Bryce Harper hit his fifth homer of the postseason, an eighth-inning two-run outburst that turned Citizens Bank Park into a madhouse, and the $330 million American slugger propelled the Philadelphia Phillies past the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday and into the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Rhys Hoskins also hit a two-run homer to spark Philadelphia’s unlikely run to the National League pennant and a shot at its first World Series championship since 2008.
Harper made the monumental feat of hitting baseball so easy in the playoffs and he easily delivered the biggest hit of his four-year career with the Phillies.
BRYCE HARPER ARE YOU SERIOUS? ! #Post-season pic.twitter.com/NKRTeNLJMl
—@MLB
JT Realmuto started the inning with lone reliever Robert Suarez and Harper fielded an opposing field 2-2, 98 mph into the left field seats as another sold-out crowd of 45,485 fans rocked the stadium.
“I knew he was coming with his heater,” the two-time NL MVP said in a TV interview. “I just tried to take the best swing possible and was able to do some damage with it.”
Left-hander Harper connected with a right-hander — the Padres had closer left-hander Josh Hader warming up in the bullpen, but didn’t bring him in.
Harper, who turned 30 last week, is batting 439 (18 for 41) with six doubles, five home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 11 postseason games. He hit 10 straight times and reached base 11 straight times.
And the fearsome designated hitter can keep those streaks alive when he plays in his first World Series.
“To some degree he’s been overlooked because of who he is and the star he is,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said before the game. “He’s a guy who’s a big star who delivers. I can’t say enough about that.”
Thomson, of Sarnia, Ont., led Philadelphia to a 65-46 regular season record after replacing Joe Girardi in June, propelling the club to its first playoff spot since 2011.
The 59-year-old is the first Canadian-born coach to lead an MLB team in the playoffs.
Thomson is the first full-time Canadian manager since George Gibson of London, Ont., managed the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934. Arthur Irwin of Toronto, who managed five teams between 1889 and 1899, is the only other Canadian to have held the position of full-time manager. administrator.
Thomson had been the Phillies bench coach since 2018 before being promoted to interim manager on June 3. He had the interim stripped of his title on October 10.
Rob. Thomson. What a story. 👏
Tom Verducci spoke with the @Phillies manager after picking up the NL pennant. pic.twitter.com/0A0A5jZ2ox
Philadelphia, get ready.
Harper, Hoskins & Crew come for a most unlikely World Series championship.
Houston held a 3-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Game 4 is underway in New York. The Fall Classic kicks off Friday night at the AL champion’s home.
Philadelphia finished third in the NL East at 87-75, 14 full games behind Atlanta 101 wins this season, and was the last Majors club to advance to the 12-team playoffs.
After a 2-0 sweep of NL champion Central St. Louis in MLB’s new round of wild cards, the Phillies needed just four games to eliminate defending World Series champions Atlanta.
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