Alek Thomas had taken just 28 plate appearances in the 2023 postseason to this point. His 29th was the biggest of his baseball-playing life.
The Diamondbacks were down to their final five outs trailing the Phillies by a pair of runs in what felt like a do-or-die game in the NLCS. Lose, and the Phillies would take a commanding 3-1 edge, with two games still lingering in Philadelphia.
But Thomas took his turn to be the unlikely hero for Arizona. He launched a game-tying, two-run homer to even the contest at five runs each. Three batters later, Gabriel Moreno took his turn playing hero ball, driving a go-ahead double into the left-center gap to score Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and put the Diamondbacks on top 6-5, a score by which they would win to even the series.
MORE: Watch Phillies vs. Diamondbacks Game 5 live with Sling TV
Just how valuable is it to have evened the series? On Saturday, the last game in Arizona, the Phillies will send ace Zack Wheeler, who has quickly ascended to all-time postseason great pitching status. During this playoff run, he has a 2.37 ERA with 26 strikeouts that included a dominant six-inning outing against the Diamondbacks to win in Game 1.
But the Diamondbacks have their own ace in waiting. While Zac Gallen didn't have his best stuff in Game 1, allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks across five innings, he is coming off a campaign for which he will almost certainly wind up collecting plenty of Cy Young votes, with a 3.47 ERA and 220 strikeouts in 210 innings of work.
Hoping to watch the fifth game of the 2023 NLCS? Here's all the information you need to watch the Phillies take on the Diamondbacks on Saturday.
What channel is Phillies vs. Diamondbacks on today?
- Channel: TBS (U.S.) | Sportsnet (Canada)
- Live stream: Max, TBS app (with cable login), Sling TV (U.S.) | Sportsnet Now, Fubo (Canada)
TBS will be continuing with its coverage of the National League playoffs with the broadcast of Game 5 of the NLCS between the Diamondbacks and Phillies.
Baseball fans hoping to stream the NLCS can find it on the TBS app with a cable login. Viewers can also stream it on Max or on Sling TV.
Canadian baseball fans can find the game on Sportsnet. The game will also be streamed on Sportsnet Now or on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
Phillies vs. Diamondbacks start time
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 20
- First pitch time: 8:07 p.m. ET
The Phillies and Diamondbacks will continue their NLCS on Saturday, Oct. 20, with first pitch set to be thrown out at 8:07 p.m. ET from Chase Field in Phoenix.
The series had Games 1 and 2 in Philadelphia, as will have a possible Game 6 or 7 there as well, while Games 3 and 4, as well as 5, were played from Chase Field in Phoenix.
MLB playoff schedule, results
(All times Eastern)
American League
Wild Card
| Date | Result |
| Oct. 3 | Rangers 4, Rays 0 |
| Oct. 3 | Twins 3, Blue Jays 1 |
| Oct. 4 | Rangers 7, Rays 1 |
| Oct. 4 | Twins 2, Blue Jays 0 |
Division Series
| Date | Result |
| Oct. 7 | TEX 3, BAL 2 (TEX, 1-0) |
| Oct. 7 | HOU 6, MIN 4 (HOU, 1-0) |
| Oct. 8 | TEX 11, BAL 8 (TEX, 2-0) |
| Oct. 8 | MIN 6, HOU 2 (Tied, 1-1) |
| Oct. 10 | HOU 9, MIN 1 (HOU, 2-1) |
| Oct. 10 | TEX 7, BAL 1 (TEX wins 3-0) |
| Oct. 11 | HOU 3, MIN 2 (HOU wins, 3-1) |
Championship Series
| Date | Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel | Result |
| Oct. 15 | Rangers at Astros | 8:15 p.m. | Fox | TEX 2, HOU 0 (TEX, 1-0) |
| Oct. 16 | Rangers at Astros | 4:37 p.m. | Fox | TEX 5, HOU 4 (TEX, 2-0) |
| Oct. 18 | Astros at Rangers | 8:03 p.m. | FS1 | HOU 8, TEX 5 (TEX, 2-1) |
| Oct. 19 | Astros at Rangers | 8:03 p.m. | FS1 | HOU 10, TEX 3 (TIE, 2-2) |
| Oct. 20 | Astros at Rangers* | 7:07 p.m. | FS1 | HOU 5, TEX 4 (HOU, 3-2) |
| Oct. 22 | Rangers at Astros* | 8:03 p.m. | FS1 | -- |
| Oct. 23 | Rangers at Astros* | 8:03 p.m. | Fox | -- |
*If necessary
National League
Wild card series
| Date | Result |
| Oct. 3 | Diamondbacks 6, Brewers 3 |
| Oct. 3 | Phillies 3, Marlins 1 |
| Oct. 4 | Diamondbacks 5, Brewers 2 |
| Oct. 4 | Phillies 7, Marlins 1 |
Division Series
| Date | Result |
| Oct. 7 | PHI 3, ATL 0 (PHI, 1-0) |
| Oct. 7 | ARI 11, LAD 2 (ARI, 1-0) |
| Oct. 9 | ATL 5, PHI 4 (Tied 1-1) |
| Oct. 9 | ARI 4, LAD 2 (ARI, 2-0) |
| Oct. 11 | PHI 10, ATL 2 (PHI, 2-1) |
| Oct. 11 | ARI 4, LAD 2 (ARI wins, 3-0) |
| Oct. 12 | PHI 3, ATL 1 (PHI wins, 3-1) |
Championship Series
| Date | Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel | Result |
| Oct. 16 | Diamondbacks at Phillies | 8:07 p.m. | TBS | PHI 5, ARI 3 (PHI, 1-0) |
| Oct. 17 | Diamondbacks at Phillies | 8:07 p.m. | TBS | PHI 10, ARI 0 (PHI, 2-0) |
| Oct. 19 | Phillies at Diamondbacks | 7:07 p.m. | TBS | ARI 2, PHI 1 (PHI, 2-1) |
| Oct. 20 | Phillies at Diamondbacks | 8:07 p.m. | TBS | ARI 6, PHI 5 (TIE, 2-2) |
| Oct. 21 | Phillies at Diamondbacks* | 8:07 p.m. | TBS | -- |
| Oct. 23 | Diamondbacks at Phillies* | 7:07 p.m. | TBS | -- |
| Oct. 24 | Diamondbacks at Phillies* | 8:07 p.m. | TBS | -- |
*If necessary
World Series schedule
| Date | Matchup | Start time (ET) | TV channel | Result |
| Oct. 27 | League Champ 2 at League Champ 1 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Oct. 28 | League Champ 2 at League Champ 1 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Oct. 30 | League Champ 1 at League Champ 2 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Oct. 31 | League Champ 1 at League Champ 2 | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Nov. 1 | League Champ 1 at League Champ 2* | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Nov. 3 | League Champ 2 at League Champ 1* | TBD | Fox | -- |
| Nov. 4 | League Champ 2 at League Champ 1* | TBD | Fox | -- |
*If necessary