Apr 25, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Brett Davis
A four-RBI night from Bryce Harper and an impressive season debut from Zack Wheeler propelled the Phillies to a 8-5 extra-inning win over the Atlanta Braves Saturday, helping them to snap their longest losing streak of the 21st century.
The Phillies got the scoring started in the top of the first inning, when Harper drew a two-out walk against Bryce Elder. Adolis García then followed that up by driving a ball into left field that Mike Yastrzemski made the ill-fated decision to try to dive for. He missed it, and it wound up being an RBI triple, García's first three-bagger since the 2022 season:
Adolis García’s first triple since 2022 gives the Phillies the early lead! pic.twitter.com/1AzcAvr5eY
After Wheeler cruised through the first three innings, it took him 36 pitches to get through the bottom of the fourth inning. As he struggled with control, Wheeler loaded up the bases with no one out. He did ultimately give up a pair of runs on RBI hits by Michael Harris II and Austin Riley, but struck out both Mauricio Dubón and Yastrzemski looking to strand runners on second and third and keep the tie intact:
Zack Wheeler fired a dot to get out of a jam in the fourth. 🎯
(Via @aokstott) pic.twitter.com/QD9a4cAWqW
If Wheeler working out of that pickle wasn't enough, the three-time All-Star came back out and set the Braves down in order in the bottom of the fifth inning to wrap up his night. While he did walk three batters and give up two runs, it was a very impressive evening for Wheeler overall. In his first MLB start since Aug. 15, 2025, Wheeler went five innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. There were large stretches of Saturday's outing where Wheeler looked like the peak version of himself.
Tanner Banks quickly gave the lead back in the sixth, unfortunately for the Phillies. Banks gave up back-to-back doubles from Matt Olson and Ozzie Albies, with the former scoring when the latter traded places with him. Harris then plated Albies with a single, knocking Banks out of the game before he recorded an out. Orion Kerkering was able to escape the inning without further damage, but Banks' ERA now sits at 7.20 after his 11th appearance of the season. This comes after Banks was a revelation in 2025, a season that saw him post a 3.07 ERA across 69 appearances.
Saturday's game started 56 minutes later than initially scheduled because of a rain delay, and the effects of that were clear in the top of the eighth inning when Kyle Schwarber hit a screamer to center field that Eli White slipped on after realizing he might have overrun it. Schwarber wound up at third base, with the third triple of the night for the Phillies:
The Phillies have three triples tonight. None of them have been normal. 💨
(Via @aokstott) pic.twitter.com/8JVBB4H6EU
— OnPattison (@OnPattison) April 26, 2026
Harper then tied the game with a sacrifice fly off of Dylan Lee.
Ultimately, the game went to extra innings, and the Phillies took advantage of both the zombie runner and a lack of control from Atlanta reliever José Suarez. Harper and Marsh each drove in two runs with singles, giving the Phillies an 8-4 lead heading into the bottom of the 10th. Kyle Backhus did allow Drake Baldwin to drive in the zombie runner, but ultimately finished off the Braves to snap the 10-game losing streak. The Phillies are still just 9-18, but it has to be a massive weight off of their shoulders for this streak to be over.
Sunday, the Phillies and Braves will wrap up their three-game series as Aaron Nola will square off with nine-time All-Star Chris Sale. It will be the final time the two NL East rivals face each other until September.
