Walker then surrendered a third straight extra base hit when Christian Walker hit a soft grounder down the line at first for a double. The Phillies right hander finally escaped the inning with a flyout and a strikeout, but the damage was done. Walker would pitch one more inning before being lifted for Spencer Turnbull. His final line was 4 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 3 K on 77 pitches. Walker has two quality starts in 10 appearances this season and none since May 11th. His season ERA now sits at 5.60 across 53 IP.

Not this again

Much like in the NLCS, the Phillies offense had ample opportunities to get back into the game but couldn’t capitalize. Trea Turner put them on the board in the third inning with a two-run bomb to right field for his first home run since April.

The Phillies then had runners on first and second with one out in the fourth with an opportunity to cut the deficit to one. But Merrifield flew out to left in a 2-0 count and Cristian Pache was called out on strikes to end the scoring threat. Philadelphia’s 7-8-9 hitters of Merrifield, Pache, Rafael Marchan, and later Brandon Marsh and David Dahl went a combined 0-10 with 3 strikeouts.

Bryce Harper missed a home run by inches to start the sixth and instead reached second on a double. Alec Bohm followed with his own near home run, but his was caught at the wall and Harper failed to tag up to put a runner on third with less than two outs. Nick Castellanos struck out on a curveball in the dirt and Sosa flew out to right on two pitches to end the inning.

Diamondbacks starter Jordan Montgomery, who entered the day with a 6.00 ERA, finished six innings and allowed just the two runs on the home run from Turner on 5 hits and a walk with 5 punchouts.

Gut punch

The Phillies mustered enough offense for one final rally in the seventh. Three straight walks from Arizona reliever Kevin Ginkel loaded the bases for Turner with one out. He was able to bring a run home with a single hit to second baseman Blaze Alexander and cut the lead to 4-3. Harper stepped to the plate against Joe Mantiply with the bases loaded and a chance to tie the game or give the Phillies their first lead of the night. But he tapped a soft grounder back to the pitcher on the first pitch for a deflating double play.

Seranthony Dominguez allowed a run in the eighth to push the deficit back to two runs at 5-3 following a single and a stolen base from Alexander. Perdomo followed with a single that scored Alexander and reached second on an error by Castellanos. Matt Strahm then entered and got out of the inning after a questionable hit by pitch on Corbin Carroll.

Not their night

Castellanos made things interesting with a home run to left field in the eighth to make it a one run game once again. David Dahl led off the ninth with a fly ball that appeared gone off the bat and traveled 379 feet to right center but was caught at the wall. Arizona closer Paul Sewald then got Marchan to lineout to third and Schwarber to ground out to first to slam the door.

Tomorrow’s matchup

The Phillies will send Zack Wheeler (8-4, 2.84) to the mound in the hopes of evening up the series against Tommy Henry (2-2, 6.23) for the Diamondbacks. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05.