*Photo from Sports World News*
Philadelphia leads series 1-0
We've found a team that can stop the snakes. Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos homered, Bryce Harper drove in a pair of runs, and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 on Monday night.
The Phillies ended the D-Backs 5-0 run to start the postseason by winning game one of the NLCS, and they did so by jumping on them early, hitting 3 home runs in the first two innings. They've won 3 straight games themselves since losing game two of the NLDS to the Atlanta Braves.
Kyle Schwarber gave the Phillies an immediate 1-0 lead, hitting a first pitch solo home run to right field. Harper followed that up with a solo shot of his own, making it 2-0 Phillies through 3 batters. In the second inning, Castellanos hit the 3rd home run of the game for the Phillies, making it a 3-0 game through two innings.
Schwarber said of his first pitch homer that "It’s a fun thing when you’re walking up to the plate and next thing you know, 46,000 people are getting on their feet and ready to rock and roll. You’re looking to set a tone. If it’s a home run, if it’s a walk, a single, whatever it is, to try to get on base for these guys behind me. It’s a really special thing."
Harper came up with another RBI in the 3rd inning, hitting a single that scored Trea Turner to make it 4-0 Phillies. Harper scored on a JT Realmuto RBI single in the 5th inning to make it 5-0. In the 6th, Geraldo Perdomo got the D-Backs on the board with a two run home run, making it 5-2. Christian Walker scored on a sac fly to make it 5-3 before the Phillies closed out the win.
Walker said of the late game offense that "I think any time you can score runs, especially late, there's some momentum there. That's a really good bullpen. There's a win there to put up a couple runs and generate some offense. It's a long series and I think trying to tax bullpen arms as much as we can, make guys throw in high-leverage, high-intensity moments, I think that benefits us in the long run."
Zack Wheeler made the start for the Phillies, allowing two runs in 6 innings while striking out 8 hitters. Seranthony Dominguez allowed a run in 2/3 of an inning before Jose Alvarado pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Craig Kimbrel pitched the 9th to pick up the save, his 3rd of the playoffs.
Zac Gallen started for the D-Backs and got hit hard, giving up 5 runs on 8 hits and two walks in 5 innings. Kyle Nelson pitched 1 1/3 innings, Miguel Castro worked 2/3 of an inning, and Luis Frias pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
D-Backs 3rd baseman Evan Longoria said of the loss that "It can be a motivating thing to get punched in the face early on in the series and just be able to answer back and respond in a positive way. That’ll be the challenge tomorrow. Can we show up with the same kind of energy, the same kind of quality at-bats that we had early in the game and ultimately come through with some bigger hits?"
Game two of the series is on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. The D-Backs try to tie the series and force a game 5 with Merrill Kelly getting the start. The Phillies start Aaron Nola as they try to take a 2-0 series lead.
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