The mood going into Sunday at Citizens Bank Park was gloomier than the weather forecast. With the Phillies on a four-game skid, it felt as though a spot in the 2026 MLB postseason would finally slip through their fingers.
Then the offense woke up.
The Phillies’ offense combined to record 12 hits, scoring seven runs against the Tampa Bay Rays to clinch the No. 6 seed with a 7-3 victory. Bryson Stott reached base four times, while Bryce Harper and Edmundo Sosa both hit solo home runs.
Batting second, Kyle Schwarber singled into right field to put a runner on early in the bottom of the second. After Bryce Harper struck out looking for the second out, Bryson Stott came to the plate as Mattingly shifted him up to cleanup. Stott drove a ball from Rays starter Nick Martinez off the wall in right field, scoring Schwarber to give the Phillies their first lead since Wheeler’s last start Tuesday.
The Phillies were not done there. Edmundo Sosa doubled with one out, though he needed to be checked on after arriving at second base with some discomfort.
With two outs, J.T. Realmuto stepped up to the plate.
Realmuto entered Sunday in the midst of an 0-for-34 stretch at the plate. On an 0-2 count with the Phillies faithful cheering him on, Realmuto drove a line drive over left fielder Victor Mesa Jr.’s head, scoring Sosa.
Back at the top of the order, Trea Turner singled to move Realmuto to third. Schwarber then recorded his second hit of the day, a double into right field that scored both runners to give the Phillies a 4-0 lead after two innings. The Phillies had scored only two runs since Wheeler’s previous start on Sept. 22.
Zack Wheeler showed up ready to dominate. For the second straight start, Wheeler struck out the side to start the game. He cruised through the first four innings with little opposition, allowing just two hits and no walks.
As Wheeler returned to the mound to pitch the top of the fifth, a slow drizzle began over Citizens Bank Park. Jonny DeLuca led off the inning with a solo home run into left-center field, putting the Rays on the board, 4-1.
Cedric Mullins followed with a single to keep the threat alive for the Rays, but Wheeler navigated the next three batters to get out of the inning without further damage.
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With his start Sunday, Bryce Harper officially started all 162 games of the regular season for the Phillies, the first time he has done so in his career. Leading off the bottom of the fifth, Harper hit his 29th home run of the year into the second row of Section 106 in right field.
Stott then recorded his third hit of the day, his second double into right field. Bohm moved him to third on a groundout before Marsh drove Stott in with a sacrifice fly.
Sosa saw Harper’s solo shot and wanted to get in on the action. He capped the Phillies’ three-run fifth inning with a solo home run into right field, giving the Phillies a commanding 7-1 lead over the Rays.
Wheeler went on to pitch six innings, allowing only one run on five hits. Wheeler struck out five batters, ending the season with 2,013 career strikeouts.
Alex McFarlane entered in relief to pitch the top of the seventh for the Phillies. DeLuca drove a full-count sinker from McFarlane into right-center field for his second home run of the game and the first multihomer game of his career.
With one out, Jorge Mateo then hit a one-hop ground-rule double into center field. Victor Mesa Jr. drove him in with an infield single to Stott, cutting the Phillies’ lead to 7-3.
As the grounds crew worked desperately to keep the infield in playing condition, Jesús Luzardo made his return to the mound, entering in relief in the top of the eighth.
Luzardo needed only four pitches to record three consecutive groundouts to finish the eighth.
Jhoan Duran then entered in a non-save situation, keeping the Rays scoreless to secure the Phillies' fifth consecutive postseason berth.
As anemic as the Phillies’ offense had been over the four-game losing streak, they woke up in a big way Sunday.
With their backs against the wall, the team came together to tally 12 hits against the Rays. Bryson Stott led the way in his new role as cleanup hitter. He went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one walk, one run and one RBI. Edmundo Sosa followed, going 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits, including a solo home run.
Bryce Harper, meanwhile, hit the 392nd home run of his career, putting 400 home runs within reach next season.
To reach the postseason, a team needs top pitching. To survive the postseason, a team needs to be able to hit top pitching. While the Phillies have a lot of work to do to prove they can do so in Red October, they proved Sunday that they can hit well enough to fight another day.
With the victory, the Phillies clinched their fifth consecutive postseason appearance. As the No. 6 seed in the National League, they will travel to face the No. 3 seed, NL East champion Atlanta Braves.
The three-game series against the Braves will begin Tuesday, Sept. 29, and run through Thursday, Oct. 1, if needed. All three games are scheduled for 2 p.m. and will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The Game 3 start time is subject to change.
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