Wednesday’s MLB Wild Card action produced three series sweeps and one winner-take-all matchup, with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres all delivering decisive Game 2 performances.
The Phillies rallied for a 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park, overcoming a late deficit to force a third game in the best-of-three National League series. Alec Bohm provided the decisive blow with a solo homer in the 10th, while Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth to erase Atlanta’s lead. Harper had earlier been involved in a defensive miscue that helped the Braves score two runs in the seventh. Andrew Painter earned the win after throwing the final three innings.
The Chicago White Sox eliminated the Houston Astros with a 7-3 victory, completing a two-game American League sweep and advancing to face the Cleveland Guardians in the Division Series. Chicago jumped ahead 4-0 in the first inning against Hunter Brown, who recorded only two outs, before Houston gradually trimmed the deficit with solo homers from Jeremy Peña, Cam Smith and Jose Altuve. Chase Meidroth restored Chicago’s cushion with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, and the White Sox bullpen protected the lead. The victory marked Chicago’s first postseason series win since its 2005 World Series sweep of Houston.
The Yankees also completed a sweep of the Boston Red Sox, winning 9-2 at Yankee Stadium. Max Fried allowed three hits over six innings, while Cody Bellinger drove in four runs and Luis García Jr. added three hits and a home run. New York broke the game open with six runs in the sixth inning and advanced to the AL Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who missed the Wild Card Series because of a calf injury, remained uncertain for the next round.
In San Diego, the Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 to complete their own two-game sweep and earn a Division Series matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers. Gavin Sheets supplied the key hit with a two-run pinch-hit homer in the fourth inning, while San Diego’s bullpen combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings after starter Nick Pivetta departed. Xander Bogaerts had two hits and an RBI, and the Padres limited the Cubs to five hits after Chicago managed only three hits in Game 1.
Editorial credit: Grindstone Media Group / Shutterstock.com
