Phillies teeter on playoff brink as Diamondbacks surge toward final NL wild card

The Phillies suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Tampa Bay Rays, their ninth loss in the past 14 games, cutting their cushion over the Arizona Diamondbacks to one game with two games left in the regular season. Arizona controls the head-to-head tiebreaker after a six-game winning run that included an 11-4 victory over the San Diego Padres. During the post-game broadcast, a host at one outlet and analysts Ricky Bottalico and Ruben Amaro Jr. criticized the Phillies’ lackluster offense and the inability of high-paid players to produce.

Former closer Bottalico highlighted the palpable tension among fans at Citizens Bank Park. Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, quoted by MLB.com, said something “magical” is happening for his team. The situation mirrors the 2007 collapse of the Mets, who squandered a seven-game lead late in the season.