Phillies Crowd Challenged by Diamondbacks' Game 6 Starter
The Philadelphia Phillies are back home for Game 6 of the NLCS with a chance to secure their second straight trip to the World Series.
After dropping two heartbreaking games on the road, they were able to win Game 5 and set up this clinching possibility in front of their home fans.
Citizens Bank Park has turned into the best postseason atmosphere in baseball based on the noise levels and winning percentage that the Phillies have had when playing at home.
Aaron Nola will be on the mound for Philadelphia and the Arizona Diamondbacks will counter with Merrill Kelly.
This is a rematch from Game 2 of the series that saw the Phillies win 10-0 comfortably.
Prior to that start, Kelly challenged the fans of Philadelphia, questioning how loud the atmosphere would actually be.
"I obviously haven’t heard this place on the field, but I would be very surprised if it trumped that Venezuela game down in Miami. When Trea hit that grand slam… I don’t think I’ve ever experienced an atmosphere like that so I hope that this isn’t louder than that," he said.
Kelly said those comments were taken out of context, but the fans took it to heart before Game 2 and made sure to let him hear them when he was warming up and throughout the game.
The Diamondbacks' starter went 5 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on three hits, walking three and striking out six.
Three of those runs he gave up were on solo home runs by Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.
Now, stepping into a close out environment, the fans will be sure to give Kelly a loud stadium and prove why Citizens Bank Park is the most difficult atmosphere for opposing players to compete in.
