The Philadelphia Phillies secured their place in the Major League Baseball postseason on Sunday, clinching a playoff berth in the final game of the regular season with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Following the win, manager Don Mattingly addressed his team in the locker room with a memorable, expletive-filled speech.
"F–k that, it doesn’t matter how you get in, you just got to get in. And we’re f–king in," Mattingly declared, as the team celebrated popping champagne. The Phillies' victory came after a late-season slump that saw them lose six of their last eight games, allowing the Arizona Diamondbacks to close the gap in the race for the National League's final Wild Card spot.
Philadelphia had held a seemingly comfortable four-game lead over Arizona just last week. However, a four-game winning streak by the Diamondbacks, combined with the Phillies' four-game losing streak, narrowed the margin to a single game heading into Sunday's play. Ultimately, the Phillies secured their playoff spot on their own terms, avoiding the need for outside help as the Diamondbacks lost their final game of the season.
In a strategic move to bolster their chances, the Phillies started Zack Wheeler on Sunday, who was originally slated to pitch the first Wild Card game. Wheeler delivered a strong performance, allowing only one run over six innings.
The Phillies are set to open the NL Wild Card series on Tuesday against the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta.