Arizona Diamondbacks' Youngster Alek Thomas in Elite Club in Playoff Lore After Game-Tying Home Run

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Brady Farkas | Last updated 10/21/23

The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night 6-5 to even the NLCS at two games apiece.

Each team is now two wins away from clinching a spot in the World Series while each team is also two losses away from being eliminated.

There were several key moments in Friday's game, but none were bigger than the game-tying two-run home run by Diamondbacks' outfielder Alek Thomas.

Hitting against future Hall of Famer Craig Kimbrel in the bottom of the eighth inning, Thomas took a fastball out to deep right center field, turning a 5-3 deficit into a 5-5 tie. The D'Backs later scored in the inning on a go-ahead single by Gabriel Moreno.

Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com:

at 23 years & 175 days old, Alek Thomas is the 4th-youngest player in postseason history with a pinch-hit HR, older than only:

2019 NLDS G1 Gavin Lux: 21 y, 314 d

2014 NLCS G2 Oscar Taveras: 22 y, 115 d

1947 WS G3 Yogi Berra: 22 y, 143 d

at 23 years & 175 days old, Alek Thomas is the 4th-youngest player in postseason history with a pinch-hit HR, older than only:

2019 NLDS G1 Gavin Lux: 21 y, 314 d
2014 NLCS G2 Oscar Taveras: 22 y, 115 d
1947 WS G3 Yogi Berra: 22 y, 143 d https://t.co/VLAVf0ka7e
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 21, 2023

It was an incredible moment for Thomas, who now has three home runs this postseason to go along with a .192 average.

In 374 at-bats this regular season, Thomas hit .230 with nine homers and 39 RBI. He also stole nine bases.

Lifetime, he's a .230 hitter with 17 homers and 78 RBI.

Game 5 of the series is set for Saturday night at Chase Field in Phoenix. First pitch is set for 8:07 p.m. ET and then the series shifts back to Citizens Bank Park for Game 6.

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

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