Phillies Slug Past Diamondbacks for NLCS Game 1 Victory

The Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-3 in Game 1 of the NLCS at Citizens Bank Park.

When the 2008 Phillies come up in conversation, fans usually think of a handful of key memories. The Matt Stairs moonshot, the legendary Chase Utley throw from second base, and the final out from Brad Lidge live in Phillies folklore with the ultimate admiration.

If the 2023 Phillies ultimately match the 2008 team, fans will remember the bottom of the 1st inning in Game 1 of the NLCS. Kyle Schwarber hammered the first pitch he saw for a solo home run that sent the crowd into mayhem. Bryce Harper came up third and hit another solo home run to put the Phillies up 2-0.

If the Diamondbacks didn’t know what Red October was like entering the series, they certainly learned in the bottom of the 1st.

Nick Castellanos made it 3-0 when he joined Reggie Jackson as the second player in playoff history with five home runs in three games. 

The intimidation factor at Citizens Bank Park was real. Fans whipped the rally towels in a hostile environment to help the momentum of a 5-0 lead. The game looked like it was over after the 5th inning.

Arizona didn’t plan on going down that easily. Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run homer in the 6th that silenced the crowd and ruined a gem from Zack Wheeler.

The Phillies ace cruised through five innings and still finished with an excellent line that keeps him in the conversation with the best starting pitchers in baseball. 

The Diamondbacks added another run off Seranthony Dominguez in the 8th. Jeff Francoeur credited them for their resiliency in a game that looked over in the 1st inning. However, Jose Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel slammed the door on a potential comeback. 

The Phillies have all the momentum in the world heading into Game 2 with Aaron Nola on the mound. However, their opponent has no intention of bowing down to Red October.

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The Phillies are back in the NLCS. For the second straight year, they knocked the 100+ win Braves out of the playoffs in the NLDS. Everyone called them the greatest lineup in Baseball history. Didn't seem so potent against the Phillies. They were held to just 7 runs across 4 games. With guys like Ronald Acuna and Matt Olson being quiet the entire series. And now, we can look forward to the NLCS and the Diamondbacks.

The Phillies get the next 3 days off. Which they may need after how much they partied after the win in game 4. And then on Monday, it begins. They need 4 more wins to get to the World Series, and 8 more to parade down Broad Street.

And there is good reason to be very confident in this team. As good as last year's team was, this roster is even better. To start, they have Trea Turner who is putting up crazy numbers. Bryce Harper is still the best playoff hitter ever. And now you have Nick Castellanos playing out of his mind after he struggled in the playoffs last year. And maybe more important, is how great the pitching looks.

The Braves may be choke artists, but that was still a very good lineup. They were shut down by the Phillies pitchers though. Wheeler, Nola, and Suarez all pitched gems. And apart from game 2, the Bullpen shut the door on the Braves once the starters came out. The bullpen goes deep, far deeper than it did last year. The lineup is just as deep. This team is very good.

So before the NLCS, let's get a reminder of just how good this 26-man roster is. And while we are at it, let's see how all of them have played against the Diamondbacks so far this season.

Season Stats

.252/.310/.452/.762

20 HRs, 28 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 63 RBIs, 70 Runs, 16 SBs, 35 BBs, 138 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.400/.478/1.000/1.478

8 for 20, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 6 RBIs, 8 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 2Ks

Playoff Stats

.273/.333/.636/.969

6 for 22, 2 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 6 RBIS, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.293/.401/.499/.900

21 HRs, 29 2Bs, 1 3B, 72 RBIs, 84 Runs, 11 SBs, 80 BBs, 119 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.296/.441/.370/.812

8 for 27, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.368/.538/.842/1.380

7 for 19, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 7 BBs, 5 Ks

Season Stat

.280/.329/.419/.747

15 HRs, 32 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 62 RBIs, 78 Runs, 31 SBs, 39 BBs, 100 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.393/.414/.786/1.200

11 for 28, 3 HRs, 0 2Bs, 1 3B, 5 RBIs, 7 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Playoff Stats

.238/.292/.381/.673

5 for 21, 1 HR, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 7 RBIs, 3 Runs, 1 Sb, 2 BBs, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.266/.320/.459/.778

26 HRs, 35 2Bs, 5 3Bs, 76 RBIs, 102 Runs, 30 SBs, 45 BBs, 150 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.241/.353/.379/.732

7 for 29, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 5 BBs, 6 Ks

Playoff Stats

.500/.538/.917/1.455

12 for 24, 2 HRs, 4 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 4 SBs, 2 BBs, 4 Ks

Season Stats

.274/.327/.437/.765

20 HRs, 31 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 97 RBIs, 74 Runs, 4 SBs, 42 BBs, 94 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.346/.346/.423/.769

9 for 26, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 8 RBIs, 4 Runs, 0 SBs, 0 BBs, 1 K

Playoff Stats

.190/.320/.286/.606

4 for 21, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SBs, 4 BBs, 6 Ks

Season Stats

.277/.372/.458/.829

12 HRs, 25 2Bs, 6 3Bs, 60 RBIs, 58 Runs, 10 SBs, 59 BBs, 144Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.263/.300/.316/.616

5 for 19, 0 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 2 Runs, 0 SB, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.357/.400/.643/1.043

5 for 14, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 2 Runs, 1 SB, 1 BB, 5 Ks

Season Stats

.302/.342/.430/.771

2 HRs, 9 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 23 RBIs, 24 Runs, 14 SBs, 5 BBs, 42 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.048/.091/.048/.139

1 for 21, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 9 Ks

Season Stats

.272/.311/.476/.788

29 HRs, 37 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 106 RBIs, 79 Runs, 11 SBs, 36 BBs, 185 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.258/.314/.355/.669

8 for 31, 0 HRs, 3 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 4 RBIs, 4 Runs, 1 SB, 3 BBs, 10 Ks

Playoff Stats

.391/.440/.643/1.083

9 for 23, 4 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 5 RBIs, 6 Runs, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats 

.197/.343/.474/.817 

47 HRs, 19 2Bs, 1 3B, 104 RBIs, 108 Runs, 0 SBs, 126 BBs, 215 Ks 

Stats vs Diamondbacks 

.192/.364/.462/.825 

5 for 26, 2 HRs, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 5 Runs, 7 BBs, 6 Ks 

Playoff Stats 

.160/.222/.240/.462

4 for 25, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3B, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 10 Ks

Season Stats

.251/.293/.427/.719

10 HRs, 15 2Bs, 2 3Bs, 30 RBIs, 34 Runs, 4 SBs, 8 BBs, 74 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.182/.182/.364/.545

2 for 11, 0 HRs, 2 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 1 Run, 1 SB, 0 BBs, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has not appeared

Season Stats

.238/.319/.417/.736

2 HRs, 7 2Bs, 1 3B, 11 RBIs, 12 Runs, 2 SBs, 10 BBs, 27 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Face The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

.143/.333/.143/.476

1 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 1 RBI, 1 Run, 1 SB, 2 BBs, 3 Ks

Season Stats

.212/.272/.348/.620

5 HRs, 8 2Bs, 1 3B, 21 RBIs, 18 Runs, 3 SBs, 15 BBs, 55 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Did Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

.204/.274/.283/.557

1 HR, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 12 RBIs, 15 Runs, 2 SBs, 9 BBs, 29 Ks

Stats vs Diamondbacks

.286/.375/.286/.661

2 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 1 Run, 0 SBs, 1 BB, 4 Ks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.61 ERA, 13-6, 212 Ks, 192 IPs, 1,08 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.00 ERA, 1-1, 10 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.17 WHIP, 2 Starts

Playoff Stats

2.08 ERA, 1-0, 18 Ks, 13 IPs, .069 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.46 ERA, 12-9, 202 Ks, 193.2 IPs, 1.15 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

5.40 ERA, 1-0, 9 Ks, 6.2 IPS, 1.05 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

1.42 ERA, 2-0, 12 Ks, 12.2 IPs, 0.87 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 4-6, 119 Ks, 125 IPs, 1.42 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

3.75 ERA, 0-0, 12 Ks, 12 IPs, 1.00 WHIP, 2 Starts,

Playoff Stats

1.04 ERA, 1-0, 6 Ks, 8.2 IPs, 0.58 WHIP, 2 Starts

Season Stats

4.38 ERA, 15-6, 138 Ks, 172.2 IPs, 1.31 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.44 ERA, 3-5, 96 Ks, 99.1 IPs, 1.05 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced the Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Ks, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Season Stats

4.18 ERA, 9-9, 111 Ks, 153 IPs, 1.21 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

8.1 ERA, 0-1, 3 Ks, 6.2 IPs, 1.20 WHIP, 1 Start

Playoff Stats

Has Not Appeared

Season Stats

3.26 ERA, 23 Saves, 94 Ks, 69 IPs, 1.04 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 4 Ks, 3 IPs, 0.33 WHIP. 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 2 Saves, 1 Hold, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

1.74 ERA, 10 Saves, 64 Ks, 41.1 IPs, 1.16 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 K, 1 IP, 1.00 WHIP, 1 Appearance

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Holds, 4 Ks, 4 IPs, 4 Appearances

Season Stats

4.62 ERA, 3 Saves, 65Ks, 60.1 IPs, 1.14 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 3 Ks, 2 IPS, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

5.40 ERA, 0 Saves,  1 Hold, 1.2 IPS, 2 Ks, 2.40 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

2.41 ERA, 1 Save, 69 Ks, 52.1 IPs, 0.92 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

3.86 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 2.1 IPs, 2.14 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 2 Holds, 2.2 IPS, 4 Ks, 1.50 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.78 ERA, 2 Saves, 48 Ks, 50 Ks, 50 IPs, 1.40 WHIP

Stats vs. Diamondbacks

27.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Blown Save, 2 Ks, 1.1 IPs, 3 Appearances

Playoff Stats

18.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 1 Hold, 1-1, 1 K, 1 IP, 2.00 WHIP, 1 HLD, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

3.29 ERA, 2 Saves, 108 Ks, 87.2 IPs, 1.02 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

9.64 ERA, 0 Saves, 4 Ks, 4.2 IPs, 1.71 WHIP, 2 Appearances

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 Save, 1 Hold, 2.1 IPS, 1 K, 1.29 WHIP, 3 Appearances

Season Stats

0.00 ERA, 0 Saves, 6 Ks, 3.0 IPs, 1.33 WHIP

Stats vs Diamondbacks

Has Not Faced The Diamondbacks

Playoff Stats

0.00 ERA, 1 HLD, 1 K, 3 IPs, 0.67 WHIP, 3 Appearances