NLCS Coverage: Phillies Take Back Lead, Head Home for Possible WS Clincher

After a disastrous game 4,would the Phillies be able to redeem themselves in game 5? The answer was yes, and the Phils’ rolled to a score of 6-1 regaining the lead 3-2 in the National League Championship Series (NLCS).

Last night’s game was a rematch of the Zac(k)s. Starters were Zac Gallen for the Diamondbacks and Zack Wheeler for the Phils’. Gallen pitched for six innings. Wheeler stayed through seven with eight K’s.

Phils’ struck first and never looked back.

With Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper on base and 2 outs in the first, Bryson Stott delivered a clutch RBI single to right field. Stott then got caught in a rundown, and Harper stole home as part of a double steal. 

Phils’ were up 2-0 after the action packed first inning. The scoreboard didn’t change till the sixth, when Schwarber and then Harper both hit homers. Schwarber’s soared 461 ft, and Harper’s moon shot went 444 ft.

The lone score for the D-Backs came in the seventh when Alek Thomas hit a 399 ft solo home run.

With the score 4-1, the Phils’ were leaving nothing to chance. Top of the eighth, JT Realmuto slammed a two run homer, making it 6-1 and that’s where it stayed

The D-Backs could not answer back, and the final was 6-1.

Phils’ have the chance to put this series to bed as game 6 is in Philadelphia on Monday. Aaron Nola will be on the mound for the Phils’ and Merrill Kelly for D-Backs.

Fun Fact per MLB.com Notable Theft
Harper’s steal of home makes him the oldest player to do so since Jackie Robinson in 1951 World Series. It was also the ninth steal of home since since playoffs started in 1969 and the first since Tampa Bay’s Randy Arozarena in 2021. And it was the first in Phillies history.