Phillies magic number now 1 following rain soaked 8-1 win over the Nats
The Phillies took 3 out of 4 games to secure the series victory and beat the Nationals 8-1 in a game stopped in the 7th inning due to rain.
Phillies (86-73) Beat Nationals (55-104)
- Winning Pitcher: Zack Wheeler (12-7, 2.82)
- Losing Pitcher: Patrick Corbin (6-19, 6.31)
- Save:
Just in case you missed the Phillies game while you were watching the Eagles move to 4-0 with a win over the Jaguars, we got you covered!
I was also patiently waiting for the conclusion of the Brewers and Marlins game in Milwaukee to publish this post being that it was of the utmost importance to the Phillies magic number. Well, those glorious fish were able to beat the Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings meaning that the Phillies magic number is now 1!!!!
That means that for the Phillies to miss the playoffs they would have to be swept this week against the Astros and at the same time the Brewers would have to complete a sweep of the D-Backs. Even with the train wreck that is the end of this Phils season that seems highly unlikely.
The Phillies took care of business against the lowly Nationals in what was a rain soaked affair at Nationals Park on Sunday afternoon. With the win the Phillies dropped their magic number to make the playoffs to two games.
Zack Wheeler delivered the dominant performance Phillies fans had been patiently waiting for from their ace starting pitcher. Wheeler allowed only 2 hits and no earned runs in 5 innings of work, primarily with a rosin bag in his back pocket to keep a grip while consistent rain fell.
Kyle Schwarber and Bryson Stott combined to knock in 6 RBI for the Phillies who jumped all over Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin. It was a big break for this team to face Corbin, who came into the ball game as the only full-time starter in baseball with an ERA north of 6. Schwarber put the game away with a 3 RBI bases clearing single in the 5th inning that pushed the Phillies lead to 7-0.
After more than an hour rain delay it was decided that the rest of the game would not be played. More than likely the Nationals were ready to get home and dry off after what was a long 4-game series mostly played in rough conditions.
RING IT!
Strike em out, throw em out for Zack Wheeler and JT Realmuto! Why does anyone try to run on JT?!
Bryson Stott drives in his second and third RBI of the day with a deep fly ball that landed on the right field warning track.
3-0 Phils
Bryce Harper adds another Phils run in the 4th with an RBI single back up the middle of the wet infield.
4-0 Phils
Kyle Schwarber drives in three runs with an RBI single in the 5th inning to blow the game wide open.
7-0 Phils
JT Realmuto takes Jordan Weems deep for a solo shot in the 6th inning through the pouring rain.
8-0 Phils
Up Next for the Phillies
The Phillies head to Houston for a 3-game series against the AL West Champion Astros with a chance to clinch their first playoff berth in 11 years.
Aaron Nola (10-13, 3.36) will toe the rubber facing off against Lance McCullers Jr. (4-1, 2.38) with the first pitch scheduled for 8:10 pm.
NBC Sports Philadelphia will carry the broadcast of the game.
Mandatory Photo Credit: Philadelphia Phillies
