Padres threaten in 9th, but lose NLCS Game 1 to Phillies 2-0 – GNT NEWS

The Padres created some drama in the ninth inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the damage already done by Philadelphia’s bats Tuesday night at Petco Park.

The Padres’ lineup lacked life until suddenly, Manny Machado was ahead with 1 out in the bottom of the ninth inning with two runners on thanks to an errant double. He flied out to right, then Josh Bell struck out and Philly held on to a 2-0 lead built on a pair of solo home runs from Yu Darvish.

Bryce Harper put the first run of the series on the board with Yu Darvish’s opposite-field solo home run in the top of the fourth. It marked three straight games with a long ball for Harper, and tied him for the MLB lead in postseason hits with four.

Kyle Schwarber followed in the sixth inning with a monster home run off Darvish. The Phillies All-Star hitter sent one 488 feet into the second deck in right field. It was the longest home run in Petco Park history and the fifth hardest hit ball in the Statcast era. At 119.7 miles per hour, it was the hardest hit ball of Schwarber’s career and the highest exit velocity Darvish had ever allowed.

Phillies righty Zack Wheeler kept the Padres in check early. Wil Myers’ single in the fifth inning was the first hit of the game. Wheeler didn’t allow another hit and only two Padres reached base on him, the other on a walk. No one reached second base on his watch. The All-Star finished with eight strikeouts in seven innings on just 83 pitches.

Darvish was sharp – with the exception of two homers allowed to Harper and Schwarber. The veteran right-hander pitched even innings, allowing three hits and one walk. He didn’t allow a single run outside of Philly’s pair of bombs.

Derek Togerson and Darnay Tripp look ahead to the Padres-Phillies National League Championship Series.

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