Categories: Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly

Phillies set to play in franchise’s first Game 7 on Tuesday vs. Diamondbacks

Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies will play in Game 7 of the NLCS Tuesday. (Don Otto/Phillies Nation)

One of the quirkiest nuggets about the Philadelphia Phillies is that despite the franchise beginning play in 1883, they’ve never been involved in a Game 7.

You will no longer be able to impress your friends by dropping said factoid, though, because after the Phillies were defeated by the Arizona Diamondbacks Monday, the NLCS is headed to a Game 7 on Tuesday.

It’s a rather shocking development considering the Phillies outscored the Diamondbacks 15-3 in the first two games of the series, jumping out to a 2-0 lead. Even after losing Games 3 and 4 in Arizona, it felt like the Phillies were destined to come home following a Game 5 victory and clinch the NL pennant on Oct. 23 for the second consecutive season.

Nonetheless, there will be a Game 7 at Citizens Bank Park Tuesday, and it will either end with a champagne celebration or one of the most crushing defeats in franchise history. It’s a scenario that few players on the Phillies, or in the sport as a whole, have experience in.

Kyle Schwarber played in a Game 7 as a member of the Cubs in 2016, going 3-for-5 in a classic World Series finale that saw Chicago defeat Cleveland 8-7 in 10 innings.

Schwarber always seems to be a calming presence, both with his demeanor and penchant for hitting titanic home runs when the Phillies need it. He explained the perspective he’ll have as he helps his teammates prepare for Tuesday night’s tilt.

“It’s gonna be all hands on deck,” Schwarber said of Game 7. “It’s gonna be fight, scratch, claw … do whatever you can to score a run … find a way to get outs … find a way to move up an extra 90 feet … anything that you can.

“Tomorrow is gonna be a really exciting baseball game because anything goes. This could be it,” Schwarber continued. “It’s exciting, you know? It’s gonna be good, anxious nerves coming in to the field tomorrow. This is what you live for. Going into the backyard, Game 7, [you] put yourself in this situation. So, it’s gonna be fun.”

Manager Rob Thomson was the bench coach under Joe Girardi for the Yankees in the 2017 ALCS, a now infamous series that New York lost to the Houston Astros in seven games.

Thomson’s message since taking over as manager, for better or for worse, has been not to panic. He’s perhaps tied his legacy to riding with the guys that got the Phillies this far. Thomson said he doesn’t plan to alter the lineup for Game 7, despite struggles from Alec Bohm out of the cleanup spot. He’s going to be steady, and hope that rubs off on his team.

“I think you just have to come in here like it’s any other day and be loose and relaxed and go play your game,” Thomson said.

A few other Phillies have been part of the experience of a Game 7, even if they didn’t make major impacts in the win-or-go-home contests.

Garrett Stubbs appeared in Game 7 of the 2020 ALCS while playing with the Houston Astros, but didn’t have any at-bats. José Alvarado was on the Tampa Bay Rays for their Game 7 victory over Stubbs’ Astros, but didn’t appear in the game. Cristian Pache went 0-for-2 with a walk while playing for the Atlanta Braves in Game 7 of the 2020 NLCS, which they ultimately lost 4-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Everyone else — like the Phillies organization — will be experiencing their first Game 7.

“Sounds like a lot of fun. What a great opportunity,” Nick Castellanos said.