Phillies Stay Close in Wild-Card Chase

In danger of losing more ground in the NL wild-card race, the Philadelphia Phillies kept coming up with ways to blow this game -- until Jimmy Rollins finally won it.

They fell behind, 4-1. They gave away a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning when closer Tom Gordon walked in the tying run. They squandered a 6-5 lead in the 10th. Even what became the go-ahead rally almost was cut short when a runner was thrown out at the plate. And a two-run lead in the 14th hardly seemed safe.

Still, the Phillies earned an 8-7 victory over the Washington Nationals on Rollins’ two-run triple with two out in the 14th Wednesday night.

“I don’t know what to say about it, but we won,” Philadelphia Manager Charlie Manuel said. “I’ll remember this game. ... This was a mental-stress game. I aged tonight.”

The Phillies -- who ended a two-game losing streak -- stayed one game behind the Dodgers in the wild-card standings with four to play.

The Washington Post reported that Frank Robinson, 71, will not be asked back as manager of the Nationals after five seasons. Team President Stan Kasten declined comment.