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Craig Kimbrel reacts after poor outing in walk-off Game 3 loss
Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel. Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Craig Kimbrel reacts after poor outing in walk-off Game 3 loss to Diamondbacks

The Philadelphia Phillies dropped Game 3 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday, 2-1, to the Arizona Diamondbacks, thanks to a walk-off bases-loaded single in the ninth inning by second baseman Ketel Marte. 

After the tough loss, which cut the Phillies lead in the series to 2-1, the man partly responsible reacted. Speaking with reporters after the game, Phillies reliever Craig Kimbrel simply summed up his poor outing. 

"Some days you get them, and some days you don't," Kimbrel said via NBC Sports Philadelphia. "Today just wasn't my day." 

Tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Kimbrel took over for the Phils and immediately walked the first batter he faced, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Following an infield single by pinch-hitter Pavin Smith, the pressure was admittedly on Kimbrel. After getting third baseman Emmanuel Rivera to roll over into a fielder's choice, Kimbrel walked shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, juicing the bases before allowing Marte's game-winning single. 

While blaming Kimbrel for coming up small in the clutch might be easy, the Phillies offense shouldn't get let off the hook. After scoring 15 runs off 20 hits over the first two games of the NLCS, the Phillies bats were silenced by starter Brandon Pfaadt and a standout performance from the Diamondbacks bullpen. The Phillies were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and managed only three hits on the day. Their only run came off a wild pitch. 

Still up 2-1 in the series, the Phillies will give the ball to Cristopher Sanchez for Game 4 on Friday, while reliever Joe Mantiply will take the hill for the Diamondbacks. 

When asked how the Phillies will shake off the Game 3 loss, Kimbrel said matter of factly, "We have no choice." 

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