Tag: NLCS

NLCS Game 5: Phillies Win the NL Pennant! Return to the World Series For First Time Since 2009

~ Michael Lipinski ~ 1 Comment

Let the chaos begin at Cottman and Frankford!

The Philadelphia Phillies have won the National League Pennant and are going back to the World Series for the first time in 13-years.

The 2022 Phillies —who fired their manager and lost their superstar in June—overcame multiple deficits this postseason, and once again overcame the odds on Sunday afternoon. The Fightin’s defeated the San Diego Padres 4-3 on an 8th inning Bryce Harper home run to clinch their first NL Pennant since 2009.

(Try to) Climb those poles Philadelphia! Safely, of course!

More Soon….

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NLCS Game 4: Phillies Shock the Padres 10-6, One Win Away from the NL Pennant

~ Michael Lipinski ~ Leave a comment

The Philadelphia Phillies overcame multiple deficits –including 4-runs before even batting– to defeat the San Diego Padres 10-6 on Saturday night to take a 3-to-1 series lead.  The Phillies can clinch their first trip to the World Series since 2009 with a win on Sunday afternoon in South Philly.  

Now, about that recap.  If you had the following on your Postseason bingo card you can collect your prize money:

  • Both starters don’t make it out of the 1st inning
  • A combined 7-runs are scored in the 1st inning
  • 13 total pitchers
  • Six home runs
  • 3.1 shutdown innings from Connor Brogdon and Andrew Bellatti
  • Two homers from Rhys Hoskins
  • Three shutdown innings from Noah Syndergaard and David Robertson

If you want a full, traditional recap you can read it here.

Continue reading “NLCS Game 4: Phillies Shock the Padres 10-6, One Win Away from the NL Pennant” →

NLCS Game 2: Aaron Nola Blows a 4-Run Lead, Series Tied One Game Each

~ Michael Lipinski ~ Leave a comment

The San Diego Padres scored eight unanswered runs —including five in the 5th— to blowout the Philadelphia Phillies 8-4 in NLCS Game 2. The series will shift to Philadelphia tied at one win apiece.

The Phillies took the lead early with four runs in the 2nd inning against Padres starter Blake Snell.

Bryce Harper, Nick Castellanos, and Alec Bohm singled back-to-back-to-back to start the inning. Bohm’s single scored Harper to open the scoring. A series of outfield gaffs by the Padres allowed Matt Vierling and Edmundo Sosa to reach and drive in a run each. Kyle Schwarber added a run with an RBI groundout before Rhys Hoskins flew out to end the inning.

Just like that the Phillies were up 4-0 with one of their top pitchers on the mound.

However, Nola wasn’t as effective as he had been the past month or so. Nola immediately allowed the Padres to get back in the game. He allowed back-to-back homers to Brandon Drury and Josh Bell, respectively.

Nola completely unraveled in the 5th allowing four runs to score and coughing up the lead. Ha-Seong Kim led off the inning with a single and scored on a beautifully executed hit-and-run with Austin Nola at the plate. Juan Soto followed with a double to right to tie the ball game at 4-4. Nola struck out Manny Machado for the second out of the inning. The Phils’ starter was lifted for Brand Hand to face lefty Jake Cronenworth, whom he promplty hit. Hand then allowed back-to-back singles to Drury and Bell to extend the Padres lead to 7-4.

Just like that the damage was done.

The Padres added an insurance run on 7th inning home run by Machado to make it 8-4.

Hoskins led off the 8th with a solo home run to bring the Phils within three at 8-5, but the Padres pen was too much. Josh Hader shut the Phils down in the 9th to close out the win for San Diego.

NLCS Game 1: Wheeler, Harper, and Schwarber Lead the Phillies to Victory

~ Michael Lipinski ~ Leave a comment

The Philadelphia Phillies —led by Zack Wheeler, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber—defeated the San Diego Padres 2-0 on Tuesday night to take a 1-0 Series lead.

Wheeler was dominant again. The Phils’ ace threw 7-innings of one hit, no run baseball. Outside of a 24-pitch first where he issued a walk, Wheeler cruised striking out eight to earn the win.

Harper got the Phillies on the board with a solo home run off of Padres starter Yu Darvish in the 4th. It was Harper’s third consecutive game with a home run. The Phils’ DH is now batting .407 with 4 HR and 7 RBI this postseason.

He’s locked in.

Schwarber added the Phillies second run on a home run that is somewhere on the way to South Philadelphia. The ball was utterly destroyed.

Schwarber was 2-for-3 on the night and is showing signs of coming out of his slump.

Continue reading “NLCS Game 1: Wheeler, Harper, and Schwarber Lead the Phillies to Victory” →

2022 NLCS Preview: Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Diego Padres

~ Michael Lipinski ~ 1 Comment

The final two teams in the National League postseason bracket are the two most improbable, the Philadelphia Phillies and the San Diego Padres. The last two teams in —the Phillies and Padres were the two National League Wild Card representatives— are the last two teams standing.

This marks the first time in modern National League Championship Series history that no division winner and two sub 90-win teams will play for the pennant.

Path to the Pennant

The Phillies swept the NL Central division champion St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Wild Card Series. The Fightin’s followed with a dominate 3-1 division series win over the defending World Champion Atlanta Braves.

Not to be outdone, the Padres eliminated two 100-win teams on their path to the NLCS. The Friars knocked out the New York Mets 2-1 in the NLWCS and the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 in the NLDS.

Storylines to Watch

  • 2019 Free Agency Class Head-to-Head: Bryce Harper vs Manny Machado
  • Bryce Harper vs Blake Snell
  • Brother vs Brother: Phillies’ SP Aaron Nola vs Padres’ C Austin Nola
  • Phillies first NLCS appearance since 2010
  • Padres first NLCS appearance since 1998
  • Battle of the ‘Pens: Phillies Bullpen vs Padres Bullpen
  • The Phillies rotation after Wheeler and Nola
Continue reading “2022 NLCS Preview: Philadelphia Phillies vs. San Diego Padres” →