Phillies Escape Collapse, Clinch Final NL Wild-Card Spot with 7-3 Win over Rays
- On Sunday, Sept. 27, the Philadelphia Phillies clinched the final National League Wild Card berth by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 at Citizens Bank Park, eliminating the Arizona Diamondbacks from postseason contention.
- Philadelphia held a 6 1/2-game lead over Arizona on Sept. 1 before a late-season tailspin; four consecutive losses trimmed the advantage to one game entering the 162nd and final game of the season.
- Ace Zack Wheeler struck out five and allowed one run over six innings, while Bryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa hit fifth-inning home runs to power the Phillies' 88th victory of the season.
- Following the win, the team advances to a best-of-three Wild Card Series against the Atlanta Braves, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Truist Park in Atlanta.
- Entering their fifth consecutive playoff appearance, the Phillies maintain a 10-4 record against the Braves in postseason play and have never lost a playoff series to Atlanta.
29 Articles
29 Articles
Phillies escape collapse, clinch final NL wild-card spot with 7-3 win over Rays
PHILADEPLHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa homered, and Zack Wheeler delivered like a Game 7 ace to bring the Philadelphia Phillies back from the brink of collapse and send them into the playoffs with a 7-3 win over…
Phillies exhale, top Rays to secure NL's final wild-card berth
Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 7-3, on Sunday and untangled a few thousand knots inside the stomachs of their fans, finally clinching the final National League wild-card spot on the final day of the regular season.
MLB playoff picture for Phillies. Will they clinch today vs. Rays
From collapse to clinch, Phillies put last-week meltdown behind them a
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, right, is cheered by Alec Bohm, left, after scoring on an RBI double by Bryson Stott during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
