Phillies’ clutch bats jump on D-backs’ best arm in another Game 1 tone-setter

Phillies’ clutch bats jump on D-backs’ best arm in another Game 1 tone-setter originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Following the disheartening loss of Game 2 in the National League Division Series, the Phillies’ rightfielder Nick Castellanos made a perceptive observation that perfectly sums up the team’s mentality for the entire season: “We thrive when we get punched in the face.”

Since then, the Phillies have won three consecutive games, demonstrating their resilience by defeating the Diamondbacks 5-3 in the opener of the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park.

Throughout this winning streak, the Phillies have been the aggressors, consistently taking the lead and never trailing. In fact, they have outperformed their opponents in terms of home runs, hitting 16 compared to their opponents’ 4. This includes solo shots by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in the first inning, as well as a home run by Castellanos in the second, all against the Diamondbacks’ ace Zac Gallen during Monday night’s game.

Now it is the Diamondbacks’ turn to face the pressure. They arrived at Citizens Bank Park with an impressive winning streak after easily sweeping through the first two rounds of the playoffs against the Brewers and Dodgers. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto acknowledged that facing the Diamondbacks was daunting due to their momentum.

However, that momentum came to a halt as Phillies’ pitcher Zack Wheeler proved to be a formidable obstacle for the Diamondbacks.

But it wasn’t just Wheeler’s performance that stood out during the game. The Diamondbacks also faced challenges such as adjusting to the weather change from the Arizona desert, the raucous sellout crowd of 45,396, and the presence of notable guests like basketball coaches Jay Wright and Dawn Staley, NFL player Travis Kelce, and country music star Tim McGraw. This formidable combination of factors contributed to the Phillies’ successful start.

With Schwarber and Harper hitting solo home runs in the first inning, the atmosphere at Citizens Bank Park became electrifying. Schwarber expressed how the crowd’s energy elevated the game experience, adding an extra layer of excitement. This strong start by the Phillies’ offense set the tone for the rest of the lineup.

Arizona manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged that the Phillies took advantage of Gallen’s pitching by attacking early in the counts. Lovullo described the Phillies’ strategy as an ambush, highlighting that Gallen’s aggressiveness on the mound played to the Phillies’ advantage.

Harper, who celebrated his 31st birthday during the game, emphasized the significance of not missing opportunities to make contact with the ball, especially against pitchers like Gallen. His impressive postseason performance, batting .409 with a 1.522 OPS, has been a driving force for the Phillies.

As the game progressed, Castellanos continued his impressive power display, hitting his fifth home run in the last three games.

Overall, the Phillies’ dominant performance put the Diamondbacks on the defensive. A loss in Game 2 would greatly diminish the Diamondbacks’ chances in the best-of-seven series.

Lovullo acknowledged the Phillies’ superiority during the game but remained hopeful for the next game, emphasizing the need for his team to regroup and perform at their best.