Corbin Carroll batted 3-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and the Arizona Rattlers advanced to the World Series. World Series for the first time in 22 years Tuesday night, stunning the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series.
Underdog Closes History Against Phillies
Trips to the World Series don't happen often for this desert franchise. So when it came time to celebrate, the Rattlers did so with the same intensity with which they beat last year's National League champions.
Arizona will face the Texas Rangers in a wild-card World Series, something no one saw coming, with Game 1 scheduled for Friday night at Globe Life Field.
In their only other trip to the World Series, the Rattlers won a seven-game thriller against the New York Yankees in 2001.
The young Rattlers, who at 84-78 made their way into the playoffs as the National League's last wild card, completed their comeback from an 0-2 deficit in the National League Championship Series.
They won Games 6 and 7 in Philadelphia, where the defending National League champions had had a 12-2 record in the last two postseasons, including 11-0 in National League playoff games.
Rookie starter Brandon Pfaadt struck out seven, and five relievers combined to pitch five one-hit shutout innings for the surprising National League pennant winners.
Bryce Harper and the rest of the Phillies were forced to reflect during the offseason on how they let a second consecutive trip to the World Series slip away.
Philadelphia came home with a win to earn another pennant, but couldn't close it out, falling behind early in Game 6 and then losing the first Game 7 in the franchise's 141-year history.
Kevin Ginkel, Arizona's fourth reliever proved his mettle with a gutsy performance in the seventh inning. After left-hander Andrew Saalfrank awarded consecutive bases on balls with one out, Ginkel came in and retired Trea Turner and Harper with fly balls to center field.
Ginkel then struck out all three batters in the eighth inning, and Paul Sewald pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth save this postseason.
With that, the Arizona bullpen shut the door on the powerful Phillies lineup, and silenced the Philadelphia fans who were left crying alone.
#Postseason Gabriel Moreno and the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate their qualification to the World Series after surprising and winning four of the last five games of the Championship Series against the favored Philadelphia Phillies. pic.twitter.com/HENLuHUhem
- Sports Venezuela (@SportsVZLA2) October 25, 2023
Philadelphia Fails Again
Pfaadt, who struck out nine in Game 3, allowed a tying home run by Alec Bohm in the second that put some much-needed excitement in the crowd and some much-needed excitement on offense. Bohm pointed his ring finger-symbolizing the World Series ring he wanted to win.
Bohm came back in the fourth inning when he walked and scored on Bryson Stott's double for a 2-1 lead.
But the Phillies, who blasted home runs at a record pace against Miami and Atlanta, missed key opportunities.
With runners on the corners, Nick Castellanos struck out, at that point, 0-for-21 with 11 strikeouts since his home run in Game 1 and, after a walk to Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas struck out to end the fourth episode.
Thomson had few options for emerging hitters for Rojas, so he let the light-hitting center fielder do his job in the National League Championship Series.
Pfaadt's big strikeout allowed the Rattlers to breathe.
Suarez struck out Ketel Marte for the third straight time in the fifth to get two outs and a runner on second. Carroll, in turn, hit a leadoff single up the middle for his third hit of Game 7.
Suarez was replaced by Jeff Hoffman, and Carroll stole second before 23-year-old catcher Gabriel Moreno made the score 3-2 with another single.
Pfaadt did his part and the 25-year-old right-handed pitcher, who had a 3-9 record this year, kept Arizona in position for one of the most important wins in team history.
Carroll added a sacrifice fly in the seventh for a 4-2 lead, and the Rattlers never looked back.
By the time Philadelphia turned to ace Zack Wheeler in the seventh, it was too late. The Phillies never took advantage of the opportunity at home, finishing 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Game 7.
