ST. LOUIS — Rob Thomson wouldn’t bite.
Never mind that the Phillies and Cardinals were separated by .0007 of a percentage point in pursuit of a National League wild-card spot when they met Friday night. Thomson, the even-keeled Phillies interim manager, refused to elevate this four-game series above any of the other 78 games remaining on the schedule.
But when you haven’t made the playoffs in 10 years, an early July showdown against a fellow contender qualifies as a big series. So, consider the performances turned in by Zack Wheeler and Alec Bohm for what they were: clutch.
