In a disastrous turn of events for the Philadelphia Phillies, Craig Kimbrel’s performance cost them the game in the National League Championship Series at Chase Field. The Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for a 6-5 victory, leveling the series at two games apiece. Kimbrel, who was also the losing pitcher in Game 3, entered the game in the eighth inning instead of the ninth and struggled once again. He gave up a two-run homer to pinch-hitter Alek Thomas, allowing the Diamondbacks to tie the game at 5-5. This was expected, as Kimbrel has a career 5.94 ERA at Chase Field. After being pulled following a strikeout, single, and hit batter, Kimbrel was replaced by Jose Alvarado. Gabriel Moreno then singled to make it 6-5. Kimbrel admitted his mistakes, saying he didn’t land his breaking ball early in some counts, which put him at a disadvantage. Despite efforts from Phillies closer Paul Sewald in the ninth inning, striking out two batters before allowing a double to Kyle Schwarber, the game ended with a strikeout of Trea Turner. Game 5 is scheduled for Saturday evening, with Zack Wheeler pitching for the Phillies. Game 6 will take place in Philadelphia on Monday, with Aaron Nola on the mound for the Phillies. The Phillies took the lead in the sixth inning with two runs, thanks to three walks. Schwarber and Marsh were instrumental in tying the game for the Diamondbacks. Schwarber hit a home run in the fourth inning, breaking records and bringing the Phillies closer. Meanwhile, Marsh’s RBI double further solidified the Diamondbacks’ position. The game started with a mental error from Phillies pitcher Christopher Sanchez, who forgot the number of outs left as he fielded a grounder. This allowed the Diamondbacks to score their first run. The Phillies’ performance left their manager Rob Thomson disappointed, as he expects his team to play better baseball. Sanchez was expected to be the starter for the Phillies and was replaced early in the game. Despite their loss, the Phillies chose not to blame their decision of not taking batting practice on the field as the reason for their poor performance. They have had many successful games without taking batting practice in the past and decided to try conserving energy. However, they did take batting practice on the day of Game 4. If you have any ideas for a compelling sports story or issues that require public scrutiny, feel free to contact Kevin Tresolini at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @kevintresolini. Consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to delawareonline.com and signing up for the DE Game Day newsletter.
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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.