Phillies lose 3rd straight game, Diamondbacks have opportunity to gain ground

The Philadelphia Phillies fell to the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, 2-0, as they continue to leave the door cracked open for the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League Wild Card race.

The D-backs can climb to within a game of the Phillies for the third NL Wild Card spot with a win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

At the very least, the D-backs would not be eliminated with a loss in San Diego on Friday, as Philadelphia’s defeat kept their magic number at two.

The Phillies entered Friday with a chance to clinch the final playoff spot in the National League with a win over the Rays and a D-backs loss to the Padres.

The Rays struck early against Phillies ace pitcher Cristopher Sanchez, plating a run in each of the first two innings. Rays starter Freddy Peralta, meanwhile, shut out the Phillies for 5.1 innings before turning it over to the bullpen.

Former Diamondback Cole Sulser pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning against the top of the Phillies’ batting order, and closer Bryan Baker locked it down in the ninth.

The Phillies have lost five of their last seven games.

The Rays had already clinched the AL East and a first-round bye, but they played their star players at the top of the lineup on Friday.

The Diamondbacks entered Friday needing to be two games better than the Phillies with three to play in order to make the postseason.

The Diamondbacks take on the Padres at 6:40 p.m. MST on 98.7 and the Arizona Sports app. 

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