Braves’ Win Secured by Harris II’s Late Pinch-Hit Double After Scratch

Michael Harris II delivered a go-ahead two-run double as a pinch-hitter to lead the Atlanta Braves to a 5-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Truist Park.

Harris, who was scratched from the starting lineup just hours before the game due to left quad tightness, entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with the Braves trailing 3-2, two runners on base and two outs. Manager Walt Weiss sent Harris to bat as a pinch-hitter against Phillies starting pitcher Andrew Painter.

Harris made Weiss’ decision pay off by lining a two-run double to left-center field, giving Atlanta a 5-2 lead. The hit proved to be the difference in the game as the Braves held on for the win.

“In a situation like that, if I was needed, I was available to go out there and try to get it done,” Harris said after the game. “I felt a lot of emotion and stuff from the crowd. It was really loud in a big situation.”

Weiss expressed confidence in using Harris in the spot. “If the situation showed itself, I was [going to] use him,” Weiss said. “Right there in the sixth, that was probably the only time we could have guaranteed that he was [going to] face a right-handed pitcher. Later in the game, they were going to have somebody up for him. He was ready for that moment and got a huge hit for us.”

Prior to the game, Harris had only made four pinch-hit appearances in his career, going 2-for-3 with a walk. After his clutch double, he improved his pinch-hit line to a 1.800 OPS (.750/.800/1.000).

The game marked the 200th regular-season sellout in Truist Park history, with an announced attendance of 39,627 fans.

The Braves improved their record with the victory, while the Phillies dropped to a slumping state as noted in multiple reports covering the contest.