Both teams came into Game 4 of the NLCS not necessarily knowing what they'd get out of their starting pitchers, but they thought they'd get more than what they did. The Phillies went with a bullpen game, tabbing reliever Bailey Falter to start the game. Falter retired the first two batters he faced, but then allowed a solo homer to Manny Machado, a single to Josh Bell, and issued a walk to Jake Cronenworth before serving up a 2-run double to Brandon Drury, which would be the final batter he faced. Ha-Seong Kim's RBI-single put the Padres on top 4-0 after the 1st inning.
The Phillies responded with 3 runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, as Rhys Hoskins hit a 2-run homer and Bryce Harper delivered an RBI-double. Mike Clevinger failed to record an out in the 1st inning, and Nick Martinez was called upon to protect what was a 1-run lead all of a sudden. Martinez got out of the jam, and would end up firing 3 perfect innings in relief of Clevinger.
Sean Manaea began the 4th inning, making his first postseason appearance thus far for the Padres. He allowed a game-tying RBI-single to Bryson Stott, resetting the ball game. Juan Soto's 2-run blast in the 5th inning put the Padres back on top, until Rhys Hoskins answered back with a 2-run shot of his own, his second 2-run homer of the game, in the bottom half of the frame. Bryce Harper followed that up with his second RBI-double, giving the Phillies their first lead of the game. Nick Castellanos' RBI-single would give the Phillies an 8-6 lead through 5. Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto would each add solo homers, putting the Phillies up 10-6. The Padres will send Yu Darvish to the mound with their season on the line on Sunday.
