Diamondbacks ride hot start, Merrill Kelly gem into Game 7

PHILADELPHIA — An improbable playoff adventure will continue for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who forced Game 7 of the National League Championship Series on Tuesday after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 5-1 in Game 6 on Monday.

Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly was fantastic, setting the tone for the visitors by allowing just one run in five innings. In doing so, he helped quiet the usually boisterous Philadelphia crowd.

“I think it’s the first time they’ve been to a playoff game,” closer Paul Sewald observed after the game. “It’s just a testament to the way we started this game.”

After Kelly left two runs stranded in the first inning – no small task against the Phillies in this series – the Diamondbacks put up three runs in the top of the second. Struggling designated hitter Tommy Pham got the ball rolling by hitting a solo shot against Phillies starter Aaron Nola just days after being benched in Game 5. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. did the same moments later.

“I’m already pretty motivated, but this has helped me,” Pham said of benching. “It was great.”

Arizona added another run in this inning on an Evan Longoria RBI double as Nola lost any feel he had to start the game.

“It was a little strange because he showed up right away and he really executed everything,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

Nola lasted only 4⅓ innings while allowing four runs on six hits and two walks. His counterpart played only five innings and was stunned when manager Torey Lovullo pulled him after retiring Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper on nasty curveballs, part of an easy 1-2-3 inning.

Kelly used his full range of pitches during his 5 inning gem. Fastballs up, sinkers away, curves and sliders down. The Phillies simply couldn’t read him, which made the situation even more curious when he was pulled after 90 pitches. He and Lovullo then had a heated discussion in the dugout.

“What I can say about that is he was pounding the table to get back in there and he was shocked that I was going to take him out of the game,” Lovullo said. “But we had another brief conversation, and I explained to him why I was doing this, and he started to understand little by little.”

Kelly said: “I think part of why I was upset at that point was I was caught off guard a little bit. I just went through their first three, knocked out two .Ninety throws out of five, I think I’ll definitely go back for six. When I walked in and saw his hand outstretched for the handshake I had completed, it kind of took me by shock more than anything. “

A parade of relievers, starting with right-hander Ryan Thompson, shut down the Phillies for the rest of the game, avoiding controversy for Lovullo.

The focus now shifts to Game 7 and the Phillies are trying to keep a positive attitude after losing at home for the first time in the postseason. The winner of Tuesday night’s game will face the Texas Rangers in the Fall Classic.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Schwarber said. “This is what you play for. Obviously it sucks. You wish you could do it today, absolutely. But it’s an exciting thing and we embrace it.”

The same goes for the Diamondbacks, who continue to shock the baseball world. It’s something they embrace.

“We deserve this moment,” Lovullo said. “We’re going to play Game 7, and for me, Game 7 feels like it’s all hands on deck, anything is possible. Game 7s are Game 7s for a reason.”

Zac Gallen, who started Games 1 and 5, said he would be willing to come out of the bullpen for Arizona, if necessary. Rookie Brandon Pfaadt will start the game, becoming the seventh rookie in the wild-card era to do so.

“I think being in position to start Game 7, I think that would be huge,” Pfaadt said before the Game 6 victory. “Especially as a rookie. I think I’m going to give it my all, give it my all to team and try to get a win tomorrow.

Pfaadt said it was a little different preparing for a game he wasn’t sure would be played, but he tried to treat it like any other start. This certainly won’t be the case. Like Gallen, Zack Wheeler, the Phillies’ starter for Games 1 and 5, could also be available out of the bullpen.

“I think so,” Thomson said. “It will be all hands on deck.”

Philadelphia will send left-hander Ranger Suarez to the mound to start the game. He and Pfaadt both pitched well in Game 3, a 2-1 Diamondbacks victory.

“It’s going to be fun to put everyone’s effort in and make the most of everything we have tomorrow. [Tuesday]”, Schwarber said. “That’s all we have, it’s tomorrow.”

A loss would be devastating for Philadelphia, as the Phillies were heavy favorites to return to the World Series after the NL’s top seeds, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves, both lost in the Division Series. But the Diamondbacks have proven resilient, especially after losing the first two games of this series.

Now they are here to win.

“We’re pretty excited,” Pham said.

“We put ourselves in the ultimate position,” Longoria said. “To go out there and win a game to go to the World Series. I couldn’t be more proud of the group and what we accomplished. The confidence here is very strong.”

Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll summed up his feelings before Game 7: “It’s going to be hard to sleep tonight.”