Baseball fans were in for a treat Saturday night with Game Five of the NLCS.
In a decisive game to give a team a 3-2 series lead, the final game in Arizona took place between the Phillies and Diamondbacks.
The Phils had won games one and two with Arizona winning games three and four.
With a masterful performance, the Phillies would take Game 5 by a final score of 6-1 and are one win away from the World Series.
Who Let The Phillies Get Hot?
Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper are the two most important bats in the Phillies lineup.
When they are hitting, it feels like the Fightins cannot lose. In Game 5, they put the team on their back once again.
Both Schwarber and Harper would lead off the first inning with singles. They would both come around to score in the inning, giving the Phillies a 2-0 lead.
Bryson Stott drove in Schwarber with his bat, and Bryce Harper would steal home to score the game’s second run.
Bryce is the first player in the history of the franchise to steal home in a playoff game.
Later in the game, both Schwarber and Harper would get to Gallen again. Both going deep with solo home runs to make it 4-0 Phillies.
In the top of the 8th inning, JT Realmuto would join the home run party.
After Bryce Harper reached on an error, Realmuto would put one in the corner to give the Phillies a 6-1 lead.
Ace Material
Zack Wheeler has been nothing short of an ace during his time in Philly’s red pinstripes.
Wheeler was 3-0 heading into tonight’s start and carried a 2.37 earned run average. His 26 strikeouts have been very impressive in those starts.
Tonight, Wheeler was great again 7 IP, 1 ER, 6 hits, 1 BB, 8 K.
Return of the Bullpen
After seven innings of one-run ball by Zack Wheeler, the Phillies bullpen just needed to get six outs to end this game with a win.
Jeff Hoffman would get the 8th inning for the Phillies.
The veteran right-hander has pitched in big spots all season long for this team and came through again. He allowed a hit to Ketel Marte, but he got the next three batters to end the inning.
Seranthony Dominguez would enter the ballgame in the 9th inning, to try and send the Phillies home with a 3-2 lead.
In a different role than he held in the 2022 playoff run, Dominguez would once find his back in the 9th inning of a playoff game. He would get the first two batters, but back-to-back hits made things a little dicey.
Rob Thomson would turn to Matt Strahm who would get the final out of the game.
Game 6 Preview
The series heads back to Philadelphia on Monday night, for Game 6.
If the Astros/Rangers series ends on Sunday night, then the Phillies/Diamondbacks game will be played at 8:07 pm EST.
If the series moves to a Game 7, the Phillies/Diamondbacks game will start at 5:07 pm EST instead.
Regardless of start time, this game is going to be a must-win for both teams.
This will be a chance to end the series for the Phillies and a chance to stay alive for the Diamondbacks.
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
