It got a little bit ugly out in Arizona. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the NLCS, the Phillies dropped the first two games out there. But thankfully game 5 went a bit better. The bats woke up, hanging 6 runs total off Zac Gallen and the DBacks bullpen. And Zack Wheeler and the Phillies bullpen mostly shut down the DBacks lineup, holding them to just 1 run. And now they get to come home for game 6. It will be a rematch of game 2, Aaron Nola vs Merrill Kelly.
Merrill Kelly did not have the best of nights in that game 2. It could have gone worse. He gave up 4 earned runs, including 3 solo shots. But those 3 solo shots were the only hits he gave up. Two to Schwarber, and one in the first inning to Trea Turner.
And of course, there is the whole storyline of how Kelly cast some doubt on Phillies fans before game 2. He for some reason said that the crowd would not be as loud as the crowd at the World Baseball Classic. He claims his words were taken out of context, but we can look at his exact words.
“I obviously haven’t heard this place on the field, but I would be very surprised if it trumped that Venezuela game down in Miami. When Trea hit that grand slam… I don’t think I’ve ever experienced an atmosphere like that so I hope that this isn’t louder than that.”
He challenged Phillies fans, and they answered. And now with it being game 6, with a chance to clinch a trip to the World Series on the line, fans will be even louder, if that is possible. And if Aaron Nola looks as good as he did in game 2, and the Phillies get to Kelly like they did in game 2, there may not be a game 7.
Here is how the Phillies have hit against Merrill Kelly in the past:
Kyle Schwarber
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
.300/.364/.900/.1.264
3 for 10, 2 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 2 RBIs, 1 BB, 4 Ks
Trea Turner
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
.455/.556/.727/1.283
10 for 22, 1 HR, 3 2Bs, 0 3B, 7 RBIs, 5 BBs, 3 Ks
Bryce Harper
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
.143/.333/.143/.476
1 for 7, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 2 BBs, 1 K
Alec Bohm
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
.000/.000/.000/.000
0 for 3, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 0 Ks
Bryson Stott
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
.200/.200/.600/.800
1 for 5, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 1 3B, 0 RBIS, 0 BB, 0 Ks
JT Realmuto
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
.273/.273/.636/.909
3 for 11, 1 HR, 1 2B, 0 3B, 3 RBIs, 0 BBs, 2 Ks
Nick Castellanos
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
.000/.000/.000/.000
0 for 5, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 3 Ks
Brandon Marsh
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
.000/.000/.000/.000
0 for 4, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 2 Ks
Johan Rojas
(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
.000/.000/.000/.000
O for 2, 0 HRs, 0 2Bs, 0 3Bs, 0 RBIs, 0 BBs, 2 Ks
Totals
Pennsylvania. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
.256/.333/.487/.821
20 for 78, 4 HRs, 4 2Bs, 1 3B, 13 RBIs, 9 BBs, 20 Ks
