Until they weren't. After going up 3-0 in the second inning, the Phillies' offense was wiped off the face of the map, and the bullpen couldn't keep up, allowing five unanswered runs to drop Game 1 to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-3.

There's a lot to criticize when it comes to Philadelphia's offensive performance in the series opener, but the most critical issue is the lack of presence from the top of the order. 

Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, the Phillies' one, two and three spot hitters, went a combined 1-11 on the night, with Turner reaching on a walk and Harper knocking the only hit for the trio in the eighth inning. 

Overall, Philadelphia struck out 12 times against Dodgers pitching in Game 1. Of those 12 strikeouts, Turner, Schwaber and Harper had six of them. With the mid-game injury to Harrison Bader, the Phillies' hottest bat heading into the postseason, Schwarber's complete absence from the offensive stat sheet is a major red flag for both Philadelphia fans and the team's management.

Additionally, the Phillies were 1-7 with runners in scoring position on the night. To that extent, three of the aforementioned runners left on base came in the eighth inning, when Philadelphia left the bases loaded, stomping on its only major scoring opportunity after the second frame.

With that in mind, the Phillies only had four other opportunities with runners in scoring position throughout the entire game, converting only once on a two-RBI triple by J.T. Realmuto in the second. The complete lack of production from all parts of Philadelphia's lineup is the key reason why it couldn't come back into Game 1.

With another day's break before action resumes with Game 2 on Monday, Oct. 6, the Phillies have a lot to work on during Sunday's batting practice. If the offense can't come into its own and start to produce the way they did prior to the end of the regular season, Philadelphia is in for a world of hurt against a star-studded Los Angeles starting pitching staff.