The National League Championship Series has come down to this: a deciding Game 7 to send either the Arizona Diamondbacks or Philadelphia Phillies to the 2023 World Series. The climactic game is at 5:07 p.m. Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park and will be shown on TBS.
Alec Bohm’s homer ties it up at 1
PHILADELPHIA — Alec Bohm blasted the first pitch he saw from Diamondbacks right-hander Brandon Pfaadt in the bottom of the second inning into the left field seats to tie Game 7 of the National League Championship Series at 1-1 at Citizens Bank Park.
It was a shocking swing from a hitter who had been struggling badly throughout the series. Bohm was 6 for 22 but had only one extra-base hit and had failed to come through in numerous situations.
The home run also reignited the sellout crowd, which had turned tepid after the Diamondbacks’ early run and Pfaadt’s strong first inning, in which he retired the side in order, striking out both Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
—Nick Piecoro
Diamondbacks take early lead in Game 7
PHILADELPHIA — The Diamondbacks scored the first run of Game 7 in the top of the first inning on Tuesday night, with Christian Walker’s broken-bat ground ball bringing home Corbin Carroll from third.
The Diamondbacks lead, 1-0, after a half inning at Citizens Bank Park.
Carroll reached with one out by grounding an infield single to second against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. He was running from first when Gabriel Moreno lined a single to right and took third on the play.
Walker then hit a bouncer to third that was hit too slowly to be a double play, allowing Carroll to come home.
—Nick Piecoro
Zac Gallen ‘going to be available’ in Game 7
PHILADELPHIA — Game 7 of the National League Championship Series will be close to an “all hands on deck” situation for the Diamondbacks — and that includes No. 1 starter Zac Gallen.
“He came in last night, and he said, ‘You need me, I’m ready to go,’” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I really appreciated that. That’s what this team does. It’s an all-for-one mentality.”
Gallen told reporters the same thing on Monday night before he had a chance to stop by Lovullo’s office.
“If it’s something they want to do, I’ll be ready,” Gallen said. “I didn’t play like a super long catch today and tomorrow is my side day. If they ask me to, I’ll be ready.”
He said the last time he pitched on short rest was during his college days at North Carolina. He struggled in a start against Duke, failing to get out of the first inning, and he remembers pitching in a midweek game not long after.
“A little bigger stage, a little brighter lights, a little bit more adrenaline probably,” Gallen said of Game 7.
Lovullo said he was unsure how, or even if, he would use Gallen, though he did say he did not expect to use fellow starter Merrill Kelly, who pitched on Monday night.
“Is he part of the game plan? I don’t know that answer,” Lovullo said of Gallen. “But if we need him at some point, whether it’s in the game plan or late innings, extra innings, he’s going to be available to us. That really gets me excited.”
—Nick Piecoro
More Snakes:Diamondbacks get to experience the best two words in sports: Game 7
Diamondbacks-Phillies pitching matchup for NLCS Game 7
Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (0-0, 2.13) vs. Phillies LHP Ranger Suarez (1-0, 0.64).
This is a rematch of Game 3, which the Diamondbacks won 2-1 on Ketel Marte’s walk-off single. … Pfaadt threw his second consecutive strong playoff outing, allowing no runs and 2 hits in 5 2/3 innings with a career-high 9 strikeouts. … That followed a 4 1/3-inning stint in Game 3 of the NLDS in which he allowed the Dodgers no runs and 2 hits with 2 strikeouts. … Suarez was also effective in his NLCS start at Chase Field, giving up no runs and 3 hits in 5 1/3 innings with 7 strikeouts. … The lefty has pitched to a 0.64 ERA in three postseason outings with 13 strikeouts.
NLCS schedule, results
All games on TBS
Game 1: Phillies 5, Diamondbacks 3: Gallen hit hard in 5 innings, allowing 3 homers
Game 2:Phillies 10, Diamondbacks 0: Kelly allows 3 homers as DBacks get shut out
Game 3: Diamondbacks 2, Phillies 1: Ketel Marte walks ’em off with RBI single
Game 4:Diamondbacks 6, Phillies 5: Thomas, Gabriel fuel 3-run rally in 8th inning
Game 5: Phillies 6, Diamondbacks 1: Back home, Phillies feast on Gallen again
Game 6:Diamondbacks 5, Phillies 1, series tied 3-3: DBacks’ bats come alive vs. Nola
Game 7: Oct. 24, Arizona at Philadelphia, 5:07 p.m.
