D-Backs heading back to World Series...the Snakes are alive!

from the desk of Dan Price...a baseball fan

Arizona wins NLCS Game 7 in Philly, 4-2

Diamondbacks head for Arlington, Texas, and Game 1 of the World Series Friday night

Goodness gracious, the Diamondbacks are heading to the Fall Classic.

It is a team effort once again as Arizona takes it to the Phillies behind its young starter, Brandon Pfaadt, who pitched four innings while allowing two runs on four hits. He walked two and struck out seven.

Corbin Carroll, just 23 years old, led the way with three hits in four trips to the plate. He scored twice, knocked in two runs, and stole two bases.

Ketel Marte keeps on hitting. He only had one hit tonight, but he has recorded a hit in every postseason game he has ever played.

Gabby Moreno did his thing behind the plate and went 2 for 4 with a run-batted-in.

Christian Walker had a key walk and knocked in a run early on to get the Diamondbacks going.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went 2 for 4, Emmanuel Rivera had a hit and scored a run, while Geraldo Perdomo batted last in the lineup but came up big, going 2 for 3, and he scored a run.

And I haven't mentioned the bullpen yet!

Five relievers took the mound tonight. The result: No runs! One hit! Five innings of work in front of 50,000 screaming fans...most of them from Philadelphia. Joe Mantiply, Ryan Thompson, Andrew Saalfrank, Kevin Ginkel, and the closer Paul Seward. The Arizona bullpen has been on fire for months, and tonight was no exception.

Ginkel, the former Arizona Wildcat, was superb. He faced two batters in the 7th and three more in the eighth. He sent all five back to the dugout. Easy fly ball outs by Trea Turner and Bryce Harper in the seventh. In the eighth, he strikes out the side: Alec Bohm, Bryson Stott and J.T Realmuto! No runs, no hits, no errors. Perfection!

Could it get any better than that?

Yes!

Sewald toes the rubber, needing three outs to send the Phillies packing and send the Diamondbacks to their first World Series since 2001. The Phillies Nick Castellanos flew to right to Carroll for the first out, Brandon Marsh followed with a fly ball out to Gurriel in left field, and pinch-hitter Jake Cave hit a lazy fly ball to Carroll for the final out of the game.

And the celebration began! Not by the Philly fans, but by the Diamondbacks, on the infield, at the Citizens Bank Park.

The dream has come true.