*Photo from TSN*
Series tied 2-2
This series just got a whole lot more interesting. Alek Thomas homered, Gabriel Moreno drove in the winning run, and the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-5 victory on Friday night in Phoenix.
All of a sudden, the D-Backs have won two straight games to tie this series up, forcing it back to Philadelphia for at least a game 6. Both wins have come on late game heroics, with Ketel Marte walking it off in game 3 and Moreno playing the hero in game 4.
Arizona outfielder Corbin Carroll said "Some huge hits today, almost too many to count. Gabi, Alek, just an unbelievable win. We’ve just got a group of guys that believe in each other and believe in ourselves. We’ve got full confidence in that next-man-up mentality."
Emmanuel Rivera gave the D-Backs the early lead, hitting an RBI single in the second inning to make it 1-0 game. In the 3rd, Moreno singled to right field, scoring Marte to double the lead to 2-0. In the 4th, Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run to make it 2-1 before Brandon Marsh had an RBI double in the 5th to tie the game 2-2.
Alec Bohm gave the Phillies the lead in the 6th with an infield single, with a second run scoring on an error to make it a 4-2 Phillies lead. Johan Rojas scored in the 7th on a Trea Turner sac fly to make it 5-2. Geraldo Perdomo scored on a bases loaded walk to make it 5-3. In the 8th, Thomas hit a game tying two run home run, followed by an RBI single from Moreno to make it 6-5 D-Backs.
Thomas said of his game tying homer "That play is definitely something that you see in your dreams. For it to come in real life and for it to happen to me is just awesome. I'm so grateful to have that moment. It's just unreal. Just crazy. I haven't really processed it yet, but it was awesome."
Arizona had a bullpen game. Kyle Nelson, Miguel Castro, Andrew Saalfrank, and Ryan Thompson, all appearing in the middle of the game, allowed runs. Joe Mantiply and Luis Frias had scoreless appearances early. Kevin Ginkel pitched a scoreless 8th and Paul Sewald got the save in the 9th.
Cristopher Sanchez lasted 2 1/3 innings for the Phillies, allowing two runs. Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, and Seranthony Dominguez had scoreless outings before Gregory Soto allowed a run. Orion Kerkering got one out before Craig Kimbrel gave up 3 runs, forcing Jose Alvarado into the game.
As for Kimbrel, he got the loss in this one, right after giving up the walk off hit in game 3. He's the first reliever in Phillies history to lose back to back playoff games, and only the 3rd to lose multiple games in a single postseason. Kimbrel also allowed his first playoff homer and blew his first save in October.
Kimbrel said after the game that "I've been in the big leagues for a long time. I've lost a lot of ballgames and I've won a lot of ballgames. The only way you come back and be successful is believe that you can. And I believe the next time I touch the ball, it's going to be great."
Game 5 of the series is on Saturday night. Both teams are going for a 3-2 series lead, with Zack Wheeler starting for the Phillies, opposed by Arizona's Zac Gallen.
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