Austin Riley’s Three-Run Bomb Off Jhoan Duran Sinks Phillies in Wild Card Game 1

Austin Riley erased six months of frustration with one swing. The Atlanta Braves third baseman launched a go-ahead, three-run homer off Philadelphia closer Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning Tuesday, lifting the Braves to a 5-3 win over the Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. The blast, which left the bat at 104.6 mph and traveled 385 feet to right-center, turned a tense pitchers’ duel into a signature October moment and sent Truist Park into a frenzy.

Riley entered the postseason on the heels of a rough regular season, hitting a career-low .219 with 19 home runs and 72 RBI across 566 at-bats. The 29-year-old, who made his sixth-career postseason appearance, had battled injuries and inconsistency for much of the year, even dealing with a toothache earlier in the week that required an emergency dental procedure. Despite the down year at the plate, Riley remains one of the most feared power bats in Atlanta’s lineup, a two-time All-Star who has anchored the Braves’ infield since breaking out with a 33-homer, 3.8-WAR season in 2019.

A Duel Turned Signature Moment

Chris Sale delivered a strong start for Atlanta, backing a game that stayed tight into the late innings before both offenses found their footing. With the Braves trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Michael Harris II singled and Ozzie Albies was hit by a pitch, putting two runners aboard against Duran, Philadelphia’s All-Star closer who had allowed just two home runs in 61 regular-season appearances. Riley worked the count before turning on a 99.9 mph four-seam fastball, sending it over the wall in right-center for the go-ahead runs. Harris finished the afternoon with three hits, while Duran was tagged with the loss in his first appearance of the series.

The homer marked the second time this season Riley has come through against Duran in a high-leverage spot — he also delivered a go-ahead RBI triple off the right-hander back in early September. That history made Tuesday’s blast feel less like a fluke and more like a rivalry building in real time between one of the game’s most dominant closers and a Braves slugger who has quietly owned him when it matters most.

What’s Next for Atlanta

The win gives the Braves a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Wild Card Series, putting them one victory away from advancing to the NL Division Series. History favors Atlanta as well — teams that win Game 1 of the Wild Card round have historically gone on to advance at an overwhelming rate since MLB introduced the current playoff format. For bettors tracking the series, sportsbooks have already begun adjusting lines in Atlanta’s favor, and fans looking to get in on the action can find the latest coverage through the DraftKings promo code for the remainder of the Wild Card round.

Riley’s performance also revives his standing as a difference-maker for a Braves team that has leaned heavily on its established postseason core in recent years. If Atlanta can close out the series against Philadelphia, Riley’s homer will likely be remembered as the moment that flipped the emotional momentum of the series — and, potentially, of Atlanta’s entire October run. For now, the Braves and their fans will take the 1-0 cushion and the reminder that even in a down offensive season, Riley remains capable of delivering the biggest swing of the night.