Phillies clinch first-round bye after 11-1 rout of Marlins

The Philadelphia Phillies split a two-game set with the Miami Marlins this week, dropping a 6-5 extra-innings opener Tuesday before roaring back Wednesday for an 11-1 victory that clinched a first-round bye and a top-two National League seed for the defending NL East champions. The games, played in Philadelphia, featured late drama in the opener and an offensive explosion the following night that underscored the Phillies' postseason credentials heading into October.

On Tuesday night the Marlins rallied from a three-run deficit to win in extras. Kyle Schwarber opened the scoring for the Phillies with a first-inning home run, his 54th of the season, and Otto Kemp also homered as Philadelphia built a 3-0 advantage early. Starter Cristopher Sánchez gave the Phillies seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out six. But the Marlins chipped away against the Philadelphia bullpen. Griffin Conine hit a solo homer off David Robertson, and error-sparked offense produced the tying runs. In the ninth, Heriberto Hernandez crushed a game-tying solo shot off closer Jhoan Duran, sending the game to extra innings. Miami prevailed in the 11th after a pair of early runs;...