Phillies clinch in a big way | Sports Daily Newsletter
They flexed their muscles in Houston and earned a playoff spot.
Needing one more win to wrap up a playoff spot, the Phillies seized the moment Monday night against the mighty Houston Astros, winners of 104 games this season.
Aaron Nola took a perfect game into the seventh inning. Kyle Schwarber hit a pair of solo homers and Bryson Stott smacked another. It added up to a 3-0 victory that captured an NL wild-card spot for Rob Thomson’s Phillies.
Take a deep breath, Phillies fans. Put the ghosts of 1964 and other collapses away to dredge up on another day. These Phillies are in the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Now we’ll see who they play in a wild-card series that begins Friday. Scott Lauber sizes up the roster possibilities if the Phillies face the Cardinals or the Mets.
— Jim Swan, Inquirer Sports Staff, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
❓ Phillies fans, how are you feeling heading into the playoffs? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
The Eagles are riding high at 4-0, but they did see numerous starting players leave Sunday’s game against the Jaguars with injuries. Coach Nick Sirianni is hopeful that they’ll be available to play as early as this coming Sunday when the Eagles visit Arizona. But they could very well have personnel issues to address, including at left tackle and kicker.
Sirianni has shown that going for it on fourth downs can be a huge benefit for the Eagles as his aggressiveness has led to extended drives and additional points.
The 76ers’ numbers crunch was quite apparent as the NBA preseason started on Monday. And few players were more aware than guard Isaiah Joe, whose $1.78 million salary is not guaranteed unless he makes the regular-season roster. But while he knows what’s at stake, Joe plans to keep his head down and let his work do the talking, continuing an effort that started in the offseason when he gained 10 pounds of muscle and hit the gym for several workouts each day. Now he gets to show those results on the court.
The Sixers won their preseason opener, 127-108, in Brooklyn, even without Joel Embiid, James Harden, and P.J. Tucker.
Next: The Sixers play the Cleveland Cavaliers in a preseason game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center. (NBCSP+)
With just over a week until the home opener against the New Jersey Devils, the Flyers roster is starting to take shape.
That said, several questions remain, the biggest being who the team’s four centers will be on opening night. Giana Han has more on the center competition and other takeaways from preseason play.
Next: The Flyers wrap up their six-game preseason slate on Tuesday against the New York Islanders at the Wells Fargo Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. (NBCSP+)
It was sober reading to go over the public report of the Yates investigation commissioned by the U.S. Soccer Federation after scandals broke concerning coaches in the National Women’s Soccer League accused of sexually coercing, harassing, and abusing players.
Issues and incidents affected a far larger group of players than many imagined, with even current USSF president Cindy Cone herself subjected to a sexually suggestive comment from an NWSL executive back when she coached in the league. As The Inquirer’s Jonathan Tannenwald explains, what matters most now is the reaction and the changes the USSF will implement from the report to all levels of soccer.
Worth a look
Close to his heart: La Salle basketball player Mamadou Doucoure aims to help his mother overseas through GoFundMe.
Viral video: Even Randy Moss weighed in on the amazing catch made by Chester High wide receiver Cory Hicks Jr.
Lacrosse pick: Zach Cole has excelled for the Hawks at St. Joe’s and intends to continue to do so in National League Lacrosse.
Future Dragon: La Salle College High star Horace Simmons has committed to Drexel, the first school to recruit him.
A Bulldog’s intensity: Former Imhotep Charter defensive back Tykee Smith helped Georgia nail down a victory against upset-minded Missouri.
Trivia Tuesday
The Phillies haven’t played a postseason game since Oct. 7, 2011. Who was the losing pitcher that night?
A) Roy Oswalt
B) Cliff Lee
C) Roy Halladay
D) Joe Blanton
What you’re saying about the Eagles
I’ve been a rabid Eagles fan for over 4 decades. Was a season ticket holder for 30 years before we moved out of the area. How can I shake this feeling that we Eagles fans are being set up? — Dan B.
From the mailbag
I greatly enjoyed Dave Caldwell’s story (Oct. 2) about Sean Murphy, “Fishtown’s Ace.” It brought back memories.
You do not have to live in Fishtown to remember that ball field. I played about half-dozen softball games there in the 1950s. We were the “visiting team.” Believe me, no one who ever played a game there ever forgot that “cinder field.” Never!
And although I did not know Sean Murphy, his story brings back memories of Hank Gathers — and a string of unfortunate Philadelphia high school football players. Let’s not forget them either.
Judge of the neighborhoods be with us yet, lest we forget.
Lest we forget,
Gerard J. St. John
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Scott Lauber, Jonathan Tannenwald, Aaron Tully, Jeff McLane, EJ Smith, Josh Tolentino, Keith Pompey, Anne Peterson, Giana Han, Devin Jackson, Mike Jensen, and Matt Ryan.