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Phillies punch playoff ticket, clinch NL East
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- Phillies punch playoff ticket, clinch NL East
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
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The Philadelphia Phillies got one step closer to fulfilling their World Series mission . After trailing 3-1 in the seventh inning Monday, the Phillies came back to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 in extra innings. With the win, Philadelphia clinched the NL East.
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The Phillies improved to 90-61 after punching their ticket to the postseason. It's the first time in franchise history that Philadelphia is the first team in the majors to clinch a division, per NBC Philly's John Clark.
Once in a heated battle with the New York Mets for the NL East, the Phillies pulled away with a strong second half. Philadelphia has been red-hot in September, going 11-3 so far this month. And the team has now won seven of the last eight games.
Phillies clinch division with wild win over Dodgers
Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Kyle Schwarber added to his MVP-caliber campaign on Monday. The veteran DH got the Phillies on the board with a solo shot in the first inning, his 53rd home run of the season. But after Schwarber's long ball, Dodgers hurler Emmet Sheehan kept Philadelphia in check through six innings.
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Down 3-1 in the seventh the Phillies rallied, taking a 4-3 lead on Weston Wilson 's two-run homer. The teams then traded solo shots. Mookie Betts tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Bryce Harper put Philadelphia up 5-4 in the eighth. And Andy Pages kept the Dodgers alive with a ninth-inning homer off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran.
Pages blast sent the game to extra innings and Blake Treinen took the mound for Los Angeles . After getting Schwarber to line out, the Dodgers reliever intentionally walked Harper. The Phillies stayed aggressive, calling for a double steal, which put Manfred Man Harrison Bader at third. J.T. Realmuto then drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly to right.
The Dodgers loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 10th. But David Robertson worked out of the jam. The veteran reliever retired Miguel Rojas and Max Muncy to earn the save and clinch the division for the Phillies.
Philadelphia has built momentum heading into the postseason. The Phillies are red-hot despite missing some key contributors. However Trea Turner and Alec Bohm received positive updates earlier in the week. Both are expected back in the lineup in time for the playoffs.
Related: Phillies in rare air after surging past Mets to clinch NL East early
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