Rob Issa, FISM News
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Bryce Harper’s first swing in front of the home fans in the World Series left the ballpark sending the raucous crowd into a frenzy in the first inning.
More long balls followed turning Citizens Bank Park into a party zone. Harper’s blast was one of five home runs that powered Philadelphia’s offense to a Game 3 win.
Phillie pitchers had a strong outing on the rubber as well, scattering five hits to blank the Houston Astros 7-0 and take a 2-1 lead in the Series.
Game 4 is Wednesday night with Aaron Nola going for the Phillies and Christian Javier pitching for the Astros.
Harper, who sent the Phillies into the World Series for the first time in 13 years with a go-ahead homer in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series, connected off Lance McCullers Jr. in the first inning for a 2-0 lead.
Right field vantage point of Bryce Harper’s home run 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7t1228FGjz
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) November 2, 2022
It was the sixth postseason homer for Harper, who has a knack for delivering in the big moment.
“I’m just so focused on winning. I’m not focused on anything else besides that,” Harper said when asked about carving out a legacy. “Just having the opportunity to come in here and grateful for the opportunity to be here. Just grateful to be here with this team and this organization. I’m not really worried about anything else.”
Kyle Schwarber also hit a two-run homer and Rhys Hoskins, Alec Bohm, and Brandon Marsh added solo shots.
BALL GO BOOM pic.twitter.com/08JAy9Li2y
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) November 2, 2022
McCullers is the first pitcher to surrender five home runs in a postseason game.
“I don’t really get hit around like that, so I was a little bit in disbelief,” McCullers said. “I got whooped. End of story. This has nothing to do with tipping [pitches].”
Bohm’s drive was the 1,000th home run in World Series history. The five home runs by the Phillies tied a World Series record, which had only been accomplished three previous times — by the 1928 New York Yankees, the 1989 Oakland A’s, and the 2017 Astros.
“It was kind of mind-boggling because he doesn’t give up homers,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said.
Phillies starter Ranger Suarez tossed five shutout innings and four relievers each pitched a scoreless inning to complete the five-hitter.
“The sinker worked excellent. It had real good movement. My cutter and my changeup were really good, too,” Suarez said through a translator. “I induced a lot of grounders with those pitches. To touch on the fans, they were excellent tonight, as always. They definitely gave me a plus. They inject that energy that you don’t get anywhere else. So really the whole postseason they have been wonderful.”
Suarez is scheduled to pitch Game 7 if the series goes that far. Phillies manager Rob Thomson trusts the 27-year-old in the biggest games because he’s proven to be unflappable on the mound.
“Regardless of how the game is going you got to just keep your composure,” Suarez said. “That has helped me throughout the year. It has always helped me in my career. So it’s something that I do all the time.”
Fueled by the fans, Harper and the rest of the offense demonstrated a lot of excitement, especially when they’re bashing baseballs over the fences.
“Just walking into the ballpark, just being back home, I think is such a momentum swing for us just for the pure fact of our fan base,” Harper said. “We all come in here and we’re ready to go and we’re excited to get on the field because we know they’re going to show up and there’s going to be 46,0000 people here screaming and yelling and going crazy.”
This whole city is so excited to be in this moment and we’re just thrilled to be able to play in front of them and have this opportunity and just be here with them.”
Playing their first World Series game in Philadelphia since 2009, the Phillies brought back 2008 World Series heroes Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Shane Victorino, and Jayson Werth to catch first pitches thrown by Eagles star Brandon Graham and Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, Flyers Hall of Famer Bernie Parent and 76ers Hall of Famer Julius “Dr. J” Erving.
Harper, Schwarber, Suarez, and this 2022 edition of the Phillies are trying to etch their names alongside those legends, something they will do if they can muster two more wins.