Diamondbacks can't close gap, fall to Phillies in Game 1 of NLCS
PHILADELPHIA — The Diamondbacks’ dream of a postseason encountered its first hiccup inside a hostile Citizens Bank Park on Monday night. They lost, 5-3, to the Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, suffering their first defeat of the postseason in the process.
Zac Gallen was hit hard early and often, allowing five runs on eight hits in his five innings. The first three runs came on a trio of home runs from Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos. All three were on fastballs, before the Diamondbacks deviated from that gameplan and peppered those sluggers with off-speed pitches.
The Phillies then added to the lead in the third and fifth innings, scoring on singles from Harper and J.T. Realmuto.
It turned out to be just enough. Geraldo Perdomo got the Diamondbacks on the board with a two-run home run in the sixth and Christian Walker scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh, but the Diamondbacks could not trim the deficit any further.
—Theo Mackie
Diamondbacks threatening late comeback vs. Phillies
PHILADELPHIA — The Diamondbacks have clawed to within two runs in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series. They trail the Phillies, 5-3, in the seventh.
After getting on the board with a two-run home run from Geraldo Perdomo in the sixth, they got another run across in the seventh. Christian Walker walked to lead off the inning. Gabriel Moreno then bounced into what appeared to be an easy double play before Phillies pitcher Seranthony Dominguez sailed his throw into center field. That put runners on first and third.
Walker scored from third with one out when Alek Thomas hit a sacrifice fly to right. They could not, though, do anything else with the threat. Emmanuel Rivera, who pinch hit for Evan Longoria, grounded out against Jose Alvarado to short to end the inning.
—Theo Mackie
Diamondbacks starter Zac Gallen departs after 5 innings
PHILADELPHIA — Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen’s night in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series has come to an end after five innings. He was replaced by left-hander Kyle Nelson as play moved to the bottom of the sixth.
Gallen’s outing did not go as planned. He served up three homers — two of which came on the first five pitches of the game — and had to work out of three other jams in order to allow only five runs on the night.
He allowed eight hits and two walks, striking out four.
To say the least, the night has not gone the way the Diamondbacks’ first five playoff games did. Their starter was outpitched, their offense has been shut down and they are danger of dropping their first game of the postseason.
—Nick Piecoro
Geraldo Perdomo home run gives Diamondbacks life
PHILADELPHIA — The Diamondbacks have shown their first life of the National League Championship Series, with Geraldo Perdomo pulling an 0-1 fastball into the first row in right field with no outs in the sixth inning. The homer came two pitches after Evan Longoria singled to left, cutting the Diamondbacks’ deficit to 5-2.
Prior to Longoria’s single, Phillies starter Zack Wheeler had retired 15 consecutive Diamondbacks following Corbin Carroll’s single to lead off the game. None had even hit the ball particularly hard.
The home run was Perdomo’s second in as many games, a surprising power spree for a player who had not hit a home run since Aug. 13.
—Theo Mackie
Phillies score again, lead Diamondbacks 5-0
PHILADELPHIA — J.T. Realmuto’s single to left-center drove home the Phillies’ fifth run of the game off Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen. They led, 5-0, heading to the sixth inning.
Bryce Harper opened the fifth with a walk, the third time he reached base in as many plate appearances, then moved to second on a wild pitch.
Realmuto, who failed to come through in a bases-loaded spot two innings earlier, this time lined a single past shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and into left-center field.
The Diamondbacks’ offense, meanwhile, has been almost entirely shut down by Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler, who has not allowed a baserunning single Corbin Carroll’s broken-bat single to start the game. He has retired 15 consecutive batters.
—Nick Piecoro
Christian Walker keeps Bbacks in game with defense
PHILADELPHIA — Monday’s Game 1 has not gone well for the Diamondbacks, who trail 4-0 after four innings. It could, though, be a lot worse.
In the third inning, Zac Gallen loaded the bases, prompting Citizens Bank Park to break out in taunting chants of “Gal-len, Gal-len.” The Diamondbacks’ starter, though, induced a groundout from J.T. Realmuto, aided by an acrobatic pick from Christian Walker at first base.
In the fourth inning, Walker again came up big. The Phillies put runners on second and third with one out when Kyle Schwarber smoked a grounder at Walker. Walker initially bobbled it but recovered in time to nail the aggressive Brandon Marsh trying to score from third. Trea Turner then grounded out weakly to end the threat.
—Theo Mackie
Phillies add to lead vs. DBacks, Zac Gallen
PHILADELPHIA — Bryce Harper shot a single to right to drive home Trea Turner with the fourth Phillies’ run of the game off Diamondbacks right-hander Zac Gallen, giving the Phillies a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third.
After serving up three solo homers in the first two innings, Gallen struck out Kyle Schwarber to start the third, then got to an 0-2 count on Turner but could not put him away. Turner lined the seventh pitch of the at-bat into right-center field for a double.
Harper followed by hitting the first pitch he saw into right field for a single. Harper, who homered in the first inning on a first-pitch fastball, this time ripped an inside cutter.
—Nick Piecoro
Zack Wheeler mowing down Diamondbacks early
PHILADELPHIA — Since a broken bat single from Corbin Carroll to lead off the game, the Diamondbacks have managed nothing off Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. They trail, 3-0, as Wheeler has struck out five and retired nine in a row.
Equally concerning, Wheeler has only thrown 42 pitches. At that rate, he could pitch into the eighth inning, if not beyond. It’s a stark contrast from the first five games of the playoffs for the Diamondbacks. None of the starting pitchers they have faced thus far have made it through more than five innings.
—Theo Mackie
Travis Kelce sighting at NLCS Game 1, but no Taylor Swift
The Kelce brothers showed up at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia for Game 1 of the National League Championship series, because of course they did.
Travis and Jason, NFL players for the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively, were shown in the stands, pounding Bud Lights while watching the Phillies take on the Diamondbacks. “I mean, is there anything better than that?” TBS analyst Ron Darling said.
Yes, actually if Taylor Swift — who at this point I suppose we are saying is dating Travis Kelce —showed up, too.
Alas, no.
“Looks like a seat’s available in-between?” play-by-play announcer Brian Anderson said. “I don’t know, Swifties, looks like it might be a bro night tonight.”
—Bill Goodykoontz
Schwarber, Harper, Castellanos homer to jump on Dbacks
PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies did not take long to give the Diamondbacks a taste of their own medicine Monday night. In the division series against the Dodgers, they were the team to jump ahead early, stifling Los Angeles. In Game 1 of the National League Championship Series, it was Philadelphia that just needed five pitches to jump ahead, 2-0.
After Corbin Carroll singled in an otherwise uneventful top of the first, Kyle Schwarber crushed a middle-middle fastball out to right field on the first pitch he saw. Two batters later, Bryce Harper, celebrating his 31st birthday, did the same, only on a slightly more elevated pitch.
It’s the second time in these playoffs that Gallen has gotten into trouble early. He allowed two runs in the first inning of Game 1 of the wild-card series before settling down and getting through six inning without further damage.
But in the second, the white-hot Nick Castellanos also took Gallen deep to extend the lead to 3-0. Five of Castellanos' last eight hits this postseason have been homers, and he's homered in three consecutive games.
—Theo Mackie
Charles Barkley makes his NLCS pick (sorry, Arizona)
A legend in both cities represented in the NLCS, Charles Barkley said on the "MLB of TBS: Leadoff" pregame show that he thought the Phillies' power would carry the day in this best-of-seven series, but that Game 1 was critical for the Diamondbacks.
"I think tonight is going to be the most important game for the Diamondbacks," said Barkley, who starred for both the Phoenix Suns and Philadelphia 76ers. "They got probably the best young pitcher going tonight in (Zac) Gallen. I think Philly, man, when they’re hitting the ball they’re unbelievable.
"If the Diamondbacks got a chance I think they gotta win the game tonight. But (Kyle) Schwarber, obviously Bryce (Harper, Nick) Castellanos, gotta go with my man Trea Turner. When the Phillies are hitting the ball, nobody can beat them. So I think the game is really important. Gallen’s been great the second half of the season. I’m really looking forward to watching the game."
Diamondbacks set roster for NLCS, add extra pitcher
PHILADELPHIA – The Arizona Diamondbacks released their roster for the National League Championship Series, dropping a position player in favor of another pitcher against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The only change is adding right-hander Slade Cecconi at the expense of infielder Jace Peterson.
Cecconi, a rookie, made seven appearances, four of them starts, in the big leagues this season, logging a 4.33 ERA in 27 innings. He walked four and struck out 20.
With a possible seven-game series and far fewer off days than were built into the division series, the Diamondbacks opted to go from 12 to 13 pitchers for this round.
Their full roster is as follows:
Position players: Gabriel Moreno, Jose Herrera, Jordan Lawlar, Evan Longoria, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Emmanuel Rivera, Pavin Smith, Christian Walker, Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tommy Pham, Alek Thomas.
Pitchers: Miguel Castro, Slade Cecconi, Luis Frias, Zac Gallen, Kevin Ginkel, Merrill Kelly, Joe Mantiply, Kyle Nelson, Ryne Nelson, Brandon Pfaadt, Andrew Saalfrank, Paul Sewald, Ryan Thompson.
National League Championship Series, Game 1
Diamondbacks at Phillies, 5:07 p.m., Citizens Bank Park
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (2-0, 3.18) vs. Phillies RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 2.08 ERA).
Gallen gave up two runs in six innings against the Brewers in his first career postseason start in the wild-card round, then followed that up by going 5 1/3 innings and giving up two runs against the Dodgers in Game 2 of the division series against the Dodgers. … When he faced the Phillies in May, Gallen threw a good mix of his four primary pitches, using his fastball the most but also throwing curveballs, cutters and change-ups along with an occasional slider. He gave up two runs in 5 2/3 innings. … Wheeler worked into the seventh inning in each of his postseason starts, going 6 2/3 innings against the Marlins and 6 1/3 innings against the Braves. He has a combined one walk and 18 strikeouts in those starts. … He faced the Diamondbacks twice this year, allowing five runs (four earned) in 12 innings. … Wheeler relies mostly on his fastballs – a four-seamer and a sinker, both of which average in the mid-90s – while giving different looks to his breaking pitches by throwing a sweeper, a curveball and a slider.
Pregame notes: Phillies' Bryce Harper on Diamondbacks' Corbin Carroll: ‘I love the way he plays’
NLCS schedule
All games on TBS
Game 1: Oct. 16, Arizona at Philadelphia, 5:07 p.m.
Game 2: Oct. 17, Arizona at Philadelphia, 5:07 p.m.: Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (1-0, 0.00) vs. Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (2-0, 1.42).
Game 3: Oct. 19, Philadelphia at Arizona, 2:07 p.m.
Game 4: Oct. 20, Philadelphia at Arizona, 5:07 p.m.
Game 5: Oct. 21, Philadelphia at Arizona, 5:07 p.m.*
Game 6: Oct. 23, Arizona at Philadelphia, 2:07 p.m.*
Game 7: Oct. 24, Arizona at Philadelphia, 5:07 p.m.*
*-if necessary; time for Game 6 could change if ALCS is completed.
Pre-game reading
Moves GM Mike Hazen didn’t make helped spur Diamondbacks’ postseason run
NLCS Preview: How the Diamondbacks, Phillies matchup
DBacks' rookie starter set to play critical role in NLCS
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks can't close gap, fall to Phillies in Game 1 of NLCS
