Rays Explode for 17 Hits, Push Phillies to Brink of Elimination

· Yahoo Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays are involved in a late-season collapse this weekend, but thankfully, it's involving their opponent. 

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The Rays demolished the Philadelphia Phillies on the road, 12-1, in the second-to-last game of the season on Saturday night. The Phillies now enter Game 162 in a must-win situation if they would like to make the playoffs, or risk going home with the Arizona Diamondbacks right on their tail for the final wild card spot in the National League. 

Here is what you need to know from the contest. 

Great bounce-back from the Rays hitting. 

After struggling with strikeouts and limited hits to begin the series, the Tampa Bay Rays recorded an astonishing 17 hits in the contest against the desperate Phillies pitching staff. 

The team was led by a four-hit performance from Victor Mesa Jr., as well as a three-hit performance from leadoff batter Yandy Diaz. Junior Caminero also picked up a home run in the first inning of the game, his 42nd of the season. 

The team capitalized on their base traffic by going 7 for 16 with runners in scoring position, but it wasn't completely perfect. There is still work to do while they wait for the winner of the AL wild card round. The team struck out nine times in the contest. Still something to pay attention to. 

Plenty of work in for the pitching staff. 

Kevin Cash went with seven pitchers on Saturday night, but I don't think that was exactly the plan. 

Starter Griffin Jax exited the game early after three innings of work, after taking a line drive off his back in the bottom of the fourth inning. Before that, he was dealing. He allowed only two hits, no runs, and one strikeout across 52 pitches. 

If he's healthy and does not require an injured list stint, he should be a lock for the ALDS roster. 

The six relievers did their job for Kevin Cash on Saturday night, as Steven Matz picked up his sixth win of the season, following Jax in a one-inning performance to qualify for the victory. 

The only run allowed by Tampa Bay on Saturday night was given up by reliever Manuel Rodriguez, who is still trying to work his way back from injury after recently being activated a few days ago. 

Just one more to go. 

The end of the season is finally here. On Sunday, Tampa Bay will play game 162 and prepare to wait for their next opponent. 

After Sunday's game, the team will pay close attention to their division rivals, as their next opponent will be the winner of the Boston Red Sox versus the New York Yankees, which begins on Tuesday. 

First, they can play spoiler. And potentially stop the Philadelphia Phillies from making the postseason altogether. Rays All-Star Nick Martinez is scheduled for the start on Sunday. If the Phillies win, they're in. However, if they lose and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeat the San Diego Padres on Sunday, they will be eliminated from playoff contention. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 pm Eastern. 

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