The Philadelphia Phillies overcome challenges to take Game 5 against the Arizona Diamondbacks as the series returns to Philadelphia. Heading into Game 6, the Phillies hold a 3-2 series lead over the Diamondbacks. In Game 6, the Phillies will look to clinch the series and advance to the World Series for the second consecutive year. This game will be played on the “Bedlam at the Bank” first anniversary. With the chance to clinch the series, the Phillies will send Aaron Nola to the mound. In this outing, Nola has a 3-0 record with a 0.96 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP, along with 19 strikeouts in three starts this postseason. Between the last two postseasons, the Phillies are 11-2 at home. Both losses came in consecutive games against the Houston Astros in the World Series last year.
Pitching Staff Creates Problems
The Phillies bullpen created challenges for the team heading into Game 5. During Game 3 and Game 4 of the series, Craig Kimbrel blew the game. In Game 3, Kimbrel allowed a walk-off hit by Ketel Marte after loading the bases. During Game 4, Kimbrel allowed Alek Thomas to hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run, allowing the eventual winning run to reach base. Kimbrel should not see the mound in a high-leverage situation for the remainder of the postseason. Overall, this postseason, Kimbrel has a 0-2 record with a 7.20 ERA, a 2.00 WHIP, and three strikeouts in six outings. During the NLCS, Kimbrel has an 18.00 ERA with a .500 batting average against. The Phillies need to go in a different direction for the closing role for the rest of the postseason because Kimbrel cannot do the job anymore.
These problems in Game 4 started with Cristopher Sanchez needing to remember how many outs there were during the bottom of the second inning. The Diamondbacks scored a run in that inning, and it spiraled out of control from there. This first led to Sanchez being pulled by manager Rob Thomson during the bottom of the third inning. Thomson put Jeff Hoffman in the game, which was too early for that type of move. Hoffman should have been saved for later in the game. The domino effect of this move turned it into a bullpen game. Taijuan Walker should have come in for Sanchez. They were putting Walker in the game to eat a few innings. Furthermore, this would have saved Hoffman from a high-leverage situation later in the game. This is what created Kimbrel in a high-leverage situation again.
Phillies Overcome Challenges In Game 5 After Blowing Games 3 and 4
In Game 5, the Phillies set the tone for the game in the top of the first inning. The Phillies scored two runs in the inning off of Zac Gallen. The first run was scored on a Bryson Stott RBI single. Additionally, Stott now has eight RBI this postseason. Later in the inning, Bryce Harper became the first Phillies player to steal home in a postseason game. This is the third time Harper has recorded a stolen base in a game this postseason. In total, the Phillies recorded three stolen bases in Game 5. The others were by Stott and Brandon Marsh. The Phillies have five stolen bases in the NLCS and 15 this postseason. Additionally, the Phillies have 18 stolen base attempts this postseason. Stealing bases and good base running have been key parts of the Phillies success this postseason, in addition to the home runs.
Kyle Schwarber hit his fifth home run this postseason to set a new career NLCS record. Schwarber also joins Chase Utley as the player in Phillies history to hit at least five home runs in a playoff series. Harper also hit a home run and is tied with Schwarber for this postseason team lead. They are both connected with Jayson Werth for the Phillies record for postseason home runs with 11. They also set a record for teammates’ most postseason home runs in a two-year stretch. Also, a J.T. Realmuto home run in the eighth inning ended a unique drought. Before this, the last 16 Phillies postseason home runs had been solo home runs. The Realmuto home run broke the trend. The Phillies have the second most home runs in a team’s first 11 postseason games, per Sarah Langs, with 23.
Main Photo Credits: Rob Schumacher/Arizona Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
