Phillies Force Winner-Take-All Game 3 After Gutsy Win Over Braves

After a disappointing ending to Game 1 of their Wild Card series against the Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping to force a winner-take-all Game 3 on Wednesday. That was exactly what ended up happening.

To start the game, the Phillies took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Bryce Harper single that scored Trea Turner. That lead quickly went away after Matt Olson singled in Ronald Acuna Jr.

Following those two runs, the teams went scoreless for five innings. No runs came across home plate until the bottom of the seventh inning when Drake Baldwin hit an RBI single and then Olson came through with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 3-1 for Atlanta.

Kyle Schwarber was able to cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the eighth inning with a solo home run. Harper then followed up the very next at-bat with a solo shot of his own, tying the game at 3-3.

After those two home runs, the game went into extra innings.

In the top of the 10th inning, Philadelphia saw Alec Bohm come through with a solo home run to re-take the lead. The Phillies and Andrew Painter were able to close out the Braves in the bottom of the 10th.

That bottom of the 10th inning didn't come without drama. Painter started the inning strong by striking out Olson looking. He then gave up a single to Mauricio Dubon. The following two at-bats included an Austin Riley strikeout and then a bloop single from Michael Harris II.

Painter faced runners on first and second with two outs. He was able to end the game on a challenge with a strikeout against pinch hitter Dominic Smith.

When all was said and done, the score sat in the Phillies' favor at 4-3.

At least for one more game, Philadelphia's season will continue. That game will be played on Thursday with the start time currently undetermined.

Seeing the amount of clutch performances in Game 2 was a breath of fresh air for the Phillies. Schwarber and Harper coming alive to keep the season going could be the momentum Philadelphia's offense needed to get going.

Hopefully, the Phillies come ready to play on Thursday afternoon. A win would advance them to the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Obviously, a loss would send them home.

Right now, the starting pitchers for Game 3 are unknown. Those announcements are sure to come in the near future.