The Philadelphia Phillies got their first run in the top of the 6th on an Alec Bohm groundout. But it couldn’t save them. A regular season full of inconsistencies and a Wild Card Series that no one wants to remember. The Phillies have lost Game 3 of the Wild Card Series 6-2 and have been knocked out of the postseason.
After the game, Phillies manager Don Mattingly came out and said, “It doesn’t end the way we want it to. If you don’t win the last game, it’s a crash landing no matter what.”
Mattingly came out after the loss and thanked everyone who helped the team this season. He mentioned players, coaches, trainers, and staff who worked from spring training through October. But Mattingly understood that how the season ends matters, and this season did not end well.
Game 3 made that clear:
The Braves beat the Phillies 6-2 and ended their hopes.
The trouble started quickly when Michael Harris II launched a three-run homer off Aaron Nola, who had walked Ronald Acuña and Matt Olson. He lasted 1.2 innings, leaving the Phillies to bring Zack Wheeler into the game early.
Wheeler settled things briefly, but Ozzie Albies crushed a 419-foot homer in the fourth inning. Suddenly, the Phillies were trailing 5-0 and had to chase the game a long way.
The Phillies created a chance in the sixth when Alec Bohm drove home Kyle Schwarber. But Philadelphia went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and managed only six hits. They had another chance after Derek Hill tripled, and Trea Turner brought home a run.
But the Braves’ pitchers kept finding outs whenever the Phillies threatened to make the game interesting. Meanwhile, the Braves scored six runs with three home runs, making every small mistake feel like a slap in the face.
That was a clear picture of a season where Philadelphia struggled to finish when given the chances. Mattingly also admitted reaching the final regular-season day made the plans related to pitching and rest more difficult.
Nola and Wheeler were then asked to carry the pitching burden in an elimination game.
Philadelphia had chances, but its offense could not turn them into the rally that the team needed. Game 3 ended the season, showing why the Phillies had fallen short again.