Diamondbacks’ Torey Lovullo: ‘We didn’t come cross-country to get our [butts] kicked’

The Phillies have won 11 straight postseason games at home against NL opponents, but the Arizona manager says his team “came here to play our best baseball game.”

Manager Torey Lovullo says his team hasn't "necessarily played D’back baseball over the course of these first five games."Read moreYong Kim / Staff Photographer

by Matt Breen

Published Oct. 23, 2023, 3:05 p.m. ET

The Diamondbacks were outscored by 12 runs in the first two games of the National League Championship Series against the Phillies and flew home to Arizona after an embarrassing 10-0 loss in Game 2 at Citizens Bank Park. They were punched in the mouth, pitcher Zac Gallen said.

The Phillies have won 11 straight postseason games at home against National League opponents and enter Game 6 as heavy betting favorites to clinch the pennant on Monday night. But the Diamondbacks, who showed some resolve last week at Chase Field, insist they aren’t coming to roll over.

”We have that all-in mentality. We didn’t come cross-country to get our [butts] kicked,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “We came here to play our best baseball game, and our guys will be ready to go.”

The Diamondbacks stole the second-most bases in the majors this season, playing an aggressive style that the team refers to as “chaos.” But they attempted just one steal in the first five games of the series after attempting six in three games against the Dodgers during the NLDS. They could lean into that “chaos” on Monday as they try to stay alive.

”We haven’t necessarily played D’back baseball over the course of these first five games,” Lovullo said. “It’s one hit, one moment, one stolen base, one aggressive behavior that could lead us down the right road, so that’s what we’re waiting to do. That’s what we’ve been waiting to do. We’ve been talking about it. We can’t force it. We can’t run into outs. You have to be smart about it.

”The offensive part of it goes hand in hand with what you’re going to do on the bases. You have to get on base, No. 1. Once you’re there, you have to be patient as a hitter, No. 2. Then No. 3, that pitcher is going to change his delivery to get the ball to home plate. You have to be ready to jump on mistakes.”