Phillies Top Braves 4-3 in Nail-Biting Finish

ATLANTA, Georgia — Trea Turner hit a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the ninth inning, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night. The win allowed the Phillies to level the three-game series after Atlanta took the opener.

Turner’s pivotal homer, his first of the season, came with one out off Braves closer Raisel Iglesias. The defeat was particularly painful for the Braves, who have now dropped nine of their first eleven games this season.

“We couldn’t keep the momentum going after that,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “We need to tighten up and take advantage of our opportunities. This has been a tough start for us.”

In a closely contested game, Turner finished with two hits, while teammate Bryce Harper contributed with a two-run homer in the seventh inning, part of a comeback that ultimately secured the win for Philadelphia. “We were patient and took our chances,” Harper said after the game. “Every game is important, and we fought until the end.”

Atlanta’s starting pitcher Grant Holmes delivered a solid performance, pitching four-plus innings without allowing a run. Holmes recorded six strikeouts but left with the game scoreless after a strong effort, one that gave hope to the Braves’ faithful at Truist Park.

“It was great to see Grant step up like that,” said Snitker. “We needed someone to take a stand on the mound.”

However, the Braves’ bullpen couldn’t maintain the momentum. After Holmes issued a walk to Kyle Schwarber to start the fifth inning, Aaron Bummer came in relief but immediately faced pressure, striking out both Turner and Harper to escape the jam.

Atlanta finally broke through in the sixth inning with an RBI single from Orlando Arcia, allowing Sean Murphy and Jarred Kelenic to score. Austin Riley also made an impact for the Braves, hitting a 417-foot solo homer that tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning.

The Braves appeared to have positioned themselves for the win, but the late-game heroics from Turner shifted the tide in the Phillies’ favor. “It was a big moment for him and our team,” said Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson regarding Turner’s home run. “Those are the kinds of plays we need to make to win close games.”

As the teams head into the final game of the series, Atlanta looks to regroup, while Philadelphia aims to extend their winning streak.