Dream Game 1 record helps Phillies find playoff success and set an incredible record
After yet another Game 1 victory, the Phillies have now won seven straight series openers and find themselves in record-setting territory.
Another postseason series, another Game 1 victory for the Philadelphia Phillies. It's becoming old hat by now, but the Fightins have a knack for getting off on the right foot in the MLB playoffs.
After winning Game 1 of the National League Championship Series last night, the Phillies have now won all seven of their Game 1s over the last two postseasons. This dates back to last October when they won Game 1 of their Wild Card Series in St. Louis against the Cardinals. Over this stretch, they've repeated the winning formula against the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Houston Astros last year before doing it to The Miami Marlins and the Braves again this year.
This time, it was the Arizona Diamondbacks who found themselves behind the eight-ball from the jump when Kyle Schwarber unleashed a bomb on Zac Gallen's first pitch of the game. Now, the Diamondbacks are in an early hole in an NLCS matchup that most people weren't giving them a chance to win from the start.
The Phillies have won all 7 Game 1s over these last 2 playoffs
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 17, 2023
Phillies are 10-0 vs National League at home over these last 2 playoffs
They have outhomered teams in the playoffs these last two years 32 to 9 pic.twitter.com/rgKpc63eOg
Phillies set MLB playoff record with NLCS Game 1 win
The Phillies turn it up a notch, or two ... or 10 in the postseason, and their success over the last two years proves they have the team DNA to win playoff baseball. And playing their home games at Citizens Bank Park doesn't hurt.
With the Game 1 win last night, the Phillies are in record-setting territory. Besides winning seven straight Game 1s, they've also won 10 consecutive home games against National League opponents in the playoffs.
This 10-game winning streak has propelled them past the 2004-05 Cardinals for the "most consecutive home playoff victories against a team's own league in MLB history," per ESPN Stats & Info.
The Phillies have now won 10 straight home postseason games against NL opponents dating back to last season.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 17, 2023
That passes the 2004-05 Cardinals for the most consecutive home playoff victories against a team's own league in MLB history. pic.twitter.com/y05ZyRaotC
It's a prestigious mark, but one the Phillies aren't concerned with at the moment. They have bigger fish to fry, or rather, snakes to skin. They still have to win three more against the pesky Diamondbacks to get to their final goal of the World Series.
They'll get a chance to push the streak to 11 games tonight when they take on Merrill Kelly and Arizona in Game 2 of the NLCS.