The two best words in all of sports. Game Seven.
For the first time in the 140 years of the Philadelphia Phillies, the club would enter their first-ever game seven of a series.
Everything was on the line between the Phillies and the Diamondbacks, as a trip to the World Series hung in the balance.
Despite a remarkable season for the Phillies, they came up short, as the Arizona Diamondbacks won 4-2, and will head to the World Series for the first time since 2001.
Striking First
The Arizona Diamondbacks would get on the board first, striking for a run in the first.
Corbin Carroll would single and score on a Fielder’s Choice, giving Arizona that first run.
Heading into the game, the Phillies were 3-0 in the series when scoring first and 0-3 when Arizona scored first.
The Phillies would not stay down long despite trailing to start the game.
Seize the Bohm-ent
Rob Thomson and Alec Bohm were facing a lot of criticism for not shaking up the lineup heading into Game 7.
I myself was one of those people clamoring for Bohm to be dropped down the lineup, but Alec was determined to silence the noise.
On the first pitch he saw from Brandon Pfaadt, Bohm went deep for the first time this postseason.
This would not be the only action from Alec early in the game.
In his second plate appearances, he would walk. Bohm would come around to score on a Bryson Stott double. This gave the Phillies a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 4th.
Striking Back
The Diamondbacks would not go away quietly.
In the top of the 5th inning, they would strike for two runs to retake the lead.
Using their speed, Arizona swiped a couple of bags to get themselves into scoring position.
Corbin Carroll would drive in a run and score one himself, putting the D-Backs on his back in the biggest game of the season.
Corbin Carroll would come through once again in the 7th inning.
With runners at second and third, Carroll would hit a sac fly to right field. This would extend the lead to 4-2.
Phillies Come Up Short
The bottom of the 7th gave the Phillies their chance to come back in this game.
Back-to-back walks by Pache and Schwarber brought Trea Turner to the plate with 1 out.
Trea would fly out on a weak fly ball to center field, bringing Bryce Harper to the plate.
2-outs, runners at first and second, with the best hitter on your team at the plate. This is the moment everyone wants to be a part of growing up.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, it was a different batter but the same result.
Harper would also fly out to centerfield, ending the inning and another chance to get back in the game for the Phillies.
8th Inning
Not much to say for the Phillies offense in the 8th.
Kevin Ginkel would get Bohm, Stott, and Realmuto to all go down on strikes, giving the Phillies just 3 outs to go.
9th Inning
In the 9th, Nick Castellanos would lead things off.
After starting the series with a home run, Nick would go 0-23 the rest of the way, flying out to right.
Next would be Brandon Marsh. Marsh would fly out to left.
Down to their last out, Jake Cave would pinch hit. Cave would fly out to right and the season would be over.
The Phillies went 1-10 with runners in scoring position. You just cannot strand that many runners and expect to win.
They blew a 2-0 series lead, and lost 4 of their last 5 games to be eliminated. They lost the final two games at home and only scored 3 runs in those games.
(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
