After hot start, Phillies stagger to Game 1 win over Diamondbacks

In the seventh inning, reliever Seranthony Dominguez allowed a sacrifice fly to Alek Thomas that brought Arizona within two runs. Thomas scored Christian Walker after Walker advanced to third on a brutal throwing error by Dominguez. 

Luckily for Philadelphia, Jose Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel were able to hold the Diamondbacks down over the final two innings and preserve a 5-3 victory.

While Arizona looked to start a rally, the Phillies' bats went ice cold. Over the last four innings, Philadelphia went a combined 1-for-10 at the plate. Trea Turner singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning and advanced to second base on a throwing error. 

Despite the runner in scoring position, relievers Kyle Nelson and Miguel Castro shut down Harper, Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott to end the frame without any harm. Brandon Marsh was the Phillies' lone baserunner of the eighth inning when he drew a two-out walk, but he was stranded on a Johan Rojas groundout. 

A win is a win, especially this late in the season, but it's clear that the Phillies didn't put in a full nine-inning effort in Game 1. 

On Tuesday, they'll send Aaron Nola to the mound for Game 2 against Merrill Kelly. Nola has allowed just two runs over 12 2/3 innings this postseason. Kelly, meanwhile, was stellar in his lone playoff start, pitching 6 1/3 shutout innings at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was solid in his only start against the Phillies this year, allowing three runs over six innings in a no-decision on June 14. Nola surrendered four runs in 6 2/3 innings against the Diamondbacks the next day but struck out nine and earned a win.

Arizona's best hope coming into the NLCS was a split of the first two games in Philadelphia before returning home to Chase Field. If their late-inning performance in Game 1 is any indicator, a split is well within reach.