Phillies’ Jean Segura bests Pete Rose in all-time MLB postseason feat

Phillies second baseman Jean Segura breaks a Pete Rose postseason record.

The ninth-inning Philadelphia Phillies comeback victory in Friday’s Wild Card Series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals was impressive in more ways than one.

After first baseman Rhys Hoskins struck out to start the frame — with the Phillies trailing 2-0 — the team’s win expectancy was only 3 percent. By the time the Phillies rallied for six runs and the half-inning was over, their win expectancy rose to 98 percent.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Phillies are the first team in MLB postseason history to be shut out entering the ninth, score six-plus runs in the ninth, and win the game. The improbable win would not have been possible without Jean Segura putting the Phillies ahead for the first time with his two-run single.

When the Phils clinched a Wild Card spot against the Houston Astros earlier in the week, the second baseman’s active, MLB-long 1,328-game streak of never reaching postseason play officially came to an end.

Segura driving in the game-winning run in his 1,329th career game just might have made the wait worthwhile for the Dominican Republic native. According to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, he set a major-league record for the most games of accomplishing such a feat in the ninth inning or later in his postseason debut.

The previous record holder was no other than eventual MLB “Hit King” Pete Rose — who played 1,223 games before hitting a go-ahead, 10th-inning single in his postseason debut with the Cincinnati Reds.

Rose came through with the clutch hit while facing the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 1 of the 1970 National League Championship Series. That season was Rose’s eighth in the majors. Segura, meanwhile, is in his 11th year as a big-leaguer.

Segura — who is set to enter free agency this offseason — waived his no-trade clause to come to Philadelphia to succeed in the postseason. Now, he is finally getting that chance.