MLB playoffs 2023: Zack Wheeler leads Phillies to 5-3 win over Diamondbacks in NLCS Game 1

The Phillies hit more home runs, Bryce Harper did Bryce Harper things and another exceptional pitching performance made it 1-0 Phillies in this NLCS.

Arizona Diamondbacks at Philadelphia Phillies, NLCS Game 1: Phillies 5, Diamondbacks 3 (Philly leads 1-0)

Game summary:

It was more of the same for the Phillies in the first game of this NLCS matchup, as they slugged three solo home runs in the first two innings and never looked back — though the Diamondbacks made it interesting.

Kyle Schwarber put the Phillies up 1-0 on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, and Bryce Harper, on his 31st birthday, matched him two batters later, making it 2-0 Philly and pumping Citizens Bank Park back up to its usual (aka maximum) volume.

Nick Castellanos joined the fun in the second inning with his fifth home run in his past three postseason games.

Harper stayed very busy on his birthday. In the third, a Trea Turner double and Harper single made it 4-0 Phillies, and in the fifth, Harper walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a J.T. Realmuto single. It was 5-0 in favor of the home team.

Meanwhile, Zack Wheeler cruised, mowing down 15 straight batters after allowing a leadoff single to Corbin Carroll. It wasn’t until the sixth that the Diamondbacks had any success against him, with Evan Longoria hitting a single and Geraldo Perdomo making it count with a home run that made it a 5-2 game. Then Wheeler went right back to work, getting three straight outs to end the inning.

The Diamondbacks managed one more run in the seventh, but otherwise, the Philly bullpen held, as Seranthony Dominguez, Jose Alvarado and Craig Kimbrel recorded the final nine outs to earn a 5-3 win and a 1-0 series lead.

Impact player:

Bryce Harper did Bryce Harper things in his first experience playing major-league baseball on his birthday, but it was another masterful outing from Wheeler that made the difference.

Wheeler allowed just those three hits and zero walks in his six innings of work Monday. He struck out eight Diamondbacks and put himself in the record books in the process.

His dazzling array of pitches befuddled the Diamondbacks all night, with the one exception being Perdomo’s home run.

Key moment:

The Phillies set the tone with their two homers in the first inning and had the Diamondbacks scrambling to come back all game.

Just as important, the Phillies made it clear that they were not afraid of Arizona ace Zac Gallen's fastball and instead would be looking for it and attacking it aggressively. For Gallen, whose approach is heavy on first-pitch heaters, this did not spell good news for his outing.

What’s next?

Game 2 begins at 8:07 p.m. ET Tuesday in Philadelphia. Aaron Nola gets the ball for the Phillies, while Merrill Kelly goes for the Diamondbacks, trying to even the series before it heads to Arizona.