NLCS Game 1 Home Runs Have Special Place in Phillies History
The ambush of home runs in the 1st inning of Game 1 of the NLCS lit the crowd at Citizens Bank Park on fire. If the Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t know what Red October was all about, they certainly learned quickly.
NLCS Game 1 Home Runs
Kyle Schwarber had an interesting way to greet South Jersey native Zac Gallen. He blasted the first pitch he saw on a line smash that took about a second to bounce off the scoreboard in the right field stands.
Two hitters later, Bryce Harper continued to build his reputation as the biggest superstar in the sport and one of the most clutch performers in Philadelphia Phillies history.
The offense wasn’t finished. “Mr. Red October” Nick Castellanos went deep in the 2nd inning to join Reggie Jackson as the only other player in MLB playoff history to hit five home runs in a three-game span.
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 of the World Series from Brad Lidge (among others) will live in Phillies folklore with the ultimate admiration.
Another World Series ring in 2023 would put some more legendary memories on the mantle. The ambush in Game 1 of the NLCS will be one of them. You’ll watch YouTube videos of the pandemonium at Citizens Bank Park and glorify the home-field advantage in Red October.
You’ll glorify Harper, Schwarber, and Castellanos as the heroes who helped the Phillies to their third World Series in franchise history.
However, season results shape the perception of memories. It’s true for all sports fans. History is written by the winners, and what follows the memories will actually determine the folklore more than the event itself.
Bingo Bango Bongo … just like that the @Phillies jump out to 3-0 lead B2nd …. Schwarber- Harper - Nick “At Night” Castellanos all go solo go kaBOOM and “The Bank” is open and rocking . pic.twitter.com/gWL0g4a6lL
— Dan Plesac (@Plesac19) October 17, 2023
World Series Game 3 in 2022
The Phillies came closest to winning the World Series in 2022 with a 7-0 blowout victory in Game 3 against the Houston Astros. They took a 2-1 series lead and improved to 6-0 at Citizens Bank Park during the 2022 postseason.
Harper, Schwarber, Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Rhys Hoskins went deep on a night to remember for Phillies fans.
Do Phillies fans actually remember it that fondly though? The euphoria was real at the moment, but the Astros bounced back the following day for a momentum-shifting no-hitter. The blown series lead clouds the perception of the Game 3 memory.
The result of the series against the Diamondbacks will shape your memory of Game 1 in the NLCS. The visitors weathered the storm to get back within striking distance before ultimately falling short in a 5-3 loss. However, they sent a message that they weren’t going down easily.
Can the Phillies advance past another hot Wild Card team?