PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies hoped to clinch an NL Wild Card on Thursday night, but before they could do that they lost Luis Arraez to a sprained left ankle.
The Phillies said Arraez will be evaluated further.
Arraez hit a ground ball to Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt to start the bottom of the sixth inning at Citizens Bank Park with the game tied at 1-1. Pratt’s throw was high and wide, pulling first baseman Jake Bauers off the bag. Arraez moved to his right to avoid Bauers’ tag, but in the process he rolled his left ankle.
Arraez not only injured his ankle, but he was called out of the baseline for the first out of the inning.
Arraez eventually walked off the field with help from an athletic trainer. He shouted at home-plate umpire Dan Merzel from the dugout that he was safe on the play. It was an unfortunate moment for many reasons, but especially because the Phillies have three games to play in the regular season and Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series is on Tuesday.
The Phillies entered Thursday night needing to beat the Brewers and a loss from either the Padres or D-backs to clinch a fifth-consecutive trip to the postseason.
The Phillies acquired Arraez from the Giants on Aug. 3. He entered Thursday batting .283 with two home runs, 21 RBIs and a .690 OPS in 45 games with the Phillies. He has hit cleanup in that time, batting behind Bryce Harper.