*Photo from the Press Democrat*
Philadelphia leads series 2-1
They're down but certainly not out. Lourdes Gurriel Jr drove in a run, Ketel Marte won the game, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies with a 2-1 victory on Thursday night in Phoenix.
Down 2-0 entering the game, the D-Backs won what was essentially a must win game, getting back into the series and forcing at least a game 5 in the race for the NL Pennant. It was the first postseason walkoff since game 7 of the 2001 World Series for the D-Backs.
D-Backs first baseman Christian Walker said of being down that "I think that’s the role we have in our division, too. I think we've been playing with that role all year, you know, underdog or counted out, whatever you want to call it. I feel like this whole season has been an effort to play with a chip on our shoulder and prove a lot of people wrong. Within this clubhouse, we got to get a great culture and a great energy."
The first 6 innings of the game went by scoreless. In the top of the 7th inning, Bryce Harper scored on a wild pitch, giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead. In the bottom of the 7th, Gurriel Jr tied it back up for the D-Backs, hitting an RBI double to make it 1-1. In the 9th, Marte put the D-Backs into the win column, hitting an RBI single that scored Pavin Smith.
Walker said of Marte's big hit that "I've been watching this guy do this for four or five years now. It's not a surprise. He's one of the best hitters I've ever been around. He knows when to let it fly. He knows when to tone it back and dump one into the outfield. He executes, day in and day out."
Brandon Pfaadt turned in a gem for the D-Backs, pitching 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing two hits, striking out 9 hitters. Andrew Saalfrank allowed a run before Ryan Thompson pitched a scoreless inning. Kevin Ginkel pitched a scoreless 8th inning and Paul Sewald got the win with a shutout 9th inning.
Ranger Suarez struck out 7 hitters in 5 1/3 shutout innings for the Phillies. Jeff Hoffman pitched 2/3 of an inning before Orion Kerkering allowed a run without recording an out. Jose Alvarado pitched two scoreless innings before Craig Kimbrel got the loss in the 9th inning.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of the loss that "It could have gone either way, you know. What are you going to do? I’m not going to think about it that way. I’m going to think about coming in here tomorrow and getting ready and getting ready to compete."
Game 4 of the series is on Friday night. The D-Backs have a bullpen game on tap with Joe Mantiply starting. The Phillies give the start to Cristopher Sanchez.
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