Diamondbacks 4, Phillies 2
NLCS Game 7 - Tuesday Night, October 24th in Philadelphia
Diamondbacks win series, 4-3
One Sentence Summary: The Phillies couldn't string together meaningful hits as the Diamondbacks ended their World Series hopes in this 4-2 defeat.
What It Means: What a colossal disappointment. Up 2-0 and looking unbeatable a week ago, the Phillies went to Phoenix and completely lost their ability to produce clutch hits. Craig Kimbrel will certainly, and justifiably, get a lot of the blame for this series loss, but the bats of of Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos were a combined 1 for 28 over the final two games. While I'm ranting a little, I don't understand why manager Rob Thomson wouldn't at least tinker with the line-up, given its inability for clutch hits over the final five games of the NLCS. This is going to take a little bit to get over.
What It Means: What a colossal disappointment. Up 2-0 and looking unbeatable a week ago, the Phillies went to Phoenix and completely lost their ability to produce clutch hits. Craig Kimbrel will certainly, and justifiably, get a lot of the blame for this series loss, but the bats of of Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos were a combined 1 for 28 over the final two games. While I'm ranting a little, I don't understand why manager Rob Thomson wouldn't at least tinker with the line-up, given its inability for clutch hits over the final five games of the NLCS. This is going to take a little bit to get over.
2022 was a pleasant surprise and the culmination of many years' worth of a frustrating rebuild. 2023 was always going to be a disappointment unless the Phillies made it to, and won, the World Series. The team's core will return in 2024, with the exception of possibly Rhys Hoskins and Aaron Nola, both free agents. The good vibes are gone for now.
What Happened: Arizona scored a first inning run and the Phillies answered back with a run in the bottom of the second when Alec Bohm hit his first home run of the postseason. The Phillies would briefly take the lead in the fourth when Bohm walked and Bryson Stott doubled him home. The 2-1 lead was short-lived as the Diamondbacks scored twice in the top of the fifth, chasing starter Ranger Suarez from the game. It was all downhill from there and the Phillies could not manage any kind of a rally against the Diamondbacks' bullpen.
What Happened: Arizona scored a first inning run and the Phillies answered back with a run in the bottom of the second when Alec Bohm hit his first home run of the postseason. The Phillies would briefly take the lead in the fourth when Bohm walked and Bryson Stott doubled him home. The 2-1 lead was short-lived as the Diamondbacks scored twice in the top of the fifth, chasing starter Ranger Suarez from the game. It was all downhill from there and the Phillies could not manage any kind of a rally against the Diamondbacks' bullpen.
With their season on the line, pinch-hitter Cristian Pache and Schwarber walked to put runners at first and second with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Both Turner and Harper flew out to center field, ending any hope of a dramatic late-inning comeback. Bohm, Stott and J.T. Realmuto all went down swinging in the eighth. In the ninth, Castellanos, Brandon Marsh and Jake Cave all flew and the NLCS was over.
Featured Card: Down to their final out, Cave pinch-hit for Pache and flew out to right field on the sixth pitch of his at-bat. It's somewhat fitting, and very depressing, the 2023 Phillies season ended with Cave flying out.
Featured Card: Down to their final out, Cave pinch-hit for Pache and flew out to right field on the sixth pitch of his at-bat. It's somewhat fitting, and very depressing, the 2023 Phillies season ended with Cave flying out.
1 comment:
Very disappointing. I look to the WS to see who the next MLB powers will be, but I think the Astros may be the end of that era. Postseason is the biggest crapshoot it's ever been and I think MLB wants it that way. I don't expect to see Arizona this far in postseason next year.
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