Photo essay: Phillies fans pack Citizens Bank Park for NLCS — with an eye on Game 7

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The Philadelphia Phillies remain one game away from their second-straight World Series appearance and tens of thousands of fans packed Citizens Bank Park Monday to see them take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The National League Championship Series will continue Tuesday after the Diamondbacks beat the Phillies Monday night, forcing Game 7. The winner of the series will advance to the World Series, which is set to begin Friday.

Fans tailgated hours ahead of Game 6 of the NLCS.

Taurean LaCour has been a Phillies fan since he was 6 years old. He said the 2008 World Series will always have a special place in his heart but he’s enjoying what this team brought to the table.

“It’s different,” LaCour said. “’08 team probably got most of my favorite Phillies’ of all time … That team had mad camaraderie, they all came up together. This one was put together, but it was put together right. We got Bryce, we got Schwarbomb, we got the pitching.”

Another lifelong fan, Kathy Winkis was also tailgating with her family ahead of Monday’s game. She said the current team has a quality that is bringing together a lot of people in the city.

“Even if you’re not a fan, because I know a lot who are just watching it, but they want to be a fan … which I think is great,” Winkis said. “Bring on more people —  the more, the merrier.”

The Phillies have won 70% of their playoff games played at home since 2004, the best of any MLB team.

On this same day last year, the Phillies defeated the San Diego Padres to win the NL Pennant.

Game 7 will be played at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday at 8:07 p.m.

Editor’s note: The Associated Press and 6abc contributed to this report.