Phillies Clinch Playoff Berth With Walk-Off Win Over the Pirates (3-2, 10 Innings), And They’re Right Back in Playoff Underdog Mode
It was last October when the Philadelphia Phillies stormed through the postseason as baseball’s great playoff underdog story and nearly won the World Series. After a season of ups and downs, this team knew they just needed to get in and they could cause mayhem again. Mission accomplished. The Phillies etched their name on the playoff bracket as the first NL Wild Card team in a stacked race, and it happened at home via a walk-off single from Johan Rojas. The Phillies beat the Pirates (3-2, 10 innings) on Rojas’ base-knock up the middle that scored Cristian Pache from 2nd base. An eruption of Citizens Bank Park came next. Likely locked as the lurking No. 4 seed in the NL bracket, Philly can now turn their gaze to another postseason run for the ages.
Watch:Â Phillies Clinch Playoff Berth on 10th-Inning Walk-Off Single from Johan Rojas
MLB Quick-Hitters
Crew Clinch Central Crown: The Brewers may have lost to the Cardinals on Tuesday (4-1), but losses in the division made their NL Central title official. Milwaukee had already clinched a playoff spot. It’s their third division crown in six seasons.
Walker’s Big Night: The Diamondbacks dominated the White Sox (15-4) to inch ever closer to an NL Wild Card spot, and they did it with big help from the bat of Christian Walker (2 HRs, 6 RBIs).
Cubs Lose on Costly Error: The Cubs lost a tight one in Atlanta (7-6) on a critical error from Seiya Suzuki in right field. Suzuki’s missed catch in the 8th allowed two runs for the Braves and brought a disorienting loss for Chicago on a night where the Reds and D-backs both won. The NL Wild Card is as tight as it gets.
MLB Playoff Picture
American League
East:Â Orioles (98-59)*
West:Â Rangers (88-69)
Central:Â Twins (84-73)*
Wild Card 1:Â Rays (96-62)*
Wild Card 2:Â Blue Jays (87-70)
Wild Card 3:Â Astros (86-71)
Out:Â Mariners (84-72)
National League
East:Â Braves (101-56)*
West:Â Dodgers (97-60)*
Central:Â Brewers (88-69)*
Wild Card 1:Â Phillies (88-69)*
Wild Card 2:Â Diamondbacks (83-74)
Wild Card 3:Â Cubs (82-75)
Out:Â Marlins (81-75)
Out:Â Reds (81-77)
Out:Â Padres (78-80)
Out:Â Giants (78-80)
*Clinched Playoffs
Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images
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