Braves power past Phillies to set up Dodgers showdown

LOS ANGELES — The Atlanta Braves overpowered the Philadelphia Phillies, 6-2, on Thursday (Friday in Manila) to set up a showdown with the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the second round of Major League Baseball’s playoffs. Michael Harris, Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson blasted home runs to set up a victory which sealed a 2-1 wild card series win for the Braves. Atlanta will now travel to California to take on the Dodgers in the opening game of their bestof-five National League division series on Saturday. Thursday’s victory was sweet for Atlanta, who were eliminated by Philadelphia in the playoffs in 2022 and 2023. “This is the best moment of my life right now,” Albies said afterwards. “The last couple of postseason games they sent us home, so it feels great to do it to them here at home. It means everything.” Philadelphia had rocked Atlanta in game two on Wednesday with a dramatic extrainning victory at Truist Park to level the series. But the Braves attacked Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola early on in Thursday’s decider to take a stranglehold on the game. Nola gave up walks to Ronald Acuna Jr. and Matt Olson in the first inning before outfielder Michael Harris slashed a...