Padres Defeat Braves, Advance to NLDS

The San Diego Padres swept the Atlanta Braves in the National League Wild Card Series, winning 5-4 in Game 2, with Kyle Higashioka hitting a pivotal solo homer that ignited a five-run rally. This victory sets the Padres up for a matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Division Series. Despite initial hope with a run from Marcell Ozuna, the Braves struggled to recover after falling behind 5-1 in the second inning, marking their third consecutive early postseason exit. Starting pitchers Joe Musgrove and Max Fried both left the game early due to injuries, raising concerns for their respective teams. The Padres are aiming to honor their late owner Peter Seidler with a strong playoff run, as the atmosphere at Petco Park reached a historic high with a sellout crowd. The Braves' season ends after a challenging year marked by significant injuries to key players, reflecting both disappointment and unexpected resilience.