By the seventh inning, Philadelphia had built a three-run lead after taking advantage of Arizona's bullpen moves.

According to the Associated Press (AP), the Phillies' bullpen collapse cost them a commanding lead in the NL Championship Series. 

The Phillies lost 6-5 to the Diamondbacks on Friday, tying the NLCS at two with a tying home run from pinch-hitter Alek Thomas into Chase Field's pool.

It happens when you fall behind counts and allow baserunners on," Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto observed. "They start feeling the crowd, the atmosphere." A night after striking out 13 times in a 2-1 defeat, the reigning NL champions looked to have the Diamondbacks right where they wanted them.

A solo home run by Kyle Schwarber and a run-scoring double by Brandon Marsh tied the game at 2. An infield single and error in the sixth led to two Phillies runs, and Trea Turner's sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 5-2. Everything fell apart after that.

After Orion Kerkering blew a 1-0 lead in Game 3, Phillies manager Rob Thomson came under fire.

In Game 4, Thomson sent Kerkering back out for another crucial situation, and he again struggled, walking two, including Christian Walker.

It has been a difficult couple of nights for him, but I still have faith in him," Thomson said. I'm not sure if he got sped up or not. There were a few others as well."

Thomson summoned Kimbrel instead of waiting for the ninth inning as his team led 5-3.

In the ninth inning, Kimbrel gave up the game-winning hit to Ketel Marte after struggling with his control during the regular season.

It was again difficult for the right-hander to locate his pitches in Game 4.

Thomas followed Gurriel Jr.'s double with a two-run homer to tie it 5-all in the eighth. Gabriel Moreno's single off José Alvarado drove in the go-ahead run after Kimbrel gave up a two-out single to Marte and hit Corbin Carroll with a pitch.

Kimbrel said the last two games were awful. In the end, it cost us two games. On the bright side, we are still tied 2-2."

Throughout the season, Philadelphia's relievers had been sharp.

Over the first two NLCS games against Arizona, they allowed two runs in four innings, compiling a 1.26 ERA.

Over the final 1 2/3 innings of Game 4, Gregory Soto, Kerkering, Kimbrel and Alvarado combined to throw strikes on only 25 of 54 pitches.

Thomson said, "We need to throw strikes.". "They have great stuff. They just have to throw it to the zone."

In the ninth, Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald shut the Phillies out, leaving them looking for answers heading into Saturday's Game 5.

On Monday, Game 6 in the best-of-seven series will be played in Philadelphia.