Watch: Alek Thomas hits game-tying homer into stadium pool

Arizona Diamondbacks OF Alek Thomas Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Alek Thomas splashes game-tying homer into stadium pool

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Renzo Pocholo Salao | Last updated 10/21/23

Alek Thomas cemented his status in Arizona Diamondbacks postseason lore in Game 4 of the NLCS on Friday night.

The D-Backs trailed 5-3 and had one aboard as Thomas stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning. The 23-year-old outfielder worked a full count on five pitches and then put a charge into Phillies reliever Craig Kimbrel’s sixth pitch.

Kimbrel’s 94 mph fastball soon found itself in the bottom of the D-Backs pool past the right field wall at Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz.. 5-5 all.

ALEK THOMAS INTO THE POOL TO TIE IT! pic.twitter.com/aecJYMF0Il

— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 21, 2023

Thomas’ homer eventually led to the go-ahead RBI single from Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno later in the inning. Moreno drove in Ketel Marte to seal Arizona’s 6-5 comeback win.

Thomas became just the 9th player in MLB postseason history to record a game-tying, pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning or later. The second-year Diamondback is the youngest player on the list.

The win is the Arizona's second in a row at the hands of Kimbrel. Arizona also scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the 35-year-old closer in their Game 3 victory. The NLCS is now tied 2-2.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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