4vNdLml/"]Bryson Stott[/a]'s single.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/realmuto-j-t/CrwIl9IE/"]J.T. Realmuto[/a] drove in both runners with a triple to right off Braves relief pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fuentes-didier/jJYC2kNH/"]Didier Fuentes[/a], setting the stage for Riley's game-winning blast and the Phillies falling in order in the ninth.[/p][p]Atlanta pitcher [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sale-chris/WxqHxcJe/"]Chris Sale[/a], a 37-year-old American left-hander, made his longest career playoff start, striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings.[/p]