PHILADELPHIA – It wasn’t even a pace bump.
Main League Baseball’s wild-card spherical was over earlier than the paint may dry on the postseason subject logos, with all 4 collection ending in two-game sweeps.
But it was a platform for the Philadelphia Phillies to reestablish their October dominance.
The Phillies performed crisp and almost flawless baseball – and had a helluva enjoyable time doing it – in sweeping apart the Nationwide League East rival Miami Marlins. A 7-1 victory in Recreation 2 despatched the Marlins right into a Florida winter, whereas the Phillies advance to what’s possible the tastiest matchup within the Division Sequence:
A best-of-five rematch with the six-time NL East champion Atlanta Braves.
FOLLOW THE MONEY: MLB participant salaries and payrolls for each main league workforce
That 2022 NLDS established the Phillies’ championship bona fides once they surprised the Braves in 4 video games on their technique to the NL pennant. This yr is organising nearly identically: Two video games in Atlanta, adopted by Recreation 3 again at thunderous Residents Financial institution Park on Oct. 11.
![J.T. Realmuto celebrates his home run in the fourth inning.](https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2023/10/05/USAT/71065863007-usatsi-21574290.jpg?width=660&height=440&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
But they arrive in with a deeper and extra established membership. These Phillies upset the Cardinals on the highway within the ’22 wild card collection. These Phillies had been prohibitive favorites and performed prefer it, with No. 2 starter Aaron Nola following Zack Wheeler and tossing seven shutout innings at Miami.
Nola struck out three, gave up simply three hits and induced two double performs. Nola and Wheeler’s totals in opposition to Miami: 13 1/3 innings, one earned run (0.68 ERA), 11 strikeouts and one stroll.
When second baseman Bryson Stott crushed a pitch from reliever Andrew Nardi for a sixth-inning grand slam, the remainder was a mere formality.
And the wild-card spherical was formally kaput – simply an appetizer for a full meal starting Saturday.
MLB playoffs schedule: Wednesday sport instances
Twins sweep Blue Jays for first collection win in 21 years
MINNEAPOLIS — Someday, they’re ending their historic dropping streak.
The following, they’re exorcising the ghosts of playoff collection previous.
The Minnesota Twins are going to the American League Division Sequence, sweeping the Toronto Blue Jays out of the playoffs 2-0 on Wednesday, sending a sellout crowd of 38,158 at Goal Area right into a frenzy.
It’s the primary time the Twins have gained a playoff collection since 2002 once they beat the Oakland A’s within the ALDS with a lineup that includes the likes of Torii Hunter, Jacque Jones, Doug Mientkiewicz and A.J. Pierzynski.
So, someday after ending their 18-game dropping streak within the postseason, they now have gained two in a row, whereas snapping their 9 playoff collection dropping streak.
Whereas Royce Lewis was the hero in Recreation 1 together with his two house runs, it was the Twins’ bullpen that had been the celebrities on this one, getting the ultimate 12 outs of the sport after starter Sonny Grey pitched 5 shutout innings.
The Twins bullpen was sensational on this two-game collection: 7 ⅓ innings, 5 hits, 0 runs, 1 stroll and 10 strikeouts.
The Twins, after an evening of partying, will play the defending World Sequence champion Houston Astros on Saturday at Minute Maid Park within the opener of the best-of-five ALDS.
– Bob Nightengale
Diamondbacks come from behind once more to brush Brewers
MILWAUKEE — The Diamondbacks secured their first postseason collection victory in 16 years by profitable the kind of sport that outlined their season, coming from behind to beat theMilwaukee Brewers, 5-2, in Recreation 2 to brush their best-of-three wild-card collection on Wednesday evening at American Household Area.
The Diamondbacks will face the Los Angeles Dodgers within the best-of-five NLDS. Recreation 1 is Saturday at Dodger Stadium.
Proper-hander Zac Gallen labored six stable innings and the bullpen took care of the remainder. Issues bought dicey within the eighth. The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in opposition to right-hander Kevin Ginkel, however rookie lefty Andrew Saalfrank got here on to induce a pair of floor balls to finish the risk.
By profitable in two video games, the Diamondbacks are well-positioned for the division collection. Proper-hander Merrill Kelly, who didn’t pitch in opposition to the Brewers, traces as much as face the Dodgers in Recreation 1 with Gallen set for Recreation 2.
The Diamondbacks final gained a postseason collection in 2007, once they swept the Chicago Cubs in three video games within the division collection. They misplaced every of their subsequent three collection: the 2007 NL Championship Sequence (swept by Colorado), the 2011 NLDS (misplaced in 5 to Milwaukee) and the 2017 NLDS (swept by Dodgers), which got here after they gained a sudden-death wild-card sport in opposition to the Rockies.
– Nick Piecoro, Arizona Republic
Bryson Stott’s grand slam busts it open for Phillies
PHILADELPHIA – Bryson Stott put a slamtastic seal on this Nationwide League wild-card collection Wednesday evening.
Stott hit the Philadelphia Phillies’ first postseason grand slam in 15 years when he linked on an Andrew Nardi pitch and despatched it 412 toes into proper subject.
And certain despatched the Miami Marlins house for the winter.
Stott’s slam gave Philadelphia a 7-0 lead within the backside of the sixth and, with Aaron Nola taking a shutout into the seventh, put Philly on the point of sweeping this best-of-three collection. It was the primary Phillies postseason grand slam since Shane Victorino took CC Sabathia deep in Recreation 2 of the 2008 Nationwide League Division Sequence.
– Gabe Lacques
Andrew Saalfrank places Diamondbacks on fringe of NLDS
Andrew Saalfrank made his MLB debut simply 29 days in the past. However with one out within the eighth inning Wednesday, Torey Lovullo summoned him with the bases loaded and the Diamondbacks clinging to a three-run lead.
Saalfrank responded completely, inducing two straight forceouts and stopping a run from scoring to wash up Kevin Ginkel’s mess. The Diamondbacks lead, 5-2, coming into the ninth inning.
– Theo Mackie, Arizona Republic
J.T. Realmuto house run extends Phillies’ lead
Having pushed two runs throughout an inning earlier, Philadelphia catcher J.T. Realmuto led off the underside of the fourth with a solo house run to make it 3-0.
Realmuto’s homer got here off Marlins reliever David Robertson, who changed starter Braxton Garrett to start the fourth.
Realmuto hit three house runs within the 2022 postseason – together with a go-ahead shot within the tenth inning of the World Sequence opener in opposition to the Astros.
Diamondbacks come again to take the lead
Ketel Marte’s two-run single within the high of the sixth gave the Diamondbacks a 3-2 lead over the Brewers – however Arizona wasn’t achieved but within the inning.
After Marte was thrown out at house on Christian Walker’s fielder’s selection, Brewers reliever Abner Uribe uncorked a wild pitch with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the plate and the bases loaded, scoring Tommy Pham to make it 4-2. Gurriel adopted up with an RBI single to make it 5-2.
The Diamondbacks overcame an early 3-0 deficit in Recreation 1 to win.
Phillies take lead over Marlins within the third
Kyle Schwarber’s one-out double off Marlins lefty Braxton Garrett introduced Cristian Pache round to open the scoring and provides the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Trea Turner was the following man up and his RBI single scored Schwarber to make it 2-0.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola solely gave up one hit within the first three innings.
Alek Thomas house run is D-backs’ first hit
Brewers starter Freddy Peralta did not enable successful for the primary 4 ⅔ innings, however Diamondbacks middle fielder Alek Thomas ended the no-hit bid with a solo house run to chop Milwaukee’s result in 2-1.
Thomas, 23, hit 9 house runs in 125 video games through the common season.
Peralta has 5 strikeouts via 5 innings for the Brewers.
D-Backs catcher Gabriel Moreno eliminated after being hit in head
The Diamondbacks had been compelled to take away catcher Gabriel Moreno, one among their most necessary gamers, from Wednesday’s Recreation 2 within the third inning.
On a strikeout to guide off the underside of the second inning, Brice Turang caught Moreno on the highest of his helmet. Moreno sat again for a second, earlier than supervisor Torey Lovullo and coach Max Esposito got here out to talk with him. The trio spoke for almost 5 minutes, seemingly making an attempt to diagnose whether or not Moreno wanted to be faraway from the sport with concussion signs.
Finally, Lovullo and Esposito allowed Moreno to obtain two warmup pitches and, after additional dialogue, to stay within the sport for the remainder of the inning. After the inning, although, cameras confirmed Moreno walked into the clubhouse. When the Diamondbacks got here again out on the sphere, he was changed by Jose Herrera.
Brewers out in entrance of Diamondbacks early
After dropping Recreation 1 on Tuesday, the Brewers bought off to a quick begin with two runs and three hits in opposition to D-backs ace Zac Gallen within the first inning.
Rookie Sal Frelick hit a sacrifice fly and Willy Adames added an RBI single for Milwaukee, hoping to battle off elimination and pressure a winner-take-all Recreation 3 on Thursday.
Blue Jays fail to attain with bases loaded
With the bases loaded and one out within the high of the sixth, Twins reliever Caleb Thielbar bought Matt Chapman to floor into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
It was the second inning in a row that the Blue Jays had two runners in scoring place and could not get a run throughout – after the fifth ended with a pickoff.
By six innings, Toronto had left eight runners on base.
Twins escape jam with Sonny Grey’s pickoff
Main 2-0 within the high of the fifth with runners on second and third, Twins pitcher Sonny Grey picked Vladimir Guerrero Jr. off second base to finish the inning.
With Bo Bichette (who was 2-for-2) on the plate, shortstop Carlos Correa made the tag on Guerrero – with an prompt replay assessment upholding the decision on the sphere.
Minnesota can win its first playoff collection since 2002 with a victory Wednesday, after snapping an 18-game postseason dropping streak in Recreation 1
Twins rating after questionable pitching change
In a transfer that can be extremely criticized, the Minnesota Twins capitalized when Toronto Blue Jays supervisor John Schneider eliminated beginning pitcher Jose Berrios after 47 pitches within the fourth inning.
In got here reliever Yusei Kikuchi, who instantly gave up an infield single, a stroll and a RBI single to Carlos Correa with the bases loaded. The Twins added a second run on a fielders option to take a 2-0 lead within the fourth inning.
– Scott Boeck
Rangers remove Rays to advance to AL Division Sequence
The Texas Rangers eradicated the 99-win Tampa Bay Rays from the postseason in simple vogue.
Led by homers from outfielders Adolis Garcia and Evan Carter within the fourth inning, the Rangers disposed of the Rays with a 7-1 win in Recreation 2 of the American League wild-card collection.
The Rays offense went silent within the postseason, getting held scoreless in Recreation 1 and did not manufacture a run till the seventh inning of Recreation 2.
The attendance in Recreation 2 was not a lot better than Recreation 1. The official attendance for at present’s elimination sport was 20,198, up from 19,704 for Recreation 1.
The Rangers will face the Orioles within the ALDS starting Saturday in Baltimore.
– Scott Boeck
Twins, Blue Jays scoreless via three
Toronto picked up 4 hits within the first three innings in opposition to Minnesota starter Sonny Grey however failed to attain, leaving 5 runners on base. Shortstop Bo Bichette had two of these hits for the Blue Jays. of these hits.
The Twins did not fare a lot better within the first third of Recreation 2, notching three hits in opposition to Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios with out scoring a run.
Rays lastly get a run … however nonetheless path Rangers 7-1
Curtis Mead’s RBI single within the backside of the seventh snapped Tampa Bay’s 33-inning postseason scoreless streak that dated again to final October.
The MLB report is 34 scoreless innings, with the Los Angeles Dodgers being held and not using a run within the postseason from 1966-1974.
Heading into the highest of the eighth, the Rangers lead 7-1 and want simply six extra outs to remove the Rays and advance to the American League Division Sequence.
Rangers break it open as Rays’ postseason woes proceed
Texas bought RBI doubles within the high of the sixth from Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, pushing their result in 7-0 – simply 12 outs from eliminating Tampa Bay within the AL wild-card collection.
The Rays offense has been held in verify this postseason. Coming into the sixth inning of Recreation 2 of the Wild Card matchup with the Texas Rangers, the Rays have been held scoreless within the final 32 postseason innings relationship again to final October.
That’s the most consecutive scoreless innings within the playoffs because the Pirates had a 29-inning scoreless streak between 1991-1992.
– Scott Boeck
Who’s Rangers’ Evan ‘Full Depend’ Carter?
Evan Carter, who made his main league debut with the Texas Rangers on Sept. 8, has been a significant factor in each wild card video games in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays.
In Recreation 1, he grew to become the youngest participant in MLB historical past to achieve base safely 4 instances in his postseason debut, based on the Rangers. At 21 years and 35 days, Carter doubled twice and walked twice, scoring one among Texas’ 4 runs.
In Recreation 2, he slugged a two-run homer within the fourth inning to present the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
The outfielder has drawn reward for capability to regulate the strike zone. In spring coaching, he drew seven walks in 18 plate appearances, incomes the nickname “Full Depend Carter” due to his knack for working deep counts.
Carter had a fast rise to the majors, spending simply three years within the minors after he was chosen within the second spherical of the 2020 draft. In 23 video games within the majors, he batted .307 and drew 12 walks in 75 plate appearances.
– Scott Boeck
Evan Carter homers to present Rangers 4-0 lead
After three scoreless innings, the Rangers scored 4 instances within the high of the fourth, capped by Evan Carter’s two-run homer off Zach Eflin with two outs.
Adolis Garcia led off the inning with a house run and Josh Jung hit an RBI triple with two outs earlier than the 21-year-old Carter cranked one over the suitable subject wall.
Carter performed 23 video games as a rookie within the common season, impressing with 5 homers, 12 RBI and a 1.058 OPS in 62 at-bats. In Recreation 1 on Tuesday, he went 2-for-2 with two doubles and two walks. Carter had walked in his first journey to the plate on Wednesday and with the house run, has reached base in his first six profession postseason plate appearances.
Adolis Garcia house run breaks Rays-Rangers impasse
Main off the underside of the fourth, Rangers proper fielder Adolis Garcia drilled a house run to left off Zach Eflin to open the scoring.
Garcia, an All-Star this season, unleashed an epic bat flip after giving Texas the 1-0 lead – hoping to clinch the wild-card collection with a win in Recreation 2 on Wednesday.
It was the primary profession playoff homer for Garcia, who set profession highs with 39 homers and 107 RBI in 2023.
Rangers, Rays scoreless via three
Within the first sport of the day, Rays starter Zach Eflin has labored round a pair of doubles – Corey Seager within the first inning and Josh Jung within the third – to maintain the Rangers off the board.
Texas is 0-for-4 with runners in scoring place via three innings – together with Marcus Semien hitting right into a double play with runners on first and second and no outs within the third. Eflin struck out Robbie Grossman with males on first and third to finish the body.
Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi has 5 strikeouts via three innings.
Who’s Brewers’ ‘Entrance Row Amy’?
The entrance row of final evening’s Brewers-Diamondbacks wild-card sport was stuffed with well-known characters.
Laurence Leavy, higher often called Marlins Man, was seated between M&Ms Jacket Man ― a widely known fixture at Chicago White Sox video games ― and Entrance Row Amy, an avid Brewers fan and season ticket holder who’s sat within the entrance row at American Household Area at most video games for over a decade.
Amy is well-known for attending Brewers video games, the place she scores each pitch in her scorebook. She additionally grew to become acknowledged for sport day apparel and the truth that she stays for your entire sport and appears to by no means depart her seat.
Amy shortly grew to become a sensation on-line and at Brewers video games, the place different followers would typically method her and ask for a photograph. − Claire Reid
Diamondbacks prolong GM Mike Hazen via the 2028
MILWAUKEE — The Diamondbacks, who’re one win away from advancing to the NL Division Sequence, have prolonged the contract of Mike Hazen, locking up their normal supervisor to a deal that’s assured via 2028 with a membership possibility for an extra yr, based on sources.
Hazen had already been below contract via subsequent yr with a workforce possibility for 2025. This contract, a five-year deal, replaces his outdated one. It was labored out someday previously two weeks, sources stated. − Nick Piecoro
Twins rookie Royce Lewis was ‘made for this’
MINNEAPOLIS — When Royce Lewis walked to the plate Tuesday, listening to the thunderous ovation, he truly stopped earlier than he stepped into the batter’s field. He appeared round Goal Area on the sellout crowd of 38,450. He appeared in direction of the followers above the Twins dugout. He spun round, and gazed in direction of the followers sitting within the third-base aspect above the Toronto Blue Jays’ dugout.Lewis, 24, stepped in and 6 pitches later, instantly made historical past because the youngest participant in franchise historical past to hit a postseason homer in 100 years.
He got here to bat once more within the third inning and homered once more, this time to proper subject, changing into solely the third participant in baseball historical past to hit house runs in his first two postseason plate appearances.
Identical to that, Lewis will endlessly be often called the person who personally ended the longest postseason dropping streak in North American sports activities, a one-man wrecking crew within the Twins’ 3-1 wild-card victory over the Blue Jays.
“I needed to soak all of it in,” Lewis stated, standing quietly in entrance of his locker after most of his teammates departed. “I bought that recommendation from [Twins Hall of Famer] Joe Mauer. The primary sport, I had to do this. You by no means know when you are going to be on this state of affairs.
“This can be a second I dreamed of. I considered that Kirk Gibson homer. I considered the streak. I considered the whole lot.”
− Bob Nightengale
Phillies high Marlins in playoff opener, a win with a ring-fingered endorsement
PHILADELPHIA — On an evening their raucous ballpark on the base of South Broad Road formally grew to become the hardest playoff venue for opponents in baseball historical past, the Philadelphia Phillies each overwhelmed the Miami Marlins and likewise bought misplaced within the hysteria of Residents Financial institution Park, themselves.
You can see it when Nick Castellanos smacked a vital fourth-inning double off Miami Marlins starter Jesus Luzardo, steamed into second and balled his hand right into a fist.
Just for a center finger to emerge − fortunately, for the FCC and fogeys watching at house, the ring finger.
“I simply discovered myself doing it,” Castellanos stated within the haze of a Phillies clubhouse that was the scene of a postgame smoke present. “And I believed, did I simply do this? It simply got here out.”
This October, they’re simply getting began. However Tuesday evening, with a 4-1 victory over the Marlins in Recreation 1 of their NL wild-card collection, they registered the primary of what they hope is 13 conquests on their technique to a championship.
− Gabe Lacques
How does the MLB wild-card spherical work?
The best-of-three wild card format is in its second season. The format was modified in 2022 from the sudden loss of life one-game format that was in place since 2012 except the COVID-19 pandemic-affected 2020 season.
Six groups every from the American League and Nationwide League certified for the postseason, together with the three division winners in every league. The three wild card groups in every league are the groups with one of the best data that didn’t win their division.
The highest two division winners with one of the best data in every league bought a bye and don’t need to play within the wild card spherical. One huge benefit for the upper seed in these wild card collection is that they get to host all three video games.
The Rangers-Rays winner faces Baltimore within the Division Sequence, the Twins-Blue Jays winner performs Houston, the Phillies-Marlins winner begins at Atlanta and the Brewers-Diamondbacks winner will get a matchup with the Dodgers. − Related Press