Phillies impose their will on Diamondbacks in Game 2 laugher
The best teams in the postseason are usually the ones that outslug their opponents.
If being the last team standing in November is the goal, it helps to have Kyle Schwarber in October. And Trea Turner. And Bryce Harper. And J.T. Realmuto. And Brandon Marsh. And Aaron Nola.
As Jason Kelce once said, it’s the whole team!
The Phillies demolished the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-0 in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Three solo home runs, two from Schwarber and one from Turner, gave the Phillies the lead, but they pulled away following four runs in both the sixth and seventh inning.
They head to Arizona for Games 3, 4 and 5 with a 2-0 series lead and a real chance of returning home to Philly with a second-straight National League pennant.
Turner made up big time for his error in the top of the first inning with a deep drive to left center field on a fastball that missed inside to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. His third home run of the postseason traveled 421 feet.
Kelly walked the next batter Harper on four pitches, retired six straight, then allowed a laser wall scraper to Schwarber that made it a 2-0 game in the third.
Schwarber hit his second home run of the game to lead off the sixth inning to expand the lead to 3-0.
Per the great Sarah Langs, the Phillies’ 15 home runs over their last four postseason games is the most by any team in MLB history. Their last 13 home runs have been of the solo variety.
The only downside is that the Phillies could not get any traffic on Kelly, who was pretty good outside of a few mistakes made to Schwarber and Turner. Kelly allowed only three hits across 5 2/3 innings, but they were all home runs. He walked three, struck out six and threw 89 pitches.
D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo made the aggressive move by pulling Kelly in favor of one of their best lefty relievers Joe Mantiply with two out in the fifth. Facing Bryson Stott, Mantiply allowed a base hit on a 1-0 sinker to extend the inning.
With runners on second and third following a stolen base from Stott, Realmuto drove an outside changeup into the gap in left center to score two and give the Phillies a more comfortable 5-0 lead. Marsh added on with a double to score Realmuto following an intentional walk to Nick Castellanos.
Alec Bohm broke his 0-for-10 with a ball in the gap to make it 8-0 in the bottom of the seventh.
Nola was untouchable through six innings. He threw a shutout over six innings, striking out seven and walking none.
It was different Nola we saw on the mound tonight. He was in control. His delivery was crisper, he was filling up the zone and when the Diamondbacks attacked early in the count and threatened with runners on, he executed his pitches to get his team out of trouble.
The Phillies are getting an elevated version of Nola, one they’ll gladly roll out the dough for in the offseason.
For now, he’ll have at least one more start in the Phillies uniform. If the Phillies take care of business in Arizona, it will be in the World Series.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- NLCS Game 3 on Thursday, Oct. 19 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field
- 5:07 p.m. EDT
- TV: TBS
- Radio: Sportsradio 94 WIP
