Phillies NLCS Game 1 [Brent’s Photos]

It was “Bedlam at the Bank” for all photos at Game 1 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) between our Philadelphia Phillies and the Arizona Diamondbacks. A game that Pierre’s Good Citizen’s Park more sold-out than I have ever seen it before.

Close to 46,000 screaming fans were in attendance. Kane Kalas, son of the late, great Harry Kalas, sang the National Anthem to kick off the evening with a rousing rendition.

The game started with a solid half-inning worth of work from Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler. The craziness really picked up in the bottom of the 1st inning, when lead-off batter and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber swung on the very first pitch and smacked a massive “Schwarbomb” out of the park.

Four pitches later, Bryce Harper, who was celebrating his 31^st birthday with us, smacked another first pitch home run to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead to start the game. In true Harper fashion, he held up three fingers on one hand and one finger on the other to “blowout” 31 candles as he crossed home plate.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning, Nick Castellanos, who has had one of these hottest bats in baseball this postseason, continued his dominance behind the plate with a solo homerun to right field, giving the Phillies a 3-0 lead.

The score was 5-0 Phillies heading into the 6th inning. The Diamondbacks Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run shot to right field, putting Arizona on the scoreboard for the first time of the evening. The D'backs scored another run in the 7th to make it 5-3.

There was another surprise during the 7th inning stretch. Lauren Hart, who we all know and love from the Philadelphia Flyers, sang “God Bless America” in fantastic fashion.

Our bullpen held up heading into the later innings. Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel shut down the remaining D'backs and gave our Phils the ‘W’ in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series 5-3.

Jason & Travis Kelce were in the house, as was country superstar Tim McGraw, son of the late, great Phillies pitcher Tug McGraw. The celebrities gave the fans an added POP when they showed them on the big screen throughout the game.

Game 2 is tonight in South Philadelphia with the first pitch set for 8:07pm. Gates for ticketed guests open at 5:37pm. It is going to be a MADHOUSE in South Philly this evening. The Flyers play their home opener against the Vancouver Canucks at 6pm. Also, right across the street from the Bank at Lincoln Financial Field, there is a sold-out soccer/football match between Germany & Mexico that will be adding to the traffic chaos.

Give yourself plenty of time to get to the sports complex today!!