Third wild card creates opportunity for another playoff team

By JAY COHEN
AP Baseball Writer

The Philadelphia Phillies grabbed baseball’s last playoff ticket, and Bryce Harper and company partied into the night. It’s the first playoff appearance for Philly since 2001, and no one seemed to care that it arrived via one of three NL wild cards. It’s the first year for the majors’ new playoff format — part of the negotiations that resulted in the March labor deal that ended a 99-day lockout. Each league has three wild cards, taking the postseason field from 10 to 12 teams. Mariners infielder Ty France says it’s a “cool, cool structure.”