With a crisp October breeze and around 45 thousand fans crammed inside Citizens Bank Park, the Arizona Diamondbacks did the impossible, defeating the Phillies 4-2 to advance to their second World Series in franchise history.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The magical night started with a 25-year-old rookie on the bump, Brandon Pfaadt.
Pfaadt struck out seven Phillies’ batters and gave the Diamondbacks four solid innings where he allowed just two earned runs.
On the offensive side for Arizona, they wasted no time striking first, just like they did in Game 6.
Corbin Carroll, after struggling all postseason long, picked up a huge base knock, he would eventually come around to score to give the D-backs an early lead.
This would be Carroll’s first hit of three on the night, as the rookie had a historical game at the plate.
Not only did he become the first rookie to swipe two bags and record three hits in a Game 7, but he also scored two runs and drove in two more.
While the Phillies did hold a 2-1 lead for a short period of time in the 4th inning, the D-backs did what they have all season: they answered.
Three unanswered runs would ultimately prove to be enough for Arizona to punch their ticket into the World Series.
But this surely would not have been the case if it were not for the bullpen.
More specifically, Kevin Ginkel.
After Andrew Saalfrank walked back-to-back batters in the 7th inning, Ginkel was called to the mound with just one out and the deadly combo of Trea Turner and Bryce Harper coming to the plate.
Yet, just like the Diamondbacks have seen all postseason, Ginkel delivered.
Then, in the 8th inning, Ginkel continued his miraculous outing by striking out the side, bringing the D-backs just three outs away from history.
And, of course, Paul Sewald closed the door, cementing a 4-2 D-backs win.
The Diamondbacks entered Citizens Bank Park down 3-2 in the series against a Phillies team that had not lost all postseason at their home park.
The Diamondbacks won 84 games during the regular season, the fewest among all playoff teams this year.
The Diamondbacks were given 3% odds to win a National League pennant at the beginning of the season.
The Diamondbacks lost 110 games just two years ago.
The Diamondbacks are now going to the World Series.
