In a commanding display, the Philadelphia Phillies secured a resounding 10-0 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series. The Phillies, who are the defending NL champions, now lead the best-of-seven series with a 2-0 advantage. The teams will reconvene for Game 3 in Arizona on Thursday afternoon.
Historically, teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven series have gone on to win 75 out of 89 times. Since the introduction of the wild card format in 1995, only three teams have squandered a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven set, highlighting the significance of the Phillies’ strong start in this series.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto was enthusiastic about the Phillies’ performance, stating, “I mean, you can’t really draw it up any better than the last two games have gone for us.”
The Phillies have been on a remarkable playoff run this month, winning seven out of eight games and outscoring their opponents 46-13. In the first two games of the NLCS against the Diamondbacks, the Phillies have outscored their rivals 15-3, showcasing their power with six home runs and six doubles.
Starting pitchers Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola have been instrumental, conceding only two runs on six hits while accumulating 15 strikeouts over 12 innings. The Phillies’ pitchers have been in outstanding form, providing a strong foundation for their victories.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks, who previously swept the Milwaukee Brewers in an NL wild-card series and the Los Angeles Dodgers in an NL Division Series, endured their first-ever postseason shutout defeat on Tuesday. Despite this setback, manager Torey Lovullo expressed his belief in the Diamondbacks’ offensive capabilities, acknowledging the exceptional performance of the Phillies’ starting pitchers.
Kyle Schwarber continued his remarkable postseason performance with two home runs, contributing to the Phillies’ impressive victory. Schwarber has now hit 10 home runs in 21 LCS games, a record that ties him for second place all-time with Albert Pujols, only trailing Manny Ramirez. Overall, Schwarber has nine home runs in 25 postseason games with the Phillies, making him the fourth-highest home run scorer in franchise history, behind Jayson Werth (11) and Bryce Harper and Chase Utley (10 apiece).
The Phillies also demonstrated their offensive versatility by scoring seven of their ten runs without home runs. This well-rounded performance showcased the depth and power of the team’s lineup.
Pitcher Aaron Nola, with his dominant six-inning performance and seven strikeouts, played a pivotal role in securing the shutout win for the Phillies. The Diamondbacks struggled to create scoring opportunities against Nola and the Phillies’ bullpen, with only two runners reaching second base during the game.
The Diamondbacks are now faced with the challenge of recovering from their losses in the first two games of the series. Manager Torey Lovullo emphasized the need for the entire team to improve their performance and find a way to beat the formidable Phillies.
In Game 3, the Diamondbacks will aim to bounce back and change the course of the series, while the Phillies will seek to maintain their dominance as they continue their pursuit of the NLCS title.
