LOS ANGELES. – Following a successful business trip, the Arizona Diamondbacks are headed home to try to complete the job.
Another productive first inning and 5 1/3 innings from Zac Gallen lifted the Diamondbacks to a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday (Tuesday in Manila) and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five National League Division Series.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a run-scoring single in a three-run opening inning and later homered as the Diamondbacks moved one victory away from their first appearance in the NL Championship Series since 2007.
Now the Diamondbacks return to Phoenix for Game 3 on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila), and Game 4 on Thursday (Friday in Manila) if needed, after going 4-0 on the road in the postseason so far. Arizona has played just three home games since Sept. 22 and none in the playoffs since 2017.
In the other game, the Atlanta Braves were four outs away from falling behind 2-0 in the National League Division Series when Austin Riley put on the hero cape.
The Atlanta third baseman slugged a go-ahead, two-run homer in the eighth inning and made a fine defensive play in the ninth, helping the Braves rally from a four-run deficit to post a 5-4 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
The comeback allowed Atlanta to even the best-of-five NLDS at one game apiece. Game 3 is Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) at Philadelphia.
The Braves’ offense was dead for most of the night with Phillies ace Zack Wheeler delivering a strong performance.
But Riley’s big blast in the eighth off Jeff Hoffman (1-1) turned the game around and changed the tenor of the series.
“I was just trying to put a barrel on the ball,” Riley said. “That’s all it was. It’s definitely up there with my top ones. … Obviously still a lot of work to do. Just going to enjoy this one tonight.”
“I’m definitely looking forward to the energy the fans are gonna bring,” said the Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll, who reached base four times on a hit and three walks. “It’s been a long time since playoff baseball has been in Arizona, so getting to play in front of them is going to be special.”
Gallen (2-0) gave up two runs on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts. Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his third save of the postseason.
Dodgers rookie right-hander Bobby Miller (0-1) gave up three runs and recorded just five outs in his first career playoff start and appearance. Counting Clayton Kershaw’s disastrous start in Game 1, Dodgers starters have recorded just six outs while yielding nine runs in two games.
Yet Riley had another significant play to make as the Phillies threatened to tie or regain the lead in the ninth.
Bryce Harper was on first with one out when Nick Castellanos hit a blast to deep right center off Raisel Iglesias that leaping Braves center fielder Michael Harris II caught while colliding with the fence. Harper was about 20 feet past second as Harris threw the ball to the infield but missed the cutoff man.
