Finishing as the No. 1 active pitcher with 417 saves, losing two games in a row…maybe three?

The Philadelphia Phillies won Games 1 and 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks before dropping two straight games in Games 3 and 4. The tiebreaker. The first team to win two of the remaining five games advances to the World Series.

The Phillies’ losses were due to the struggles of closer Craig Kimbrel. Kimbrel took back-to-back no-decisions in Games 3 and 4. He allowed five runs in those two games.

Game 4 of the National League Championship Series at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona, USA on June 21.

Philadelphia manager Rob Thompson sent Kimbrel to the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning with a 5-3 lead. He gave up a leadoff double to No. 7 hitter Rueredes Gurriel Jr. He got Evan Longoria to fly out to left field, but gave up a tying two-run homer to pinch-hitter Alex Thomas to tie the game at 5-5.

Kimbrel was shaky even after allowing the tying run. He walked Herrardo Perdomo to load the bases with two outs, then gave up a single to Ketel Marte and a walk to Corbin Carroll. He was stranded with runners on first and second. 먹튀검증

With the bases loaded, the Phillies brought in Jose Alvarado, who gave up a single to Gabriel Moreno to make it a 5-6 game. The Phillies were unable to score in the ninth and lost. Kimbrel took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) on three hits and one walk in ⅔ innings.

Kimbrel also took the loss in Game 3 on the 20th, entering in the bottom of the ninth with the score tied 1-1. .

Kimbrel walked leadoff hitter Gurriel Jr. and allowed him to steal second base. He gave up an infield single to Parvin Smith. With runners on second and third, Emmanuel Rivera’s grounder to shortstop threw the runner out at home.

But he walked Perdomo to load the bases and gave up the game-winning hit to Marte to take the loss.

Kimbrel is now 3-2 with two saves and a 7.20 ERA in six postseason appearances. His pitches were shaky in Games 3 and 4, allowing four runs.

After the game, manager Thompson said, “We have to talk about it. But should we put Kimbrel in a little bit of a low-risk situation? I don’t know. I’ll have to talk to the pitching coach.” Thompson was coy about Kimbrel’s use after Game 5.

“I’ve been in the big leagues a long time,” Kimbrel said. I’ve lost a lot of games, I’ve won a lot of games. The only way to succeed through failure is to believe you can,” he said, adding, “It’s totally up to the manager. Whenever he gives me the ball, I’m ready to receive it,” he said. He hasn’t lost his confidence.

Kimbrel made his major league debut with Atlanta in 2010 and won the National League saves title and Rookie of the Year honors in his second year as the closer, recording 46 saves. He won four consecutive saves titles from 2011 to 2014.

He went on to play for the San Diego Padres in 2015, the Boston Red Sox in 2016, the Chicago Cubs in 2019, the Cubs and Chicago White Sox in 2021, and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022.

In 71 games this year in a Philadelphia uniform, he has an 8-6 record with 23 saves and a 3.26 ERA. He has 417 career saves in the majors, the most of any active pitcher.

In addition to Kimbrel, the Phillies also used Kirkering, Alvarado and Hoffman in Games 3 and 4. MLB.com wrote, “Thompson doesn’t like to use relievers three days in a row. Everyone will be curious to see how he manages his bullpen in Game 5.”