Analysis: How Diamondbacks’ Offense Collapsed Against Phillies’ Nola in NLCS Game 2
PHILADELPHIA — Torey Lovullo expressed his frustration after the Diamondbacks’ 10-0 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday night. He highlighted the need for better baseball from his team, as they face the possibility of elimination in the National League Championship Series.
Previously, the Diamondbacks had arrived in Philadelphia with high hopes and a sense of fairytale-like excitement. However, in a span of 27 hours, they were abruptly brought back to the reality of the turbulent 84-win season that marked their first-ever postseason shutout.
In order to keep their World Series dreams alive, the Diamondbacks must win four out of the next five games. To make that possible, they need to find their offensive rhythm.
Although they showed signs of life in Game 2, the Diamondbacks failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities. Two crucial moments exemplify their struggles:
Top of the 4th inning, one on, no outs: Tommy Pham, representing the tying run, had a favorable 2-0 count. However, he swung and missed at a well-executed changeup by Aaron Nola, turning a potentially advantageous situation into a 2-1 count. Pham eventually bounced into a fielder’s choice on Nola’s best pitch, a curveball.
Top of the 4th inning, one on, one out: Christian Walker, with the count at 1-2, fell victim to Nola’s perfectly located two-seam fastball. Walker froze, resulting in a strikeout looking, something he rarely does. Throughout the season, he has swung at 189 two-strike fastballs in the strike zone.
Top of the 4th inning, two on, two out: Gabriel Moreno capitalized on a rare mistake from Nola, hitting a changeup for a single. However, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. failed to replicate the success, grounding out to shortstop on a well-placed curveball from Nola.
Top of the 6th inning, one on, one out: Ketel Marte provided a glimmer of hope with a one-out double. However, Pham once again struggled to make solid contact, swinging at a changeup that appeared to be a hitter’s pitch but ultimately fooled him. He eventually grounded out to third.
Top of the 6th inning, one on, two out: Christian Walker fell into a 1-2 hole after chasing two high four-seam fastballs from Nola. The Phillies’ pitcher then capitalizes on the two-strike count, enticing Walker to swing at a curveball just off the plate for a strikeout.
In contrast to their previous success against Nola, where they strung together hits and displayed patience against his curveball, the Diamondbacks failed to capitalize on their opportunities in Game 2. They missed their pitches, allowing Nola to leverage his strengths and putting their season in jeopardy.
David Rodriguez brings the excitement of Major League Baseball to readers. With a deep appreciation for America’s pastime, he covers the latest MLB news, scores, and player achievements, keeping fans up to date with their favorite teams and players.
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