World Series score: Phillies pass Astros in Game 3 as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber lead home run barrage

Game 3 was worth the wait for the Philadelphia Phillies. After rain forced the postponement of Game 3 on Monday, the Phillies and Houston Astros were able to continue the World Series Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park, and the Phillies hit five home runs for a 7-0 win. the box). They lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. A championship is two wins for Philadelphia.

Remarkably, the Phillies didn’t take to bat with a runner in scoring position until the sixth inning, having already taken a 7-0 lead. Bryce Harper opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the first, and the Phillies continued to build up against Lance McCullers Jr. from there. The Phillies are a perfect 6-0 at home in the playoffs.

Here are some takeaways from Game 3 of the World Series.

1. Harper gave the Phillies the edge (again)

Before Game 3, the last pitch Harper saw at Citizens Bank Park navigated the left-field wall for a two-run home run in the eighth inning of NLCS Game 5. It was a pennant winning home run. And on the first pitch Harper saw in Game 3, he hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the right field seats. Homers on consecutive home pitches.

McCullers’ reaction tells you everything you need to know:

“I’m just trying to get a good shot over the plate,” Harper said during a dugout interview with Fox (video). “We faced (McCullers) at the end of the year and we saw it well. They’re a good team there, so being able to strike first is huge.”

The home run was Harper’s sixth in the playoffs and his fourth home run in October. Only Albert Pujols has hit more game-breaking home runs in a single postseason. He had five in 2004. The Astros did well to limit Harper in Games 1 and 2 (2 for 8 with two singles and a walk), but it was only a matter of time before he take one of those game-changing shots. It happened at the start of Game 3.

2. Bohm hit a home run

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 1,000th home run in World Series history. Alec Bohm did the honours:

The first home run in World Series history was hit in Game 1 of the 1903 World Series, when Jimmy Sebring of the Pittsburgh Pirates took Cy Young of the Boston Americans deep. Cy Young, huh? Couldn’t get more brand names than that. Tuesday’s Game 3 was the first time in World Series history that a team had hit three homers in the first two innings, if you can believe it.

It should be noted that prior to Bohm’s presence at bat, Harper called him to the dugout railing to impart some wisdom. Bohm wouldn’t reveal what Harper told him in an interview (why would he?), but Bryce has a reputation as one of the best in the game at picking up the intricacies in the delivery of… a launcher. Is it possible McCullers tipped his throws in Game 3?

3. McCullers had a bad night historically

The Phillies were far from done after Harper and Bohm hit their home runs. Brandon Marsh (solo), Kyle Schwarber (two runs) and Rhys Hoskins (solo) all pushed McCullers deep later in the game to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead. McCullers is the first pitcher in history to allow five home runs in a World Series game. Here’s the circuit assault that put the game out of reach:

McCullers had never allowed more than three home runs in a game in his career before Game 3. The Philadelphia left-handed hitters saw 34 pitches from Houston’s right-hander, hit three home runs and only swung and missed once. The Phillies are the second team to have five different players in a World Series game, joining the Astros in 2017 (Game 5).

To be fair to McCullers, he probably shouldn’t have been in the game in the fifth inning, and certainly not after Marsh hit a one-out single. He had crossed the lineout twice, appeared shaky most of the night, and the Astros were still very much in the game with a 4-0 record. McCullers stayed inside, Schwarber and Hoskins hit back-to-back bombs and suddenly the game was out of reach.

4. Suarez was excellent

Ranger Suárez’s performance should not be forgotten amid the barrage of home runs. The 27-year-old southpaw went five innings against the mighty Astros and only allowed four of the 19 batters he faced to hit the ball out of the infield (only three on the fly). Seven strikeouts, four strikeouts, four singles and one walk allowed.

Houston has two pick opportunities against Suárez. They put runners in the corners with two outs in the second inning, but Suárez froze Chas McCormick for the third strike. They then put the runners in first and second with two outs in the fifth, but Jose Altuve got stuck and popped up four territories. Suárez was cool, calm and collected, and got big strikeouts when needed.

Once Schwarber and Hoskins opened the game in the fifth inning, Phillies manager Rob Thomson was able to turn to his second-tier relievers for the win. Connor Brogdon got the sixth run, Kyle Gibson got the seventh, Nick Nelson got the eighth and Andrew Bellatti got the ninth. José Alvarado and Seranthony Domínguez (along with Zack Eflin and David Robertson) have taken time off and will be well rested for Games 4 and 5. It’s a win within a win. A first victory.

5. The Phillies dominated at home

The Fightin’ Phils are now a perfect 6-0 at Citizens Bank Park in October and they outscored their opponents 17-6 — 17-6! — in all six games. No team had ever hit more than 15 home runs in six home games in a single postseason before these 2022 Phillies. How about that? The Phillies have outscored opponents 42-15 in their six playoff home games. 42 is the headliner, but 15 equals 2.50 points allowed per game. It’s excellent.

6. See You Next

Game 4. Historically, when a best of seven is tied 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has won the series 69% of the time. This is good news for the Phillies. Game 4 takes place on Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park. Game 1 starter Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25 ERA) and right-hander Cristian Javier (11-9, 2.94 ERA) are the scheduled starting pitchers.