ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Philadelphia outfielder Bryce Harper (3) reacts after hitting a solo home run during the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Atlanta Braves in game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on September 29th, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies managed to keep their season alive Wednesday, rallying past the Atlanta Braves in a dramatic Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Bryce Harper played a central role in the comeback, overcoming a costly defensive miscue with a game-tying home run before Alec Bohm delivered the decisive blow in the 10th inning.
“With the season on the line in Wednesday’s Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series, Harper badly misplayed a line drive to turn what should have been a routine out into a pivotal go-ahead RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning,” Paul Casella reported for MLB.com. “But in the very next frame, Harper tied the game by going back-to-back with Kyle Schwarber.
As the team’s franchise slugger, Harper tends to be a central figure in virtually all of the team’s playoff series. But is particularly disliked in Atlanta, and the crowd has greeted him with noticeable booing in both games of the series so far.
Bryce Harper’s Near Miss Becomes Memorable Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies Rivalry Moment
Harper had a significant near miss in the first game of the series as well, when he narrowly missed giving Philadelphia a go-ahead homer.
“In the top of the sixth inning, Harper jumped all over a 2-0 slider from Chris Sale and sent a towering fly ball down the right-field line,” Casella wrote. “Harper leaned and tried to will the ball to stay fair for a go-ahead two-run homer, but to no avail as it landed harmlessly in the seats just to the right of the foul pole.”
That near miss caught the attention of Braves shortstop Mauricio Dubon, who offered a two-word job on his thoughts while watching Harper’s near homer fly through the outfield.
“Strike two,” Dubon said, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Ken Sugiura.
Philadelphia Phillies Slugger Bryce Harper Offers Response On Dramatic Near Miss
That comment suggested Dubon never believed the hit was going to be a homer, which would come as a surprise to most other observers, including the national broadcast booth. It also contradicts the Phillies slugger himself.
“I did, yeah,” Harper said after Game 1, according to Casella, when asked if he believed the hit was a two-run homer. “It was close. Not close enough.”
Atlanta eventually turned its own late opportunity into the winning run, with Austin Riley hitting a three-run homer off Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning.
But Philadelphia had another chance Wednesday, and this time Harper made sure the result was different.
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