While the Arizona Diamondbacks jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in Game 4 of the NLCS, the Philadelphia Phillies took the game over in the middle innings. And with a 5-3 lead heading into the eighth inning, it looked like the Phillies would take a commanding 3-1 lead in the series.
But the Diamondbacks had other ideas.
Craig Kimbrel took the mound for Philadelphia in the bottom of the eighth inning. He surrendered a lead-off double to Lourdes Gurriel Jr., then retired Evan Longoria. That brought Alek Thomas to the plate. The 23-year-old Thomas worked a full count against the veteran Kimbrel, then drove a 3-2 pitch over the right-center field wall and into the Chase Field pool for a game-tying two-run homer.
Kimbrel seemed to bounce back OK with a strikeout of Geraldo Perdomo. But Arizona staged a two-out rally of sorts, with Ketel Marte singling and Corbin Carroll getting hit by a pitch. That brought Gabriel Moreno to the plate for a showdown with José Alvarado, who replaced Kimbrel.
Moreno got his bat on a 3-1 fastball from Alvarado and hit the ball to center field, where it fell in front of Johan Rohas. Marte scored from second on the single to put Arizona ahead 6-5.
That was all the Diamondbacks would need. The Phillies tried to stage a two-out rally of their own in the top of the ninth inning when Kyle Schwarber doubled. But Arizona’s Paul Sewald closed the door, striking Trea Turner out to end the game and bring the series to a 2-2 tie.
Much like the ALCS Game 5 that came before it, there was little doubt that Game 4 was an instant classic. What people thought of the instant classic, though, was significantly more divided.
Game 5 will be played on Saturday. The winner will head back to Philadelphia for Game 6 and if necessary, Game 7, needing only one victory to lock up a spot in the World Series.