Phillies shut out by Rays in opener of final regular-season series, pushing playoff hopes to the brink
Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner went 1-for-4 and struck out in the third inning during a critical game with the regular season nearing its end.
Turner’s strikeout prompted boos from many of the Phillies faithful at Citizens Bank Park. Brandon Marsh’s similar whiff in the fourth inning drew the same response from the crowd. The Phillies ultimately suffered a 2-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.
National League Cy Young Award candidate Christopher Sanchez struck out ten Tampa Bay hitters in another strong pitching performance. But the Phillies managed just four total hits against Freddy Peralta on Friday night and were unable to push a runner across home plate.
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The plastic tarp that circles the top of the clubhouse lockers in anticipation of a champagne celebration remained rolled up as tight as the Phillies seem to be of late. A playoff berth that seemed to be a lock just days ago will come down to the final two games.
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The Phillies entered the game with three games remaining and a two-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the race for the final NL wild-card berth. They would have clinched their fifth consecutive postseason appearance with a win over the Rays and an Arizona loss to the San Diego Padres. The Diamondbacks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in Friday night matchup with the Padres.
The Phillies have dropped three straight games and Friday's loss meant a potential clincher would be delayed until at least until Saturday. Should the race come down to Sunday, the Phillies will be forced to throw ace Zack Wheeler, which would burn him for potential Game 1 or 2 starts in the NL Wild Card Series.
The Phillies were shut out Friday for the 12th game this season and have scored two runs over the last 27 innings.
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NL batting leader and starting second baseman Luis Arraez is out indefinitely with a severely sprained left ankle. All-Star left-handed pitcher Jesús Luzardo has yet to throw a simulated game as he tries to come back from a three-week absence with shoulder inflammation.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly insisted ahead of the game his team wasn’t wilting from the pressure.
"These guys have been through it," Mattingly said. "I feel OK. If we’ve got to tell guys at this point that it’s urgent that we win games, then we’re in trouble. The urgency, everybody knows. It’s pretty much right in your face. We’ve just got to go out and play good baseball."
The Phillies had more than the stakes of Friday night’s game on their minds before first pitch at Citizens Bank Park. The team paused to honor Bill Giles, who died earlier that day at his home in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. Giles, 92, spent more than a half-century with the franchise, rising from a business executive to owner and CEO. The Phillies held a moment of silence in his honor.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.