PHILADELPHIA • Zack Wheeler struck out eight in a sensational effort, José Alvarado preserved the lead with a pivotal strikeout and the Philadelphia Phillies opened a resolute postseason push with a 4-1 win over the Miami Marlins in the opener of their NL Wild Card Series on Tuesday night.

Nick Castellanos provided the game’s signature moment, directing his ring finger toward a joyous Phillies dugout after a key double and sending a message that the defending NL champions crave the cherished piece of jewelry they were denied by Houston last season.

Castellanos added an RBI double in the eighth inning to score Bryce Harper — who knocked off his helmet as he steamrolled past a stop sign — and the Phillies moved within a victory of an NL Division Series matchup against Atlanta. Wheeler (1- 0) allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for the save.

Diamondbacks 6, Brewers 3

MILWAUKEE • Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Gabriel Moreno homered against Corbin Burnes, helping Arizona erase an early three-run deficit and sending the Diamondbacks to the win in Game 1 of their NL Wild Card Series. The rally put Arizona in a prime position to advance. Game 2 of the best-of-three series is Wednesday, and the Diamondbacks have ace Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly lined up after rookie Brandon Pfaadt lasted just 2 2/3 innings in the opener.

Twins 3, Blue Jays 1

MINNEAPOLIS • Royce Lewis homered in each of his first two at-bats, and the Twins stopped an 18-game postseason losing streak by topping the Blue Jays in the opener of their AL Wild Card Series. Lewis hit a two-run shot off Kevin Gausman in the first inning and a leadoff drive in the third, sending the home dugout and the sellout Target Field crowd into a frenzy.

Rangers 4, Rays 0

ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. • Jordan Montgomery scattered six hits over seven innings, helping the Rangers beat the sloppy Rays in their AL Wild Card Series opener. Corey Seager and Josh Jung drove in runs and the Rangers benefitted from four errors by the Rays, who also fizzled offensively before a crowd of just 19,704 — roughly 5,300 below listed capacity — at Tropicana Field. Texas moved within a victory of a AL Division Series matchup against Baltimore.