Diamondbacks finish stunning sweep of Dodgers with historic inning: MLB playoffs highlights

PHOENIX - The Los Angeles Dodgers stood by and helplessly watched Wednesday night, too numb to cry, too stunned to scream, too despondent to show the slightest of emotion.

One minute, they’re winning 100 games, running away with the NL West, and believing they’re in for a long October run to the World Series. The next, they are completely manhandled and humiliated by the Arizona Diamondbacks, giving up a historic four home runs in a single inning, losing 4-2 at Chase Field, and swept right out of the playoffs.

It’s the first time the Dodgers have been swept in a postseason series since 2006, spanning 118 postseason games, and the second consecutive year that they couldn’t get out of the first round, ambushed yet again by an opponent they dominated during the regular season.

ALL CAKE: Bryce Harper answers Orlando Arcia's barbs – and lifts Phillies to verge of NLCS

A year ago, it was the San Diego Padres who finished 22 games behind the Dodgers in the regular season and won the Division Series in four games. This time, it was the Diamondbacks, who finished 18 games behind the Dodgers, and swept the Dodgers right out of the building, overwhelming them by a combined score of 19-6.

The D-backs advance to their first National League Championship Series since 2007, and will play the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies-Atlanta series beginning Monday night.

The Dodgers are going home, having no idea what hit them.

The Dodgers’ starting rotation was nothing short of atrocious.

Their trio of starters, Clayton Kershaw, Bobby Miller and Lance Lynn, lasted a total of 4 ⅔ innings and surrendered a hideous ERA of 25.07, yielding a .571 batting average and 1.808 OPS.

The Diamondbacks’ starting pitching − Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen and Brandon Pfaadt − were fabulous, giving up just two runs in 11 ⅔ innings, for an ERA of 1.13.

The Dodgers never led a single inning in the series, but nothing embodied their futility more than the third inning with the game still scoreless.

It began with a 383-foot home run by No. 9 hitter Geraldo Perdomo, followed by a ground ball by Corbin Carroll to second baseman Mookie Betts, and then it was rinse, spit, rinse, spit, rinse, spit.

Ketel Marte hit a 428-foot homer, followed by a ground ball to Betts by Tommy Pham. Christian Walker hit a 395-foot homer, and one pitch after Gabriel Moreno missed a home run by perhaps a foot to right field, followed with a 420-foot shot to center field and a bat flip that nearly sailed out of the building.

Four home runs, traveling 1,626 feet, from right field to left field to center field.

It was the most home runs in a single inning by any team in postseason history, sending the sellout crowd of 48,175 into a frenzy. It was just an exclamation point on the D-backs’ power show this postseason. They have hit 13 homers, the second-most in the first five games of a postseason in history.

In contrast, the Dodgers’ celebrated duo of Betts and Freddie Freeman, who each will finish in the top four of the NL MVP voting, were 1-for-19 in the series without a single RBI.

It will be another long winter for the Dodgers trying to figure out once again what happened in October.And for the Diamondbacks, well, it was time for another pool party.

The Dodgers, who seethed 10 years ago when the Dodgers celebrated their division title by jumping in the Chase Field pool, could only watch this time.

− Bob Nightengale

Here's a recap of Wednesday's triple-header, which saw the Diamondbacks and Astros punch their ticket to the League Championship Series.

Dodgers trim lead, but Diamondbacks closing in on NLCS

The Dodgers got on the board in the seventh inning of Wednesday’s National League Division Series Game 3. Still, they trail the Diamondbacks, 4-2. Arizona is six outs away from its first National League Championship Series in 16 years.

The Diamondbacks entered the seventh with a commanding 4-0 lead before seeing that gap become much more precarious. After getting two quick outs, Ryan Thompson allowed four straight singles to Max Muncy, Will Smith, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez, the latter two both driving home one run.

Following the fourth single, manager Torey Lovullo replaced Thompson with the left-handed Andrew Saalfrank, prompting Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts to pinch-hit Austin Barnes for the lefty David Peralta. Barnes bounced out to third on the first pitch he saw, ending the inning.

– Theo Mackie, Arizona Republic

Dodgers failed by starting pitching again

Arizona starter Brandon Pfaadt exited Game 3 of the NLDS in the fifth inning Wednesday, with the Diamondbacks leading, 4-0. Pfaadt left a runner on second base, but Joe Mantiply stranded him there.

If the series ends with a Diamondbacks’ win, the stark difference in starting pitching staffs will have played a major role. In the series, Diamondbacks’ starters have pitched 16 ⅓ innings and allowed two earned runs (1.10 ERA). Dodgers’ starters have pitched 4 ⅔ innings and allowed 13 earned runs (25.07 ERA).

That difference has allowed the Diamondbacks to jump out to early leads. They led, 9-0, after two innings in Game 1; 3-0 after one inning in Game 2 and 4-0 after three innings in Game 3.

– Theo Mackie, Arizona Republic

Diamondbacks make history with 4-HR inning vs. Dodgers

The Diamondbacks slammed four home runs in the bottom of the third inning — causing the sellout crowd at Chase Field to erupt — and they took a 4-0 lead in Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Wednesday night.

Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker and Gabriel Moreno each connected off Dodgers right-hander Lance Lynn.

− Nick Piecoro – Arizona Republic

Astros finish off Twins to reach seventh straight ALCS

Houston held on to beat Minnesota 3-2 in Game 4 of their ALDS, advancing to the AL Championship Series for the seventh year in a row.

Jose Abreu’s two-run homer was his third home run in two days, and broke a 1-1 deadlock in the fourth inning. Michael Brantley had homered to draw the Astros even after Royce Lewis put the Twins ahead with a solo home run in the first.

Ryan Pressly struck out the side in the ninth to record the save.

The Astros will face the in-state rival Texas Rangers in the ALCS, which begins Sunday at Minute Maid Park.

Dodgers-Diamondbacks game scoreless through two

With their season on the brink, the NL West champion Dodgers face the Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the NLDS. Lance Lynn gets the start for Los Angeles with Brandon Pfaadt getting the nod for Arizona.

The Diamondbacks were eager to experience the atmosphere at Chase Field for its first postseason baseball game in six years, and were curious if it would match the electricity of the 2017 National League Wild Card Game against the Colorado Rockies.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he recalls that wild-card game as having “an energy that I don’t necessarily feel here every single night.”

– Nick Piecoro, Arizona Republic

Phillies bash Braves behind Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos to take series lead

PHILADELPHIA – After a victorious Game 2 of their National League Division Series, Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia decided to mess around with Bryce Harper.

In Game 3, Arcia found out.

Harper responded to an Arcia mocking of his baserunning foibles by crushing two home runs – and staring down Arcia as he rounded the bases both times – as the Phillies reclaimed command of their NLDS with a 10-2 victory on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia took a 2-1 series lead and can close out the 104-win Braves with a victory in Game 4 Thursday night. No telling what happens then – every subsequent game in this series has featured a significant momentum change and narrative shift.

That process began almost immediately after Game 2, during which Nick Castellanos also homered twice.

Arcia, according to reports, repeatedly reveled in Harper’s baserunning misfortune, saying, “Haha, attaboy, Harper!” after watching clubhouse replays of the game-ending 8-5-3 double play, in which Harper strayed too far past second base and got doubled off after center fielder Michael Harris’ highlight catch.

Harper flipped that narrative quickly.

With Atlanta starting command artist Bryce Elder against the potent Philly bats, it only seemed a matter of time they’d get to the All-Star right-hander. And after Castellanos led off the bottom of the third with a game-tying home run, the dam burst.

Brandon Marsh, single. Trea Turner, single. And then Harper, crushing a slider into the second deck for a 4-1 lead.

He’d later go deep off lefty reliever Brad Hand  - a wall-scaling Harris was helpless to bring it back – for his ninth home run in the past two postseasons.

And just like that, it’s Atlanta in danger of becoming a punchline.

The Braves need a win to avoid elimination in Philly for a second consecutive year. Including the two victories here last year, the Braves have been outscored 27-6 in three playoff games at Citizens Bank.

– Gabe Lacques

Edouard Julien home run pulls one back for Twins

Minnesota rookie Edouard Julien hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut Houston's lead to 3-2 at Target Field

Astros manager Dusty Baker stuck with starter Jose Urquidy into the sixth – who hadn't given up a run since Royce Lewis' first-inning homer – but Julien came through with one out and the clock ticking on the Twins' season.

Urquidy was pulled later in the inning, finishing the night with six strikeouts in 5 ⅔ innings.

Phillies' six home runs in Game 3 sets franchise record

The Phillies have slugged six home runs in Game 3 of the NLDS − a franchise playoff record − against the Braves. Nick Castellanos, who hit his second of the game, and Brandon Marsh added back-to-back solo shots in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend their lead to 10-2, sending fans at Citizens Bank Park into a frenzy.

José Abreu homers again for Astros

After hitting two homers in Houston’s Game 3 win on Tuesday, first baseman José Abreu hit a two-run shot off Joe Ryan in the top of the fourth, putting the Astors ahead 3-1.

Abreu, in his first season with Houston, now has eight RBI in the series.

Trea Turner adds home run for Phillies

Philadelphia's $300 million shortstop Trea Turner got in on the fun at Citizens Bank Park, hitting a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the sixth off AJ Smith-Shawver, extending the lead to 8-2.

Turner, 30, had a rough start to his first year in Philadelphia but turned it on in the second half, batting .292 with 16 homers and a .902 OPS after the break.

Bryce Harper's second home run extends Phillies lead

Having hit a go-ahead homer in the third inning, Bryce Harper led off the fifth with a solo shot off Braves lefty Brad Hand to increase the Phillies' advantage to 7-1.

This marks Harper's first career multi-homer game in the postseason and is the seventh in Phillies history, most recently done by Rhys Hoskins in Game 4 of the 2022 NLCS against the Padres.

Twins, Astros trade early home runs

Twins rookie Royce Lewis hit a solo homer in the first inning off Astros starter Jose Urquidy, putting Minnesota ahead 1-0 early in Game 4 of the ALDS at Target Field. It was Lewis' fourth home run in six games this postseason, hitting two in the Twins' wild-card series opening win over the Blue Jays and another in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Astros.

The Astros responded immediately with Michael Brantley, who returned to the lineup after sitting Game 3 of the ALDS, hitting a solo home run off Minnesota Twins starter Joe Ryan in the top of the second inning.

Homers by Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos give Phillies the lead

PHILADELPHIA - Two mighty swings was all it took for momentum to return to the Phillies' side in this National League Division Series.

Bryce Elder, Atlanta's Game 3 starter who relies on command and a sinker that tops out at 89 mph, allowed a game-tying solo homer to Nick Castellanos and then a three-run homer to Bryce Harper as the Phillies took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning at Citizens Bank Park.

Yet his mess still wasn't cleaned up. Catcher J.T. Realmuto followed with a double to the gap in left center field off reliever Michael Tonkin, and it was 6-1. Realmuto's hit was the sort of blow the Phillies missed in Monday's Game 2, when they pounced early but never added on to a 4-1 lead, eventually losing 5-4.

Elder, who had a 2.97 ERA in the first half and a 5.11 ERA in the second half, gave up a sky-high home run to Castellanos down the left field line and a solid single to Brandon Marsh. And the trouble with Elder is, he doesn't miss too many bats.

So when Trea Turner dribbled a grounder between third and short that was knocked down on the infield, the inning extended for Harper. He responded with a 408-foot homer to right.

After Elder allowed a single and walk, he was done after 2 ⅔ innings.

– Gabe Lacques

Braves take 1-0 lead over Phillies in top of third inning

PHILADELPHIA - For the first time in this series, Atlanta seized the lead first.

A one-out double by MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. preceded an RBI single from Ozzie Albies and Atlanta took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third. The Braves did not lead in the series until Austin Riley's two-run, eighth-inning homer in Game 2 kept them out of a 2-0 series hole and squared this NLDS heading into Wednesday's Game 3.

– Gabe Lacques

Braves-Phillies scoreless after two innings of Game 3 of NLDS

PHILADELPHIA - So far, this looks anything like a get-through game for the Atlanta Braves.

Score after two innings: 0-0.

Starter Bryce Elder, given the Game 3 nod over rookie A.J. Smith-Shawver, tossed two perfect innings to begin Game 3 of the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park. Elder has struck out four and allowed just one ball out of the outfield, needing just 29 pitches to complete two innings.

Phillies starter Aaron Nola gave up a pair of hits in the first inning but has also struck out four, including Orlando Arcia, much to the delight of the partisan crowd. Arcia raised eyebrows with his postgame jab toward Bryce Harper after Game 2 in Atlanta and suddenly is a most unlikely Public Enemy No. 1 in Philly.

– Gabe Lacques

Braves' Orlando Arcia mocked Bryce Harper after blunder

PHILADELPHA – As postgame controversies go, it’s not exactly flammable material to toss on the embers of this Braves-Phillies not-quite-rivalry.

But Orlando Arcia’s spontaneous reaction to Bryce Harper’s baserunning misfortune can only add a little spice to this National League Division Series.

After Monday’s Game 2 ended on an unprecedented 8-5-2 double play made possible by Harper’s aggressive (or, depending on perspective, foolhardy) baserunning, a Fox Sports reporter heard Arcia remark while watching a replay in the Atlanta clubhouse.

“Haha, attaboy, Harper!” Arcia said, and while reveling in an opponent’s misfortune isn’t the greatest look, it wasn’t exactly said on live television.

Nonetheless, the Phillies noticed. No word on if they blew the words up in blaring type to distribute in the Citizens Bank Park clubhouse.

“Yeah, you don't need anything to motivate him,” Thomson said of Harper before Wednesday’s Game 3. But I know what you’re talking about.

“If that adds to his motivation, then thank you.”

Harper hit a home run in Game 1 and brings a 1.757 OPS and seven playoff home runs as a Phillie into Game 3. He’s known to be a little intense.

So, perhaps the goal might be to not get the two-time MVP too riled up.

“We don't really pay that too much,” says outfielder Brandon Marsh. “We know it's just good banter. It's two just NL East teams going at it.”

– Gabe Lacques

Where to watch Phillies-Braves game: 2023 MLB playoffs schedule

• Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies, 5:07 p.m. ET, TBS – Series tied 1-1

• Houston Astros at Minnesota Twins, 7:07 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1 – Astros lead series 2-1

• Los Angeles Dodgers at Arizona Diamondbacks, 9:07 p.m. ET, TBS – Diamondbacks lead series 2-0

Phillies have major home-field advantage at Citizens Bank Park

There may be no better home field advantage in the playoffs than in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park.

Expect the frenzied crowd of 45,000 to be loud end electric for Game 3 of the NL Division Series between the Phillies and Atlanta Braves, which is tied 1-1.

The Phillies went 49-32 at CBP this season with a +83 run differential -- their best mark at home since they were +114 at home in 2011.

In the postseason, the Phillies are 24-11 all time at CBP and their .686 winning percentage is the best in MLB history for any club to play 30+ postseason games at their home venue, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“I think we have the best home-field advantage in the league,” said the Phillies’ Aaron Nola, who starts Game 3. “I think our crowd is the rowdiest, and we love playing in front of that. I feel like it is tough sometimes for opposing teams to play in this stadium, but we like it a lot. We feed off of it.”

Even Braves reliever A.J. Minter acknowledged the crowd effect on Tuesday: “I told everyone this past offseason that Philly was the loudest stadium I’ve ever been in, especially last year in the postseason. We know Philly fans — we know them pretty well — and they’re passionate for their team, and so are we. But it’s definitely going to be chaotic.”

– Scott Boeck

Phillies, Braves' Game 3 lineups: Bryce Elder starts for Atlanta

Braves manager Brian Snitker said he made the decision to start Bryce Elder because he liked the right-hander's performance in intrasquad games the Braves played to stay sharp during their off week.

“I think we just kind of felt like after the way he threw at the intrasquad and with the layoff, that he was the guy,” Snitker said. “He’s been a starter for us all year. It was a big reason why we won the division. We liked what we saw.”

Aaron Nola's career vs. Braves

Game 3 starter Aaron Nola made three starts against the Braves in the 2023 regular season, posting a 3.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts and four walks in 18 innings.

Nola got the win in Game 3 of the NLDS last season against Atlanta, giving up one earned ru in six innings of work.

Here's some of the Braves' top hitters regular-season numbers through the years against Nola:

• Austin Riley: .389 average (21-for-54), 5 HR, 9 RBI, 5 doubles, 1.180 OPS

• Ronald Acuña Jr.: .327 average (16-for-49), 4 HR, 9 RBI, 5 doubles, 1.084 OPS

• Ozzie Albies: .254 average (15-for-59), 4 XBH, .641 OPS

• Travis d'Arnaud .167 average (6-for-36), 2 HR, .606 OPS

• Michael Harris II: .200 average (4-for-20), 2 HR, 5 RBI, .740 OPS

Braves' Game 2 comeback was capped by dramatic double-play

Once again, it seemed the Braves’ regular season dominance was no match for the Phillies’ playoff brilliance.

Yet down to their last four outs before falling into a hole that would have wrecked their record-setting year, Braves slugger Austin Riley saved their season and Michael Harris Jr. sent them off to Philadelphia with a game-saving play.

Riley lofted a go-ahead, two-run homer off Phillies reliever Jeff Hoffman with two outs in the eighth inning, lifting Atlanta to a 5-4 victory in Game 2 of their National League Division Series, a best-of-five in which their outlook was bleak just moments earlier.

The game ended in almost equally dramatic fashion, with a stunning double play after Nick Castellanos drove a ball to the fence in right center field, only for Atlanta center fielder Harris to reel the ball in with a leaping catch up against the fence.

He whirled and fired toward the infield as Bryce Harper − understandably thinking he might score on the apparent extra-base hit − tried to scamper back to first. But that man Riley interceded, cutting off Harris' throw and firing to first baseman Matt Olson to end the game.

– Gabe Lacques

Byron Buxton added to Twins' ALDS roster

The Minnesota Twins added outfielder Byron Buxton to their playoff roster, MLB announced Wednesday afternoon. He replaces first baseman/outfielder Alex Kirilloff, who sustained an unspecified injury in Game 3. Kirilloff cannot return to the roster before the World Series, should the team advance against the Houston Astros in the American League Division Series.

Buxton hasn't played since August 1 after going on the injured list with a right hamstring injury.

– Scott Boeck

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoffs highlights: Diamondbacks sweep Dodgers, reach NLCS