Brandon Pfaadt’s outing keeps D-backs in the game

Oct 24, 2023, 7:16 PM | Updated: 9:08 pm

Brandon Pfaadt #32 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts as pitching coach Brent Strom #72 talks with him against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fourth inning in Game 7 of the Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 24, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BY DAVID VEENSTRA

ArizonaSports.com editor

Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt’s night was nervy at times, but it ended with the right hander striking out Johan Rojas to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth.

The D-backs defeated the Phillies 4-2 in NLCS Game 7 to advance to the World Series.

Pfaadt struck out seven and gave up two runs on four hits and two walks. Pfaadt wasn’t dominant in his 64-pitch outing, but he kept his team in a position to win. He forced swing-and-misses and challenged hitters.

Heck of a start for Brandon Pfaadt, who struck out Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper in a 1-2-3 first inning. pic.twitter.com/49Frzv7Ax6

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) October 25, 2023

The Phillies were aggressive at the plate and pounced on the rookie all night. Three of the Phillies’ hits off Pfaadt were on the first pitch.

After a 1-2-3 first inning, Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm crushed a first-pitch fastball that landed in the seats in left center field to open the bottom of the second inning.

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

— MLB (@MLB) October 25, 2023

Pfaadt regained his composure and retired the next three batters to get out of the second.

To open the third, Brandon Marsh singled on a first-pitch sinker from Pfaadt. A bunt from Rojas advanced Marsh to second before Pfaadt struck out Kyle Schwarber with his sinker. He then got Trea Turner to ground out to end the inning.

Bryce Harper attacked Pfaadt to open the fourth by lining out to right on a hard-hit first-pitch changeup. Bohm walked and Bryson Stott then provided his ninth RBI of the postseason. The second baseman hit a four-seam fastball that scored Bohm.

Things are certainly A-OK in Philly. 🔥 #NLCS pic.twitter.com/jyXQhIUbKf

— MLB (@MLB) October 25, 2023

J.T. Realmuto then hit a first-pitch single that advanced Stott to third with one out. Pfaadt struck out Nick Castellanos a second time. Castellanos is now 0-for-22 since his home run in his first at-bat of the the NLCS. Marsh was walked and Pfaadt ended his night by striking out Rojas to keep the D-backs in the game.