D-backs and Phillies trade leads early in Game 7

The Arizona Diamondbacks and Philadelphia Phillies traded runs early in NLCS Game 7 Tuesday with the D-backs leading 3-2 after the top of the fifth inning.

To start the scoring, Christian Walker grounded into a fielder’s choice that pushed Corbin Carroll across home to give the D-backs a lead over the Phillies in the top of the first inning.

Carroll had reached on an infield single to second before Gabriel Moreno hit an opposite-field single to advance Carroll to third.

Walker then hit a cutter outside the zone on the second pitch he saw from Phillies starter Ranger Suarez, who had not allowed a run in the entire postseason.

Walker is now 5–for-16 with four walks and two RBIs in 20 plate appearances against Suárez in his career.

Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm then answered and tied the game by sending a first-pitch fastball to the seats in left center field to open the bottom of the second inning.

A bat for a run 🤝

Christian Walker gets the good guys on the board early. pic.twitter.com/nfkC199kVb

— Reno Aces (@Aces) October 25, 2023

He was made for this Bohm-ent. #NLCS pic.twitter.com/kDPo1ClPv0

— MLB (@MLB) October 25, 2023

Teams that score first are 82-47 all-time in winner-take-all postseason games, according to Elias.

The Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the fourth when Bryson Stott doubled Alec Bohm in from first, but Arizona answered the next frame. Emmanuel Rivera singled and advanced to second on a Geraldo Perdomo bunt before Carroll singled with a grounder to center to tie things.

Carroll stole his second base of the game to move 90 feet before a Moreno single got the speedy outfielder home for a 3-2 lead after the top of the fifth.

Follow @veenstra_david