Who is ready for some more postseason baseball?
The Philadelphia Phillies started things off with yet another dramatic comeback win to even the series against the Atlanta Braves and force Game 3. The Chicago White Sox followed that up with a sweep of the Houston Astros to become the first wild-card team to move on to the division series.
And there are still two games to go! Will the New York Yankees knock out the rival Boston Red Sox? And can the Chicago Cubs turn on their offense after they were shut out against the San Diego Padres?
We’ve got you covered with pregame lineups, sights and sounds from the ballparks and postgame takeaways as each Day 2 matchup ends.
Key links: Mega-preview | Bracket | Schedule
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PHI-ATL | CHW-HOU | BOS-NYY | CHC-SD
Sights and sounds
We have all the best moments from the ballparks on the second day of the playoffs.
Red Sox-Yankees
Follow live with pitch-by-pitch coverage
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105482445076283665
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105481809416901026
Lombard gets the run right back
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105479415308411383
Contreras puts Boston on the board at last
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105476927511535947
Belli brings home Yanks’ 2nd run
https://x.com/hashtag/Postseason
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105468011373064343
Father and son moment in the Bronx
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105447240051630416
Cubs-Padres
Tatis feeding off playoff energy
Takeaways
Chicago White Sox 7, Houston Astros 3
It was over when …Chase Meidroth took Bryan Abreu deep for a back-breaking three-run blast in the sixth. This came just minutes after it looked like Houston was about to overcome Chicago’s early 4-0 edge. With two on in the fifth inning and the lead down to 4-3, Anthony Kay came out of the bullpen to get Yordan Alvarez on a fly to left. After a walk to Isaac Paredes loaded the bases, Jose Altuve flied out to end the threat. After the White Sox drew two walks to start the sixth, Meidroth showed bunt on Abreu’s first two offerings. Following a double steal, Meidroth went back to swing mode and launched what turned out to be a series-clinching blast. The White Sox’s Cinderella ride continues into the American League Division Series.
Stat that defined the game:Alvarez managed just a lone single in eight at-bats during the brief series, a .125 average to go with some failings in high-leverage spots. He also failed to make a grab on a well-struck Sam Antonacci drive to start the game, something a more mobile left fielder might have caught. Alvarez is still great and on his way to win the AL MVP Award. But it was a rough couple of days for him in the wild-card round. — Bradford Doolittle
Key moments from Chicago’s win:
White Sox win first playoff series since 2005
Chicago breaks game open with huge three-run homer
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105435970502062129
Altuve joins the fun with Houston’s third solo home run of the night
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105426087262245088
Houston answers with leadoff homer from Peña
https://x.com/astros/status/2105412312383271063
Make that four runs in the 1st!
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Atlanta Braves 3
It was over when … It appeared to be over when Bryce Harper misplayed Drake Baldwin’s relatively routine fly ball that turned into a generously-scored RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Braves a 2-1 lead (and they added another run). But then Kyle Schwarber and Harper hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth off Dylan Lee, who hadn’t allowed a home run all season to a left-handed batter. Alec Bohm then hit the game-winning home run in the 10th off Didier Fuentes — just Bohm’s second opposite-field home run all season.
And then it was actuallyfinally over when Andrew Painter struck out Dominic Smith with two runners on in the bottom of the 10th — on a walk-off challenge on the third strike. The Phillies’ season is alive.
Star who defined the game: The Phillies getting to Lee was the big shocker to begin with, and Bohm going to right field was also a shock, but the biggest shocker might have been Painter pitching the scoreless eighth, ninth and 10th innings for the Phillies. With Jhoan Duran having thrown 27 pitches on Tuesday and manager Don Mattingly not trusting anybody else in the bullpen — which had the worst ERA in the majors in September — he turned to his rookie, who had started in 23 of his 25 appearances. Gutsy call … and it worked. — David Schoenfield
Key moments from Phillies’ win:
Bohm’s blast seals Phillies’ 10-inning victory
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105403174567997665
Philly evens the score with back-to-back homers
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105395361313419639
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105394983067177241
Atlanta breaks through in 7th as Harper misplays ball in outfield
https://x.com/MLB/status/2105391846557909099
Olson drives in Acuña to even the score
Source: www.espn.com
