Phillies Are Eliminated With Game 60 Dud

Things seemed to be lining up.  Despite losing 6 out of 7 coming into Sunday's finale, the Phillies had one last hope.  They could win Sunday, and if the San Francisco Giants and Milwaukee Brewers were to lose, the Phillies would be in the playoffs.  But the scoreboard watching would be moot as the Phillies ended their game first, being shut out by the Tampa Bay Rays 5-0.

The Phillies sent their ace Aaron Nola to the mound on Sunday, reason for optimism.  But Nola put forth his worst start of the year.  Nola failed to get out of the fourth inning, allowing three earned runs and departed with the Rays threatening.

The Rays would get two more runs off of reliever Hector Neris, who rescued Nola in the fourth and gave the Phillies a clean fifth inning.  But Neris would go on to allow two in relief after coming out in the sixth inning.  The Phillies finished the day with Zach Eflin and Jojo Romero putting up zeroes the rest of the way.

Speaking of zeros, the Phillies bats could not come up with anything.  Alec Bohm's eight-inning double was the lone extra base hit from the Phillies.

So the Phillies miss the playoffs for the ninth year in a row.

Thus, all eyes are now on the Phillies front office, who might be held responsible for this Phillies performance.  To the offseason we go.