Diamondbacks Finish Off Sweep of Dodgers, Advance to NLCS
Six years ago the Diamondbacks watched the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate on their field after getting swept in the National League Division Series. Tonight it is the D-backs who get to celebrate a sweep on their home field after a 4-2 win and clinch their first National League Championship Series berth since the 2007 season. They did with a historic 3rd inning at the plate and made some key pitches late to turn the Dodgers away with a late lead.
In all three games of this series, the D-backs set the tone with a big inning against the opposing starting pitcher. It didn't happen in the first inning of Game 3, but they finally got to Lance Lynn in the 3rd inning. Four home runs in that inning, the first time that has happened in MLB postseason history, allowed Arizona to take a 4-0 lead and allow manager Torey Lovullo to manage the game as he saw fit. In fact, the D-backs never trailed for a single inning in this entire series.
"I think our team was hungry." said Lovullo. "I know it's well documented that we're a connected team. I think a connected team is a dangerous team."
Rookie right-hander Brandon Pfaadt delivered his biggest start of the year, holding the Dodgers scoreless for 4 1/3 innings. Pfaadt allowed just two baserunners and struck out two, using his defense to get a lot of early outs. One very positive sign is the development of his changeup, in which he struck out J.D. Martinez to end the 4th and Max Muncy to begin the 5th.
"I think lately we've been more fastball/slider" said Pfaadt. "I think the change-up helps free that up and open up those other pitches to help get early outs."
After a one-out double by Will Smith in the 5th, Lovullo pulled his rookie starter and went to the bullpen to record the final 14 outs. Left-hander Joe Mantiply came in and got the D-backs out of the inning.
"He was 44 pitches in at four-and-a-third, and I was the dope that took him out of the game. Once we had the lead that the bullpen was in very capable, or the team was in very capable hands with our bullpen."
After Joe Mantiply and Ryan Thompson retired the first seven batters faced, but the Dodgers mounted a late rally in the seventh. Four consecutive two-out hits by Los Angeles cut the D-backs lead in half, but left-hander Andrew Saalfrank induced a groundout from pinch hitter Austin Barnes to end the threat. The Dodgers brought the tying run to the plate against both Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald, but the two stoppers in the backend of the D-backs bullpen held the line.
Moreno was hit on the right hand on a foul bunt from Chris Taylor in the 5th inning and was promptly removed after the conclusion of the frame. The D-backs catcher managed to avoid another serious injury.
"Gabby's hand is good. X-rays were negative" said Lovullo. "He went and got some treatment, came back out and actually warmed up the pitcher, I think Sewald or Ginkel, in the eighth or ninth inning. I asked him how he was. He said he was doing fine."
The 23-year-old catcher has become the team's X factor this postseason due to his ability to impact the game on both offense and defense. Having him available for the NLCS will be important for a team that faces a very tough opponent ahead.
The D-backs will rest up and wait for the conclusion of the other NLDS series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. The Phillies currently hold a 2-1 lead over the Braves after winning Game 3, so it's possible they find out their next opponent as early as tomorrow night. A longer series would benefit the D-backs, as it could potentially minimize the number of starts that Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola could have against them and also give Moreno's hand more time to heal. Game 1 of the NLCS is scheduled for Monday October 16th, with Arizona starting on the road.
