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Philadelphia Phillies Blow Out Arizona Diamondbacks in Dominant NLCS Game 2 Effort

A record-breaking offensive explosion and a combined shutout by Aaron Nola and the bullpen helped the Philadelphia Phillies go up 2-0 in the NLCS.
Sam Connon|
Philadelphia Phillies Blow Out Arizona Diamondbacks in Dominant NLCS Game 2 Effort
Philadelphia Phillies Blow Out Arizona Diamondbacks in Dominant NLCS Game 2 Effort

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Philadelphia PhilliesArizona Diamondbacks

The Philadelphia Phillies are one step closer to returning to the World Series.

The Phillies dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks en route to a 10-0 win in Game 2 of the NLCS on Tuesday night. The result – which puts Philadelphia up 2-0 in the series – marked the first time Arizona had ever gotten shut out in the postseason.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, now has a plus-33 run differential so far in these playoffs. According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, that is the highest in an eight-game span in postseason history.

It didn't take the Phillies long to establish their dominance at the plate, as shortstop Trea Turner belted a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber hit one of his own in the third, then another in the sixth to take Philadelphia's ongoing home run barrage to a historic level.

Merrill Kelly remained on the mound for the Diamondbacks through it all, making it 5.2 innings before getting the hook. The Phillies immediately jumped on Kelly's replacement, left-hander Joe Mantiply, as RBI doubles by catcher JT Realmuto and left fielder Brandon Marsh brought the score to 6-0 Philadelphia.

The game reached blowout territory in the seventh. Third baseman Alec Bohm drove in two more runs with a double, and Realmuto and right fielder Nick Castellanos made it 10-0 with a pair of RBI singles.

All the while, Aaron Nola delivered yet another gem to make sure the Diamondbacks never had a shot at a comeback.

The veteran righty didn't allow a hit until the fourth, and he didn't walk a single batter all night. Nola struck out seven across 6.0 scoreless innings of work, bringing his ERA this postseason down to 0.96 and his WHIP down to 0.750.

Manager Rob Thomson turned to his bullpen once his offense had provided a sufficient cushion, and the relievers strung together even more quick innings.

Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm and Orion Kerkering joined forces to complete the combined shutout, only giving up one hit and one walk along the way.

The series will now head to Phoenix for Games 3, 4 and 5, if necessary. The Phillies and Diamondbacks have Wednesday off and will return to action Thursday night at 5:07 p.m. ET.

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Sam Connon
SAM CONNON

Sam Connon is a staff writer covering baseball for “Fastball on SI.’’ He previously covered UCLA Athletics for On SI’s All Bruins site, and is a UCLA graduate, with his work there as a sports columnist receiving awards from the College Media Association and Society of Professional Journalists. Connon also wrote for On SI’s New England Patriots site, Patriots Country, and he was on the Patriots and Boston Red Sox beats at Prime Time Sports Talk. Sam lives in Boston.

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