Atlanta erases 4-run deficit to draw even with Philadelphia in NLDS

After being held hitless into the sixth inning, Atlanta rallied for an improbable 5-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on two-run homers by Travis d'Arnaud and Austin Riley and a game-ending double play for the ages to even the NL Division Series at one win apiece Monday night.

D'Arnaud, who started at catcher over slumping Sean Murphy, gave Atlanta hope with his shot into the left-field seats in the seventh, cutting Philadelphia's lead to 4-3.

It was Atlanta's first extra-base hit of the series.

Riley provided the second, driving a 3-2 pitch from Jeff Hoffman (0-1) into the Phillies bullpen with two outs in the eighth to put Atlanta ahead for the first time in the best-of-five series. Ronald Acuna Jr. scored ahead of Riley after being plunked on the left arm by Hoffman's first pitch coming in from the bullpen.

BAH GAWD THAT’S AUSTIN RILEY’S MUSIC<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsOneATL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsOneATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZHX9oqIrGf">pic.twitter.com/ZHX9oqIrGf</a>

It ended in equally stunning fashion. With Bryce Harper aboard, Nick Castellanos drove one to the fence in deep right-centre, only to be robbed on a great leaping catch by Michael Harris II.

Harper had rounded second base when Harris made the catch. He backtracked desperately, and the throw back to the infield skidded past second baseman Ozzie Albies. But Riley alertly backed up the play and zipped a throw to first that completed the double play.

THAT JUST HAPPENED.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AsOneATL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AsOneATL</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ro4UHPvCOs">pic.twitter.com/Ro4UHPvCOs</a>

Just like that, the series was all tied up. Game 3 is Wednesday at Philadelphia.

A.J. Minter