Rays' Freddy Peralta shuts down punchless Phillies, who lose 3rd straight potential playoff clincher

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Freddy Peralta pitched into the sixth inning to help Tampa Bay deny Philadelphia a third straight shot at clinching a wild-card spot, as the AL East champion Rays beat the Phillies 2-0 on Friday night.

The Phillies entered leading Arizona by two games for an NL wild card with three to play. The Phillies would have clinched their fifth straight playoff berth with a win against the Rays and an Arizona loss to San Diego.

The Phillies instead lost their third straight and delayed a potential clincher at least until Saturday when they will throw a bullpen game against the Rays.

Jonny DeLuca had an RBI single in the first inning and Nick Fortes hit a homer in the second to back Peralta (10-11) as the Rays tune up for the playoffs. The Rays have home-field advantage in the AL Division Series and would have it if they reach the AL Championship Series.

Tampa Bay received a scare when .300-hitting left fielder Chandler Simpson fouled a ball off his right foot. He was in pain but finished the at-bat and struck out.

Peralta struck out four and allowed four hits over 5 1/3 innings. Bryan Baker tossed a scoreless ninth for his 41st save.

For the moment, Tampa Bay has surrendered its home field. Major League Baseball moved a regular-season series finale between the Red Sox and Chicago Cubs from Fenway Park to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, because of a weekend storm threat in the Boston area.

Cristopher Sánchez (18-7) struck out 10 and walked one in seven innings.

The Phillies sluggers continued to shrivel in the September spotlight.

The gut punch came in the sixth inning when Trea Turner and Bryce Harper led off with consecutive singles. Alec Bohm grounded out but advanced the runners. Bryson Stott lined out to second and pinch hitter Bryan De La Cruz lined out to shortstop.

The Rays send RHP Griffin Jax (8-10, 3.62 ERA) to the mound while the Phillies plan a bullpen game.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Philadelphia Phillies' Bryson Stott (5) is out at second as Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson, right, throws to first base for a double play in the second inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero runs home to score on an RBI single by Jonny DeLuca in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonny DeLuca hits an RBI single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Tampa Bay Rays' Chandler Simpson reacts on the ground after he fouled a ball off his leg in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta throws in the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

The White House signaled Friday night that CNN would be left off Air Force One for President Donald Trump’s Saturday trip, the latest media restriction from the administration in an ongoing dispute with First Amendment implications.

The news organization was replaced by Real America’s Voice News, a conservative outlet, for the president's trip to Knoxville, Tennessee, according to White House guidance. Trump is scheduled to attend a college football game between the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas at midday.

The news came just after journalists from three news outlets that Trump banned last week from the White House grounds — CNN, MS NOW and Politico — returned to the executive complex with TV cameras, laptops and microphones in hand.

A judge temporarily struck down the ban in an overnight ruling early Thursday, but his decision didn’t directly address the pool. The networks continued to refrain from covering Trump as part of the pool, even as reporters from all three outlets were allowed back in the White House.

The temporary order from the judge mentioned only the White House grounds and said nothing directly about Air Force One.

Theodore Boutrous Jr., the news outlets’ attorneys, did not immediately respond to an email and phone call from The Associated Press requesting comment Friday night.

Earlier Friday, on “The Lead with Jake Tapper,” Boutrous had said the plaintiffs believe the recent court ruling by U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly also covers the issue of pool access.

For a while during the day, the U.S. network video pool for the White House was back in operation for the first time since Trump banned three news outlets in an extraordinary showdown over media access.

At noon on CNN, viewers could see Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping touring the National Archives, along with Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, Xi's wife. The banner along the bottom of the screen read: “Trump and China’s Xi Visit National Archives.” It was a routine report from a state visit — but for the fact that CNN had not aired live video of Trump in several days.

“As of now, all systems are go,” said a person familiar with the pool, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the fluidity of the situation.

The pool consists of five major U.S. broadcast outlets that take turns shooting and sharing video. When the White House banned CNN — which belongs to the pool — from White House grounds, along with MS NOW and Politico, the other four pool providers declined to participate in a show of solidarity.

The spot that was meant for CNN on this flight has long been saved for a member of the U.S. network video pool, which Real America’s Voice News is not a part of.

CNN was not commenting directly earlier Friday, referring instead to its editorial coverage. But Brian Stelter, the network’s media analyst, posted on X that CNN had a pool assignment at the National Archives event and that the White House had approved the network’s credentials.

A CNN camera crew is setup to cover President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping at the National Archives, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

A CNN camera sets up before President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at the National Archives Museum, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

CNN Senior Reporter Betsy Klein reports from the White House, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)