From collapse to clinch, Phillies survive 'living hell' of last week and win final NL wild card

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kyle Schwarber belly-flopped more than he actually slid headfirst into second base and popped up with his uniform smudged in dirt. He punched his right fist in the air and shouted something in exhilaration toward a fired-up Phillies dugout.

Schwarber delivered with a clutch two-run double, yes. He also showed the fire, the fight that vanished from the Phillies during a treacherous week that sent them from the brink of a wild-card clinch to the edge — and yes, the bottom was crumbling — of an all-time franchise collapse.

His slide had Phillies fans roaring from their feet — perhaps more than a few who wore brown paper bags over their heads a night earlier — and instantly all felt right on a soggy day inside Citizens Bank Park.

Zack Wheeler pitched a gem against Tampa Bay on Sunday and untangled a few thousand knots inside the stomachs of Phillies fans, and even from those inside a mostly solemn clubhouse. The Phillies survived their perilous five-day scare and are indeed headed to the playoffs for the fifth straight season after beating the Rays 7-3 to clinch the final NL wild-card berth.

“We didn't play the best baseball we could in September,” slugger Bryce Harper said. “Should we have clinched two weeks ago? Probably, right? But we didn't. We clinched today.”

Jhoan Duran struck out Nick Fortes to seal it. Duran pounded his mitt and was greeted by teammates for a fairly muted celebration on the field.

The Phillies got more rowdy inside the clubhouse and sprayed cheap beer and bubbly as bottle caps floated in booze-soaked puddles on the carpet while Gloria Gaynor's “I Will Survive” was cranked to 11.

Philadelphia did indeed survive a freefall that coincided with the Arizona Diamondbacks getting hot over the final week of the season. The Phillies’ slam dunk of a playoff spot morphed into something much more tenuous.

Interim manager Don Mattingly said ahead of Wednesday’s game — the first day the team could clinch — that, yes, Philadelphia would wait until midnight if needed to pop the bubbly if it beat Milwaukee and the Diamondbacks lost a time zone away to Colorado.

The Phillies lost that one. Then came three more defeats, capped by a 12-1 embarrassment on Saturday against the AL East champion Rays.

Mattingly's presumed wait of a few hours to celebrate was not complete until 5:19 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Sept. 27.

The Phillies scored only three runs during their four-game losing streak. They needed an unearned run on Saturday to snap a 21-inning scoreless streak.

Schwarber’s double in the second inning made it 4-0, and that all but erased the significance of the Diamondbacks' outcome in San Diego. Philadelphia entered the day needing a win or an Arizona loss to make the playoffs.

J.T. Realmuto slogged through 34 straight hitless at-bats. He also ripped an RBI double in the second inning.

Bryson Stott batted cleanup for only the seventh time in his career. He also hit an RBI double that scored Schwarber in the first inning.

Harper lined a solo shot into the first row of the right-field seats, and Edmundo Sosa added a two-run homer for a 7-1 lead in the seventh.

Slumps were busted. Losing streaks were obliterated. Corks were popped.

“It was kind of a living hell in slow motion,” Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton said of the final week.

Wheeler allowed one run and threw 97 pitches over six innings to earn his 14th win of the season on a rainy day that stirred memories of the 2008 World Series between the same teams.

The Phillies, though, likely took a loss by pushing the clincher to the 162nd game. With Game 1 in the best-of-three Wild Card Series set to start Tuesday in Atlanta, the Phillies will almost surely have to beat the Braves without a start from Wheeler.

The Phillies' rotation has been a strength this season, and Jesús Luzardo and Cristopher Sánchez are in play for Games 1 and 2. Andrew Painter or Aaron Nola could make a Game 3 start, if necessary.

Mattingly had goggles wrapped around his backward cap and laughed when he said it was "too early” to announce a Game 1 starter.

NL East champion Atlanta won the season series 9-4 and finished six games ahead of second-place Philadelphia.

The Phillies were 9-19 when they fired popular manager Rob Thomson in April after he led the Phillies to four straight playoff appearances, including the 2022 World Series, and consecutive NL East titles.

Mattingly, hired in the offseason as bench coach, is back in the playoffs a season after he was on the staff of a Toronto team that lost the World Series in seven games to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's tasked with leading the franchise to its first championship since 2008, the second year of a five-year playoff stretch for the Phillies.

That was a record, until this year's team matched it.

“You wouldn't think that, right, with everybody's opinion of us,” Harper said. “I think as a team, as a group, pretty cool. The job's not done, the job's not finished. We've never finished the job before.”

The Phillies did all they could to try and blow their lead.

Philadelphia had a 6 1/2-game lead over Arizona for the third NL wild card on Sept. 1 before going into a tailspin that spurred painful memories of the 1964 season. Those Phillies lost 10 straight games to blow a 6 1/2-game lead and the NL pennant with 12 games left.

This year's team will be able to raise a playoff flag on opening day (whenever that is in 2027).

The Phillies also must try and prove their late-September meltdown was nothing but a blip in a long and successful October.

That's a problem to start to solve on Monday.

On Sunday, it was hugs and high-fives and a collective exhale that more playoffs were on the horizon.

“We know our team,” Schwarber said. “We know that we have a lot of experience. We’ve got talent. When we’re playing our game, and we’re executing what we need to do, we’re a really hard team to beat.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Philadelphia Phillies celebrate in the clubhouse during a celebration after the team clinched a Wild Card slot in the postseason by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran reacts after the last pitch of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, clinching a Wild Card slot in the postseason, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

The Philadelphia Phillies pose after they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, clinching a Wild Card slot in post season baseball play, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs, left, is doused by teammates during a celebration in the clubhouse after the team clinched a Wild Card slot in the postseason by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, left, is doused by Garret Stubbs, right, during a celebration in the clubhouse after the team clinched a Wild Card slot in the postseason by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays in a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, left, reacts after hitting an RBI double while Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Richie Palacios, right, looks on during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Tampa Bay Rays' Cedric Mullins, left, is safe at second before Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott (5) can tag him out in the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero dodges an inside pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies' Trea Turner hits an RBI single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, right, is cheered by Alec Bohm, left, after scoring on an RBI double by Bryson Stott during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Laurence Kesterson)

HILO, Hawaii (AP) — Hurricane Nolo was moving away from the Hawaiian Islands on Sunday, but the threat of heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds persisted in areas still recovering from previous storms.

Mexico's Baja Peninsula, meanwhile, was bracing for the arrival of major Hurricane Polo on Monday after it lashed parts of the country’s southwest coast with rain and strong winds. Polo remained a dangerous Category 3 storm with top sustained winds of 125 mph (205 kph), the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday afternoon.

Nolo was well southwest of Hawaii and moving away from the Big Island. A high-wind warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory remained in effect for parts of the island through Sunday evening as Nolo's maximum sustained winds increased to near 105 mph (165 kph).

The storm was expected to approach the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, a national conservation area, early this week.

Forecasters said Nolo's outer bands could cause life-threatening flooding and mudslides, with parts of the Big Island possibly getting up to 20 inches (50 centimeters) of rain. Heavy rain also was expected on the other islands.

“Don’t venture out if you don’t have to into the dangerous flooding environment, but also high winds. We can have trees and power lines down,” said Michael Brennan, director of the hurricane center.

More than 120 National Guard members were activated on the island, part of roughly 400 statewide after the governor issued an emergency proclamation. President Donald Trump recently approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate assistance and provide funding support.

Residents are still recovering from Hurricane Lala, which produced heavy rain and winds strong enough to sweep about 100 homes off their foundations on the Big Island.

In Naalehu, at the island’s southern point, Peggy McKibbin surveyed silt-covered roads from her four-wheeler Sunday and pointed out the lingering damage from Lala — a local bakery, fire station and hardware store wiped out.

“Everyone has been very much affected by this,” McKibbin said.

The Pacific has been unusually active this season, according to National Weather Service lead forecaster Bob Oravec, with storm activity running above average during what is already the peak of hurricane season. He said that pattern is consistent with El Niño years, when the Pacific often sees more tropical storms and hurricanes.

Polo was moving to the north-northwest at 12 mph (19 kph) about 285 miles (460 kilometers) west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas at the peninsula's southern tip, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday afternoon.

Mexico's National Meteorological Service, or SMN, said in a social media post that Polo was expected to make a Baja landfall on Monday.

The Mexican navy said in a statement that it had gathered personnel and humanitarian aid in the ports of Guaymas and Mazatlan, on Mexico’s Pacific Coast, and has deployed three vessels that could ship aid to coastal communities isolated by the hurricane.

One of the towns in the hurricane's projected path is San Juanico, a small fishing community on Baja’s Pacific coast. The town has only had full-time electricity for a few years, and still experiences frequent outages. There is concern that washed-out roads could block access to the closest medical facility, about 80 minutes away in Ciudad Constitucion.

“Our people are concerned about this event,” said Gloriely Robles Meza, a manager at a small hotel. “We haven’t faced such a worrying situation in many years.”

Robles Meza said Sunday that the Mexican Army arrived in San Juanico to prepare a shelter and to provide support for possible emergencies. An electrical crew was also there to prepare for Polo’s arrival.

Also Sunday, Tropical Storm Rachel formed well off Mexico's southwest coast, the Miami-based U.S. hurricane center said. It added that Rachel had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 kph) and was located about 300 miles (485 kilometers) south of Acapulco, Mexico. No coastal watches or warnings were in effect.

Associated Press writers Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, Gabriela Aoun Angueira in San Diego, California, and Hannah Schoenbaum in Midway, Utah, contributed.

Fire Captain Lui Sales of the Hawaii Fire Department looks for residents to help as rainwater from nearby Hurricane Nolo flood a section of Mamalahoa highway Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, near Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Peggy McKibbin looks at where floodwaters from nearby Hurricane Nolo run past widespread damage from last month's Hurricane Lala Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A man rides with his son near where a home was destroyed during last month's Hurricane Lala, as floodwaters from Hurricane Nolo recedes Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Peggy McKibbin looks at where floodwaters from nearby Hurricane Nolo run past widespread damage from last month's Hurricane Lala Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A sign announces that a baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles has been cancelled due to inclement weather, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

Peggy McKibbin looks at where floodwaters from nearby Hurricane Nolo run past widespread damage from last month's Hurricane Lala Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, in Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows hurricanes and tropical disturbances in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via AP)

A member of Hawaii Army National guard removes a ladder from a vehicle as rainwater from nearby Hurricane Nolo floods a section of Mamalahoa highway Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, near Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Fire Captain Lui Sales of the Hawaii Fire Department looks for residents to help as rainwater from nearby Hurricane Nolo flood a section of Mamalahoa highway Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, near Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

A lifeguard walks back to his tower after adjusting a beach closure sign as Hurricane Nolo sits nearby Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Hilo, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Members of the Hawaii Army National Guard help a resident leave his home as rainwater from nearby Hurricane Nolo floods a section of Mamalahoa highway Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, near Naalehu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Kenzielynn Kekoa, center, of Hilo, Hawaii, helps her family fill sand bags as Hurricane Nolo approaches in Hilo, Hawaii, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Garcia)