Phillies Postseason Hopes Tighten
Phillies Lose 2-0 to Rays as Postseason Hopes Tighten in Final Weekend
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The Philadelphia Phillies lost 2-0 to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, extending their losing streak to three with two regular-season games remaining and leaving their bid for a fifth consecutive postseason appearance unresolved. Philadelphia managed just four hits and has scored only two runs over its last 27 innings; Cristopher Sánchez struck out 10, but the offense failed to convert a sixth-inning opportunity, and Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh were booed after strikeouts. The Phillies entered Friday two games ahead of Arizona for the final NL Wild Card spot, though the Diamondbacks could narrow the gap. Injuries to second baseman Luis Arraez and pitcher Jesús Luzardo add to Philadelphia’s concerns, and needing ace Zack Wheeler on Sunday could affect his availability to start a Wild Card Series.
Key Points
1
Philadelphia could have clinched its fifth consecutive postseason berth Friday with a win over Tampa Bay and an Arizona loss to San Diego; instead, the Diamondbacks took an early 4-0 lead, keeping the race alive.
2
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said, “I guess I’d rather be in our spot than theirs. We can still control our own destiny.”
3
Philadelphia was scheduled to use a bullpen game Saturday; if the playoff race extended to Sunday, the team would need to start Zack Wheeler, potentially making him unavailable for Game 1 or 2 of a Wild Card Series.
4
The shutout was Philadelphia’s 12th of the season. Tampa Bay starter Freddy Peralta and four relievers combined to limit the Phillies to four hits.
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