PHOENIX — The Philadelphia Phillies are on the brink of advancing to the World Series after winning Game Five of the National League Championship Series (NLCS), 6-1, over the Arizona Diamondbacks in front of 47,897 fans at a sold-out Chase Field in Downtown Phoenix on Saturday.
The Phillies offense, which has been quiet since coming to the desert, woke up early in the game, as Philadelphia got three hits off Arizona starting pitcher Zac Gallen in the top of the first inning and scored two runs.
The D-backs were able to get two baserunners in the bottom of the first, but neither were able to score.
Then, Gallen and Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler settled in.
Wheeler had five strikeouts and only gave up two hits in the first four innings. As for Gallen, starting with Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh in the second inning and ending in the sixth, he set down 11 straight batters.
In the sixth, Kyle Schwarber ended Gallen's streak with a no-doubt home run to give the Phillies a 3-0 lead, which sparked loud 'Let's Go Phillies' chants inside Chase Field.
Two batters later, Bryce Harper would add to the lead with a home run of his own over the pool to make it 4-0 Philadelphia.
Those were Philadelphia's 21st and 22nd home runs of this postseason.
Gallen was pulled after that inning, as he threw 6 innings giving up six hits, four earned runs, two walks and only striking out one batter.
Arizona got runners on throughout the game against Wheeler, but just could not find a way to bring anyone across the plate until the seventh inning when Alek Thomas continued his great series with a home run to right to make it 4-1 Phillies.
Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto effectively iced the game in the eighth with a 382-foot 2-run home run off D-backs reliever Luis Frias to grow the Phillies' lead to 6-1.
The D-backs would not be able to score another run and they would go on to lose 6-1.
What does this mean?
Saturday's loss by the D-backs means they are going back to Philadelphia with their backs against the wall. If they lose Game Six, the D-backs will be eliminated and their season will come to an end as the Phillies would claim the NL Pennant and advance to the World Series for the second straight season. If the D-backs win Game Six, they will force a winner-take-all Game Seven on Tuesday.
Merrill Kelly will start Game Six for the D-backs and Brandon Pfaadt would be the likely starter for Game Seven, if it is necessary. Game Five is scheduled to start at 2:07 p.m. Arizona time and will be broadcast on TBS.
Postgame Reaction
12Sports was all over Chase Field after Game Five hearing reaction from the D-backs. Watch our interviews below.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made the State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers also play at the Footprint. Phoenix has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the Waste Management Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall; and Cactus League Spring Training.
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