5 reasons Phillies fans don’t need to panic after losing Game 3 of the NLCS
It was a tough pill for Philadelphia Phillies fans to swallow on Thursday night. After the ride these Phillies have taken us on, it was hard seeing the bats go ice cold and losing Game 3 of the National League Championship Series 2-1 to the Arizona Diamondbacks in walk-off fashion.
But after a good night's sleep, assuming you got one, we can all take a step back and see that there are plenty of reasons to believe that the Phillies can still win the NLCS.
So, take a deep breath and find your Zen. There's no reason to panic.
Phillies still lead the series 2-1
This is the most obvious reason. The Phillies still lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. They're still in the driver's seat. We can all agree that being up 2-1 is preferable to being down 2-1.
Sometimes baseball happens. Sometimes good teams lose.
"I thought we had a chance, but that's baseball," Ranger Suárez said following the game. "Sometimes you're able to pull a win like that, and sometimes you're not."
The Phillies still have two more chances to clinch the series in the desert. There's still a very real possibility that the series doesn't even make it back to Philadelphia for Games 6 and 7.
Even if they manage to win only one game at Chase Field, that means they have to win just one out of two at the fortress that is Citizens Bank Park.
They bounced back from a tough Game 3 loss in the NLDS
As much fun as most of the postseason has been, don't forget that just 11 days ago, everyone in the Phillie-verse was beside themselves after the team blew a 4-0 lead to the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS.
There was extreme concern that the Phillies had let the Braves get up off the mat when they had them down and out. As it turns out, this Phillies team isn't phased by much, which they showed when they proceeded to wipe the floor with the best regular season team.
No offense to the Diamondbacks, but they're not the Braves. If a devastating loss to Atlanta didn't do the Phillies in, there's little to worry about at this point of the NLCS.