Major League Baseball

2023 MLB wild-card series highlights: Phillies, D-backs advance to NLDS

Updated Oct. 4, 2023 10:49 p.m. ET

The MLB postseason rages on!

Following an exciting day of baseball on Tuesday, four teams faced win-or-go-home situations on Wednesday in four Game 2s of the MLB wild-card series.

The Rangers opened the day by eliminating the Rays in a 7-1 win behind Nathan Eovaldi's strong start. The right-hander allowed just one run — Tampa Bay's only of the series — over 6.2 innings while striking out eight.

Meanwhile, the Rangers got contributions from several of the usual suspects who made Texas one of the best offenses in baseball this season, as well as surprise rookie addition Evan Carter, who continued the incredible beginning to his MLB career by crushing a two-run home run. Adolis Garcia also homered, and fellow All-Stars Marcus Semien and Corey Seager also drove in runs.

[Game 2 reaction: Rangers-Rays]

The Twins, meanwhile, finally secured their first playoff series win in 21 years, one day after winning their first playoff game in 19 years. Carlos Correa delivered once again with his bat and his glove, as the World Series champion hit what stood up as the game-winning RBI single and teamed up with fellow veteran Sonny Gray on a crucial pickoff play as Minnesota shut out the Blue Jays 2-0.

The National League then took center stage, as the Diamondbacks went into the Milwaukee to defeat the NL Central-winning Brewers, 5-2. Zac Gallen had a stellar showing on the bump to slow Milwaukee's bats. Arizona now meets the Dodgers in the NLDS.

Meanwhile, the Phillies topped the Marlins in an offensive explosion as they head back to the NLDS for a second straight season. Bryson Stott hit a mammoth grand slam in the sixth inning.

[Game 1 reaction: Diamondbacks-Brewers; Marlins-Phillies]

Here are the top plays and moments from Wednesday's Game 2s!

Philadelphia Phillies 7, Miami Marlins 1

On top early

Who else but Kyle Schwarber? The left-handed slugger mashed in Philly's first run on this liner down the first baseline.

Look out!

Baseball's a game of inches, and this particular liner from Trea Turner was inches away from being an out. Speed is always lethal though, and Turner's bat speed helped this one get through for an RBI.

JT!

Citizens Bank Park was in a frenzy as the Phillies extended their lead to 3-0 on this moonshot from JT Realmuto.

Stott shot!

Touch 'em all Bryson, this may be the biggest HR of your career (up to this point, of course). The Vegas native had Citzens Bank shaking after going yard to put the Phillies up 7-0.

Arizona Diamondbacks 5, Milwaukee Brewers 2

Brewers strike first

Milwaukee got to Arizona ace Zac Gallen and fired up the American Family Field home crowd thank to RBIs from Sal Frelick and Willy Adames.

Moreno leaves the game

D-Backs catcher Gabriel Moreno had to exit the game after being struck in the head by a backswing. Jose Herrera replaced him.

Bye-bye baseball!

Alek Thomas got Arizona on the board in the top of the fifth with a drive over the right field fence. It was the Diamondbacks' first hit of the game.

Four in the sixth!

The Diamondbacks erupted in the sixth inning. Ketel Marte came up in a big spot with a single to center that scored two, before Tommy Pham scored from third on an error pitches later. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s single to left put Arizona up 5-1.

Minnesota Twins 2, Toronto Blue Jays 0

Sonny start

It may be overcast in Minneapolis, but Sonny Gray ended a Blue Jays threat in the first inning with a big strikeout.

Correa strikes first

Carlos Correa, no stranger to playoff heroics, got the Twins on the board first with a bases-loaded RBI single after a quick hook for Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios.

WHAT A PLAY

The Blue Jays threatened in the top of the fifth, but Gray got out of the jam with an incredible kickoff move to Correa at second base to get Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

HUGE double play

The Blue Jays again threatened in the sixth, loading the bases for Matt Chapman — only to for Chapman to ground out into a 6-4-3 double play.

Target field is FIRED up

The Twins are six outs away from their first playoff series win since 2002, and their fans are feeling it.

Go crazy, Minnesota!

Jhoan Durán struck out the side to seal the Twins' first playoff series win in over two decades in front of a raucous home crowd.

Texas Rangers 7, Tampa Bay Rays 1

Nice grab!

The Rangers were threatening in the second inning, but Yandy Díaz kept them off the board with a great defensive play.

"El Bombi" BOMB

No doubt about this solo home run off the bat of All-Star Adolis Garcia to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Welcome to October, Evan Carter!

After another costly Rays error brought another run home and extended the inning, the unheralded-rookie-turned-key-contributor Evan Carter made Tampa Bay pay with a long home run of his own.

Nathan Eovaldi looking good early

The Rangers right-hander was one of the best pitchers in baseball in the early part of the season but struggled after returning from a forearm injury. He looks like his early 2023 self so far through four scoreless innings Wednesday.

Rangers blow it open

Back-to-back doubles from stars Marcus Semien and Corey Seager have blown this game open, with Texas now holding a 7-0 lead in the sixth inning.

That kind of day for Texas…

Rays finally on the board

Tampa Bay nearly tied the MLB record for most consultive scoreless innings until they finally brought a run across off Eovaldi in the seventh inning, knocking the Rangers starter out of the game after a strong performance.

Clinched!

The Rangers will face the No. 1 seed Orioles in the American League Division Series, which starts Saturday in Baltimore on FOX.

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