09/25/26 08:24:00
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09/25 20:22 CDT Rays' Freddy Peralta shuts down punchless Phillies lose 3rd
straight potential playoff clincher
Rays' Freddy Peralta shuts down punchless Phillies lose 3rd straight potential
playoff clincher
By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) --- Freddy Peralta pitched into the sixth inning to help
Tampa Bay deny Philadelphia a third straight shot at clinching a wild-card
spot, as the AL East champion Rays beat the Phillies 2-0 on Friday night.
The Phillies entered leading Arizona by two games for an NL wild card with
three to play. The Phillies would have clinched their fifth straight playoff
berth with a win against the Rays and an Arizona loss to San Diego.
The Phillies instead lost their third straight and delayed a potential clincher
at least until Saturday when they will throw a bullpen game against the Rays.
Jonny DeLuca had an RBI single in the first inning and Nick Fortes hit a homer
in the second to back Peralta (10-11) as the Rays tune up for the playoffs. The
Rays have home-field advantage in the AL Division Series and would have it if
they reach the AL Championship Series.
Tampa Bay received a scare when .300-hitting left fielder Chandler Simpson
fouled a ball off his right foot. He was in pain but finished the at-bat and
struck out.
Peralta struck out four and allowed four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Bryan Baker
tossed a scoreless ninth for his 41st save.
For the moment, Tampa Bay has surrendered its home field. Major League Baseball
moved a regular-season series finale between the Red Sox and Chicago Cubs from
Fenway Park to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, because of a weekend
storm threat in the Boston area.
Cristopher Snchez (18-7) struck out 10 and walked one in seven innings.
The Phillies sluggers continued to shrivel in the September spotlight.
The gut punch came in the sixth inning when Trea Turner and Bryce Harper led
off with consecutive singles. Alec Bohm grounded out but advanced the runners.
Bryson Stott lined out to second and pinch hitter Bryan De La Cruz lined out to
shortstop.
Up next
The Rays send RHP Griffin Jax (8-10, 3.62 ERA) to the mound while the Phillies
plan a bullpen game.
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