The Arizona Diamondbacks lost Game 1 of the NLCS to the Philadelphia Phillies 5-3, but looked as good as one can in a playoff loss. Especially one against this Phillies team that remains white hot and ready to explode at any given moment.
Philadelphia made it look like it would be an excruciatingly long night for the Diamondbacks when they put three home runs on the board in the first two innings. Instead, the Diamondbacks kept it a game for the most part and cut the deficit to as low as two from then on out.
Considering the Diamondbacks were looking like a fringe playoff team before the season began, the fact that they presented a tougher challenge than the Atlanta Braves did in four games is mighty impressive.
Still, the Diamondbacks lost. At the end of the day, there are no moral victories, certainly not in the league championship series. So, let's diagnose. Who is to blame?
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had opportunities but couldn't capitalize
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. came into the game with a .600 slug against Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler this season, but couldn't capitalize on the matchup going 0-for-4 on the evening.
Though it came later in the game against Seranthony Dominguez and not Wheeler, Gurriel had perhaps the best possible chance of any Diamondbacks player to completely turn the tide for the D-Backs.
After a key play -- one that moved a runner to third for Arizona -- had boosted Arizona's win percentage from 14 to 23.7 percent just before Gurriel's at-bat in the seventh inning (one that involved an overturned call on an officiating challenge), Gurriel lined out and the win probability plummeted back down to 16 percent on a three-pitch at-bat.
Tommy Pham couldn't capitalize on his tendency to punish Zach Wheeler
Tommy Pham was one of the best at-bats among the D-Backs roster against Zach Wheeler this year with a 5-for-11 against including a home run and a very-good four walks. Pham failed to reach base in Game 1 and was ahead in the count for just two pitches the entire evening.
Pham was acquired around the trade deadline from the New York Mets and brings ostensibly good intel against a pitcher he faced in division previously. Instead, Pham couldn't get the wood on the ball in Game 1, much like many of his other teammates.
Pham has been one of the sources of prosperity for Arizona most of this postseason with seven hits in the five games before tonight, and a walk to bring his impact even higher. He has also stolen two bases, proving to be a threat to secure scoring position if he can just get on first. Him getting back on track and involved in the offense is crucial if the Diamondbacks are going to make this series competitive.
Unfortunately, that wasn't doable tonight. Diamondbacks fans shouldn't necessarily be concerned yet, but it's something to watch that Pham hasn't gotten a hit the last two games after two consecutive multi-hit games before that.
Zac Gallen was most at fault for Game 1 loss to Phillies
Handing out blame for this game has to come down on Zac Gallen. The starting pitcher looked human from the first inning onward, giving up eight hits and five earned runs on the evening, the only five runs the Phillies would score.
Relief held up after Gallen left, and while the early home runs proved to be quality eyes at the plate from the Phillies stars, he appeared to be out-scouted by already-hot batters.
Gallen's four-seam fastball is his best pitch with an absurd 27 run value per Statcast this season, yet Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber both hit home runs on it within a handful of pitches of each other. One mislocated pitch happens, but mislocating multiple in such a short span on the same pitch type is inexcusable for a starting pitcher in a game of this magnitude.
Notably, Zac Gallen grew up in the Philadelphia region, yet grew up a Cardinals fan. His mom infamously didn't let him go to the 2008 Phillies title parade because of that very fact. Is this karma? Perhaps.