Michael Harris II propelled the Atlanta Braves to a decisive 6-2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday night, clinching Game 3 of their National League wildcard series. Harris hit a crucial three-run homer in the first inning, setting the tone for the game.

Ozzie Albies contributed a two-run homer in the fourth inning, while Matt Olson added a solo shot in the seventh, helping the Braves advance to a best-of-five Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two-time defending World Series champions.

This victory marked the Braves' first postseason series win since their 2021 World Series triumph and their first playoff series win against the Phillies, who had previously eliminated Atlanta from the postseason in 1993 and the 2022 and **2023 NLDS.

Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola struggled, allowing three runs in just 1 2/3 innings before being pulled. He faced adversity early, walking both Ronald Acuña Jr. and Olson before surrendering the homer to Harris.

On the mound, Ray Kerr made an impressive postseason debut, pitching 3 1/3 scoreless innings and allowing only one hit to Kyle Schwarber. Kerr received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd of 41,731 at Truist Park, acknowledging their support as he exited.

The Braves' pitching staff was solid, with Grant Holmes earning the win by allowing just one run in two innings. Chris Sale, who started in the series opener, closed out the game with two strikeouts in the ninth.

The Phillies continued their trend of early postseason exits, having faced elimination in consecutive years after a 2022 World Series loss. The Braves capitalized on a sellout crowd, a stark contrast to the lower attendance in the earlier games of the series.