Up and down Broad Street, from the sports complex to the neighborhoods north of City Hall, countless souls await Game 6 of the National League Championship Series with typical Philly fervor.
Β Β The Phillies have a chance to capture the NL pennant at home for the second straight year. However, their opponents were nicknamed “Answerbacks” for a reason. While aware of the Phillies’ dominance at home this season, the D-backs will look to keep their title hopes alive as they have all month, this time by winning Game 6 on Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
Β Β We have a lot of respect for where we’re going and the team we’re playing,” Arizona coach Torey Lovullo said, noting the importance of the 3-2 loss. “But again, we have to keep it to ourselves, to our dugout, to our clubhouse, and just go and do what we do best.” For Lovullo and the D-backs, it starts with Merrill Kelly, their second-best regular season starter. Kelly was successful in the NL Division Series before faltering a bit in Game 2 of the NLCS. But aside from Zac Gallen in Game 5, there’s no one the D-backs trust more.
Β Β The same goes for the Phillies and Aaron Nola, who was great as usual in October. Nola has six shutouts in Game 2 and hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs since Sept. 9. If Nola puts up a similar performance, the Phillies, who are 6-0 at home this season, have a good chance to make their Citizens Bank Park clubhouse a party place again. Teams leading best of seven series 3-2 with the remaining games at home won 80% of the time.
Β Β Confident Phils and#039; came in smiling and#039; before tilting the series with a Game 5 victory “We’re ready to get back out there,” shortstop Kyle Schwarber said. “We’re ready. We’re ready.”
