ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Torey Lovullo called Tommy Pham’s early HR in Game 6 of NLCS

Oct 23, 2023, 2:57 PM | Updated: 7:56 pm

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo called one thing: “I’ve got a lot of information that says Tommy should have a good day today,” he said Monday before first pitch of NLCS Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The information was good.

Pham was pulled out of the lineup for Saturday’s Game 5 with a single hit over 13 at-bats in the first four games of the NLCS. Back in the designated hitter spot, he took Phillies starter Aaron Nola for a ride in the second inning.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. followed that with a solo shot of his own before Nola walked Alex Thomas and Evan Longoria doubled the speedy center fielder home to make it 3-0 before the fourth out of the game was recorded.

While Lovullo’s decision to reinsert Pham into the lineup after a game off paid off and proved him prophetic, he wasn’t to that point correct about hoping the Diamondbacks’ run game would reappear.

The D-backs had become home-run hitters this postseason, with several outbursts coming in strings — most notably was their four-bomb inning that helped them move past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

With Gurriel following Pham on Monday, Arizona became the second team in MLB history (2007 Red Sox) to hit home runs back-to-back three times in a single playoff run, according to Sarah Langs.

The Diamondbacks kept the long ball going with elimination on the line in Game 6, with the Phillies up 3-2 in the NLCS series entering Monday.

Tune to the Arizona Sports app and 98.7 for Diamondbacks-Phillies game coverage.

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