One loss and they’ll miss the World Series for the first time in 22 years since 2001. Meryl Kelly (Arizona Diamondbacks) takes the mound for Game 6 with her team’s fate in her hands.
The Arizona Diamondbacks lost 6-1 in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series (best-of-seven) against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2023 Major League Baseball postseason at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S., on April 22.
After losing Games 1 and 2 and then winning Games 3 and 4, Arizona dropped the fateful Game 5 and found themselves down two games to none. Games 6 and 7 will be played at Citizens Bank Park, home of the Phillies, and with one loss, Arizona’s chances of reaching the World Series for the first time in 22 years, since Byung-hyun Kim’s 2001 team.
Trusted starter Zack Greinke couldn’t keep up with the Phillies’ firepower. He gave up two runs in the first inning and found himself in a hole. After singles by Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper put runners on first and second with one out, he gave up an RBI single to Bryson Stott, and a double steal and a throwing error by second baseman Ketel Marte allowed two more runs to score.
Gallagher settled down in the second inning and held off further damage until the fifth, but the offense failed to capitalize on Philadelphia starter Zack Wheeler. Running out of steam, Gallon gave up solo homers to Schwarber and Harper to lead off the sixth inning, leaving him with four runs on six hits (two homers) with two walks and one strikeout.
Arizona’s lone run came in the seventh inning. They had runners on first and third in the first, first and first in the third, second and first in the fourth, first and first in the fifth, and first and third in the sixth, and it wasn’t until Alex Thomas hit a solo home run in the seventh that they got a run back. A bases-loaded walk in the eighth and runners on first and third in the ninth also failed to produce a run.
Arizona will have a day off on Nov. 23 before traveling to Philadelphia’s home ballpark, Citizens Bank Park, on Nov. 24 for Game 6, which could be their last game of the fall. They will need to win both Games 6 and 7 to reach the World Series for the first time in 22 years since 2001.
Arizona’s starting card is Kelley. Already in his fifth year in the majors, Kelly’s season record is 12-8 with a 3.29 ERA in 30 games, helping Arizona finish second in the West this year (84-78) and advance to the Championship Series. He started Game 1 of the division series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 8 and pitched 6 1/3 innings of three-hit ball with two walks and five strikeouts to pick up the win.
However, his Championship Series memory is not as good. He started Game 2 against the Phillies on April 18 and took the loss after allowing four runs on three hits (three homers) and three walks while striking out six in 5⅔ innings. He’ll take the mound in Game 6 on five days’ rest and face Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola in a return matchup. Nola picked up the win on Aug. 18 with six innings of three-hit ball, striking out seven and walking none. 스포츠토토
Local media saw Arizona’s fall fate as resting in the hands of Kelly, the Game 6 starter. “The Diamondbacks must start Siri,” Arizona Central wrote on the 22nd.
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