October 12, 2023 (UPI) — The Arizona Diamondbacks and Houston Astros secured their places in the National League Championship Series and American League Championship Series, respectively, with victories over the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins on Day 9 of the MLB playoffs.
“We left everything on the field in an attempt to win that game,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker in a press conference in Minneapolis. “Our desire for the win was immense.”
The Philadelphia Phillies began the evening by defeating the Atlanta Braves 10-2, taking a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five National League Division Series in Philadelphia.
The winner of the Phillies-Braves series will face the Diamondbacks in the battle for the National League pennant. Meanwhile, the Astros will go up against the Texas Rangers for the American League crown and a spot in the World Series.
In record-breaking fashion, the Diamondbacks advanced to the NLCS. They became the first team in MLB history to hit four home runs in a single inning during their 4-2 triumph over the Dodgers in Phoenix.
The bat barrage began with a solo homer from shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, followed by a solo shot from second baseman Ketel Marte. First baseman Christian Walker then smacked a solo blast, and catcher Gabriel Moreno hit the final home run for the Diamondbacks in Game 3.
The Dodgers managed to score two runs in the seventh inning but fell short. Despite the late rally, utility players Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez could only bring in one run each with RBI singles.
Marte and outfielder Alek Thomas each had two hits for the Diamondbacks. Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt pitched 4⅓ innings, only allowing two hits and no runs. Relief pitchers Andrew Saalfrank, Kevin Ginkel, and Paul Sewald finished the game, conceding just one hit and no runs to seal the series sweep.
In the second game of the day, the Houston Astros defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 in Minneapolis with another home run from Jose Altuve and strong pitching.
Starting pitcher Jose Urquidy allowed three hits and two runs in 5⅔ innings before the Astros bullpen shut down the Twins for the remainder of the game, not allowing any hits or runs. This victory marked the Astros’ seventh consecutive postseason appearance in the ALCS.
Twins third baseman Royce Lewis hit a solo shot off Urquidy in the bottom of the first inning. Outfielder Michael Brantley tied the score with a solo homer in the top of the next inning, and Altuve put the Astros ahead for good with a two-run homer in the fourth. Designated hitter Edouard Julien hit a solo homer for the Twins in the sixth inning.
On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Phillies dominated the Atlanta Braves in Game 3, with Bryce Harper and Nick Castellanos each hitting two home runs.
Starting pitcher Aaron Nola allowed six hits and two runs in 5⅔ innings, while the Phillies bullpen held the Braves scoreless for the remaining 3⅓ innings.
After Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies gave his team a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the third inning, the Phillies’ offense exploded. Castellanos hit a home run on Bryce Elder’s second pitch, and Harper followed with a three-run homer. Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto then drove in two runs with an RBI double. Harper hit another solo homer in the fifth inning, and shortstop Trea Turner added a solo shot in the sixth. Castellanos hit a leadoff homer in the eighth, and left fielder Brandon Marsh contributed a home run of his own.
Castellanos went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Harper, Turner, and Marsh logged two hits each. Braves designated hitter Marcel Ozuna, Ronald Acuna Jr., Albies, and third baseman Austin Riley recorded two hits apiece.
The Phillies (2-1) will host the Braves (1-2) in Game 4 at 8:07 p.m. EDT on Thursday in Philadelphia. If necessary, Game 5 will be played on Saturday in Atlanta.
The Astros will host the Rangers in Game 1 of the ALCS on Sunday in Houston, while the NLCS is set to begin next week.
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