On Saturday in NLCS Game 5, the Phillies got exactly what they needed from ace Zack Wheeler, along with some big hits from the power bats, to head back to Philadelphia one win away from back-to-back trips to the World Series.
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 21: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Bryce Harper #3 after hitting a two run home run against Luis Frias #65 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning in Game Five of the National League Championship Series at Chase Field on October 21, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Wheeler made it as small of an issue as he could. The right-hander, whose five-year, $118 million contract has been one of the best values in recent baseball history, held down the D-backs’ scrappy offense for seven innings. He didn’t surrender a run until the seventh inning, when Game 4 hero Alek Thomas clubbed a solo homer.Wheeler finished with six hits, one earned run, one walk and eight strikeouts in his seven innings, throwing 99 pitches. He lowered his career postseason ERA to 2.
Hoffman still pitched, throwing a scoreless eighth inning, then was followed by Seranthony Dominguez in the ninth. On the offensive side, the Phillies did what they have done for most of this postseason: hit early and hit often.The Phillies scored in the first inning in their wins in Games 1 and 2 and got back into that habit Saturday. Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper both reached base with singles, then Bryson Stott drove in Schwarber to get his team on the board.
Harper proceeded to steal home on a double steal — in a play that ended ugly. An errant throw led to D-backs catcher Gabriel Moreno, who has twice left games due to injuries this postseason, falling in Harper’s path and taking a brutal hit.The Phillies’ slugging leadoff hitter did what he does best in the sixth inning, clobbering an unholy missile off D-backs Cy Young contender Zac Gallen to bump the lead to 3-0.
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