Braves rally past Phillies on d'Arnaud, Riley homers

The Atlanta Braves rally for an improbable 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies to even the NL Division Series.

In a thrilling turn of events, the Atlanta Braves staged a remarkable comeback to secure a 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series. Despite being held hitless until the sixth inning, the Braves managed to rally and even the series at one win apiece.

Travis d'Arnaud and Austin Riley were the heroes of the game, both hitting two-run homers that propelled the Braves to victory. D'Arnaud's shot in the seventh inning cut Philadelphia's lead to 4-3, providing a glimmer of hope for Atlanta. It was their first extra-base hit of the series, injecting much-needed momentum into their offense.

Riley's home run came in the eighth inning, with two outs and a full count. He connected with a pitch from Jeff Hoffman and sent it soaring into the Phillies bullpen, giving the Braves their first lead of the series. The go-ahead run was scored by Ronald Acuña Jr., who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning.

The game ended in dramatic fashion, with the Phillies threatening to tie or even win the game in the ninth inning. With Bryce Harper on base, Nick Castellanos hit a deep fly ball to right-center field. However, Michael Harris II made a spectacular leaping catch to rob Castellanos of a potential game-tying home run. Harris quickly threw the ball back to the infield, but it skidded past second baseman Ozzie Albies. Fortunately, Riley was backing up the play and made a swift throw to first base, beating a backtracking Harper and completing a game-ending double play.

With the series now tied, all eyes are on Game 3, which will take place in Philadelphia. The Braves have gained newfound confidence and momentum from their comeback victory, while the Phillies will be looking to bounce back and regain control of the series.

A.J. Minter was credited with the win for the Braves, while Raisel Iglesias notched his first save of the postseason. J.T. Realmuto had a standout performance for the Phillies, hitting a two-run homer to help build their early 4-0 lead. Zack Wheeler, the Phillies' starting pitcher, struck out 10 batters in 6 1/3 innings and came within one strike of a no-hitter.

In another NL Division Series matchup, the Arizona Diamondbacks continued their surprising run by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 2-0 lead in the series. Behind the stellar pitching of Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks secured a 4-2 victory and improved to 4-0 in the playoffs. They will now look to complete a stunning sweep of the 100-win Dodgers in Game 3.

Gallen delivered a solid performance, allowing only two runs over 5 1/3 innings. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. played a key role in the Diamondbacks' early offensive burst, hitting an RBI single in the first inning. The Dodgers' rookie starter, Bobby Miller, was chased from the game in the second inning due to Arizona's aggressive hitting.

Gurriel added a solo home run in the sixth inning, further extending the Diamondbacks' lead. Paul Sewald closed out the game with a perfect ninth inning, securing his third save of the playoffs. The Dodgers, on the other hand, have now lost five consecutive postseason games dating back to last year's NLDS.

The Diamondbacks' remarkable playoff run has defied expectations, as they entered the postseason as the final wild card team in the National League. Despite losing their last four regular-season games, they have shown resilience and determination in the playoffs, particularly on the road against formidable division winners.

As the NL Division Series continues, both the Braves and the Diamondbacks have proven that they are capable of overcoming adversity and delivering thrilling performances. The stage is set for further excitement and surprises as the series progresses, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next games in this high-stakes battle for a spot in the NLCS.

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