Diamondbacks defeat Phillies 2-1 in Game 3 of NLCS

PHOENIX (WPVI) -- Philadelphia's hot bats went down in a wave of whiffs.

Overpowering at the plate in the first two games, the Phillies struck out 13 times Thursday during a 2-1 loss to Arizona that trimmed their lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series.

The Diamondbacks won Game 3 on Ketel Marte's bases-loaded single off Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning after missing opportunities all afternoon.

Philadelphia's quiet day at the plate set the stage for the home heroics.

The Phillies jumped on the Diamondbacks early in the series' opening two games in Philadelphia, hitting six homers while outscoring them 15-3.

The desert air - not to mention Arizona's pitchers - caused a Game 3 power outage.

Diamondbacks rookie Brandon Pfaadt started the whiff fest, striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings while matching Ranger Suárez's stellar start for the Phillies.

Arizona's relievers picked it up from there, combining with Pfaadt to hold the Phillies to three hits. Philadelphia scored its only run, in the seventh inning, without hitting a ball out of the infield.

It was a much different story in Philadelphia.

Playing in front of their raucous fans, the Phillies bashed Arizona's top two starters to begin the series, scoring a combined nine runs in 10 2/3 innings off Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly.

A rookie had them flailing at pitches all afternoon in the desert.

Pfaadt got Philadelphia's hitters to chase big curveballs and freeze on mid-90s fastballs, inducing 18 swings and misses. The right-hander allowed two hits with no walks before Arizona manager Torey Lovullo came to get him with two outs in the sixth.

The move after 70 pitches led to boos by the hometown fans that changed to cheers for Pfaadt as he walked to the dugout.

His replacement, Andrew Saalfrank, got the final out of the inning and started the sixth to face Bryce Harper. Saalfrank walked the two-time NL MVP, who scored on Ryan Thompson's wild pitch following an infield single and a double play.

That was it for the Phillies.

Thompson ended the seventh inning with a strikeout. Kevin Ginkel struck out two in the eighth and Paul Sewald closed out the ninth after a two-out walk to Harper.

No more Philadelphia bullying. Arizona's pitchers made sure of that, shutting down a team that had bashed its way through the playoffs before arriving in the desert.

FULL SCHEDULE

• Game 1: Phillies host Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, Oct. 16 at 8:07 p.m. EST (Phillies win 5-3)

• Game 2: Phillies host Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 8:07 p.m. EST (Phillies win 10-0)

• Game 3: Diamondbacks host Phillies at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 5:07 p.m. EST (DBacks win 2-1)

• Game 4: Diamondbacks host Phillies at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday, Oct. 20 at 8:07 p.m. EST

• Game 5: Diamondbacks host Phillies at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 8:07 p.m. EST

• Game 6: Phillies host Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Monday, Oct. 23 at 5:07 p.m. EST (if necessary)

• Game 7: Phillies host Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 8:07 p.m. EST (if necessary)

Here are some updates from Game 3:

7:08 p.m. -- Jose Alvarado replaces Orion Kerkering on the mound.

7:05 p.m. -- Gurriel Jr. doubled to left, Thomas scored. Game 3 tied 1-1.

6:57 p.m. -- Harper scores on wild pitch. Phillies lead 1-0

6:39 p.m. -- Jeff Hoffman replaces Ranger Suarez on the mound for the Phillies

6:30 p.m. -- D-backs pull Brandon Pfaadt.

6:03 p.m. -- Scoreless through four innings

3:39 p.m. -- John Middleton hands out baseballs to Phillies fans

3:35 p.m. -- Phillies fans have arrived at Chase Field

3:32 p.m. -- Phillies fans spotted outside of the ballpark

3:10 p.m. -- The gates have opened

2:31 p.m. -- The players have arrived

2:01 p.m. -- Lineup released

• DH Schwarber

• SS Turner

• 1B Harper

• 3B Bohm

• 2B Stott

• C Realmuto

• RF Castellanos

• LF Marsh

• CF Rojas

• P Suarez

SEE ALSO: Phillies fan walks away with broken finger trying to catch a 'Schwarbomb' during Game 2

Philadelphia Phillies fan walks away with broken finger trying to catch Kyle Schwarber homer during Game 2