Phillies Twitter Celebrates JT Realmuto After Winning HR in World Series Game 1
Oct 29, 2022
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 28: J.T. Realmuto #10 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a home run in the 10th inning against the Houston Astros in Game One of the 2022 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies miraculous postseason continued Friday night with a 6-5 extra-innings win over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park.
Down 5-0 after three innings because of a shaky start from Aaron Nola, the Phillies rallied to score five runs over the fourth and fifth innings to tie the game 5-5 before J.T. Realmuto hit the game-winning home run in the top of the 10th inning.
Phillies take the lead in the 10th đ„ @BRWalkoff
Realmuto had an impressive night, posting two hits in four at-bats, in addition to driving in three runs. Third baseman Alec Bohm and right fielder Nick Castellanos combined to drive in the team's other three runs.
Philly's rally wasn't what sparked Twitter, though. It was Realmuto's game-winning 10th inning blast that sent fans into a frenzy, and rightfully so.
Down in Florida for my sisterâs wedding tomorrow, my family and I found a sports bar to watch the Phillies game - just screaming during the Realmuto homer and final out, surrounded by perplexed Floridians.
Will never forget that game. Three more to go. Go Phils
Friday's victory was huge for the Phillies, and they are not just three wins away from claiming their first World Series title since 2008. However, there's still plenty of baseball left to be played, and the Astros certainly aren't going to go down without a fight.
Game 2 of the World Series is set for Saturday night at Minute Maid Park before the series shifts to Citizens Bank Park for Game 3 on Monday.
Justin Verlander Criticized by MLB Twitter After Astros' Game 1 World Series Loss
Oct 29, 2022
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 28: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros pitches during Game 1 of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Friday, October 28, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Houston Astros held a 5-0 lead after three innings, but the visiting Philadelphia Phillies scored three in the fourth and two in the fifth before taking the lead for good in the 10th off a J.T. Realmuto homer for the 6-5 victory in Game 1 of the World Series from Minute Maid Park.
Everything was going right for Houston through three innings. Staff ace and likely American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander was perfect through nine batters. Kyle Tucker hit a pair of homers, and Martin Maldonado executed an RBI single on a hit-and-run.
Verlander had a chance earlier in the inning to finish the Phils off on a double play after nearly snagging a Realmuto line-drive comebacker with one out and Rhys Hoskins on first, but he had to settle for the lone out on the force.
The fifth inning was not kind to Verlander, either, as Realmuto got back up to the dish and smacked a two-RBI double to tie the game.
For the night, Verlander threw five innings and allowed six hits, five earned runs and two walks while striking out five.
The two teams went scoreless for the next four frames before Realmuto took Luis Garcia deep. Houston got runners on second and third with two out in the bottom half of the 10th, but David Robertson got Aledmys Diaz to ground out to end the game.
The story of the day was Verlander, a surefire Hall of Famer and superstar pitcher who continues to have trouble in the World Series. It appeared that narrative would be chucked in the trash through three innings, but the story remains the same after the star struggled again.
No matter what happens in this game the top story is that Justin Verlander, who needed a World Series with in the worst way, gave up a 5-0 lead, quickly. Teammates going to need to hold him down like Game 1 of ALDS. #WorldSeries#LevelUp
This collapse is on Dusty Baker. Should have pulled Verlander before he blew the 5-0 lead and let the Phillies tie it. A terrible two innings by Verlander. Bad decision by Baker.
Game 2 of the World Series will occur Saturday in Houston at 8:03 p.m. ET. Zack Wheeler will take the mound for Philadelphia, and Framber Valdez will do the same for Houston.
Report: Bryce Harper Trade Package Offered by Astros to Nationals in 2018 Revealed
Oct 27, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 23: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after the Phillies took Game 5 and won the NLCS against the San Diego Padres at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, October 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Houston Astros once confirmed that they had a deal in place to acquire then-Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper in 2018 but that it did not go through.
The details of the trade had not been publicly revealed until Thursday, when Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reported that the Astros would have dealt infielders Abraham Toro and Randy Cesar, right-handed pitchers Josh James and J.B. Bukauskas and left-handed pitcher Kent Emanuel.
Harper was in his walk year with the Nats in 2018 and eventually left town for the Philadelphia Phillies on a 13-year, $330 million contract. He and the Phils will be playing the Astros in the World Series starting Friday.
Ultimately, the Astros failed to land Harper because Nationals owner Ted Lerner did not agree to the trade, per Rome. The parameters had been agreed upon by then-Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow and Nats general manager Mike Rizzo.
As far as the prospects go, Toro is currently in the big leagues with the Seattle Mariners. He hit .185 alongside 10 home runs and 35 RBI in 109 games this season. J.B. Bukauskas had a 7.79 ERA in 21 games as a reliever for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2021.
The Nationals ended up doing well for themselves by winning the World Series in 2019. They are currently in a massive rebuilding phase, however, with an eye toward rebuilding the farm system and competing in the future.
Harper and the Phillies are looking for the team's first World Series since 2008 and third overall. Game 1 is Friday in Houston.
Phillies' Citizens Bank Park World Series Tickets Selling for Average of Over $3,200
Oct 26, 2022
Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suarez and catcher J.T. Realmuto celebrate after winning the baseball NL Championship Series against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The average cost for a World Series ticket to watch the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies play in Citizens Bank Park is over $3,200, per Molly McVety of the News Journal.
The Phillies will host the Astros for Games 3, 4 and 5 (if necessary) in the best-of-seven series at that stadium.
The first game at Citizens Bank Park will go down Monday evening before Game 4 on Tuesday and then Game 5 if needed Wednesday.
Houston is hosting Philadelphia for Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday, respectively in Minute Maid Park. Games 6 and 7, if needed, will occur Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5.
Houston home game ticket prices average around $1,500, per McVety, who provided more information on the cost it takes to watch the Fall Classic in person in Philadelphia:
"Philadelphiaâs first home game will be played on Halloween night. The cheapest prices for two standing-room tickets are just under $1,000 on ticket resale website Stubhub. Lower-level tickets above the Philliesâ dugout are selling for around $4,000 on the same site. And one pair of Diamond Club tickets are selling for $17,100 each."
The Phillies are in the World Series for the first time since 2009 when they fell to the New York Yankees in six games.
The year before, Philadelphia defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their second-ever World Series.
Houston is in the World Series for the fourth time since 2017. The Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers that year but fell to the Washington Nationals in 2019 and the Atlanta Braves in 2021.
Aaron Nola Named Phillies' World Series Game 1 Starter over Zack Wheeler
Oct 25, 2022
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 19: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres in game two of the National League Championship Series at PETCO Park on October 19, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Houston Astros and Zack Wheeler will get the nod in Game 2, Phillies manager Rob Thomson told reporters Wednesday.
Thomson appeared on the 94WIPMidday Show on Tuesday and said he was leaning toward starting Nola in Game 1 on Friday.
Wheeler, 32, has been absolutely lights-out in his four postseason appearances, posting a 1.78 ERA in 25.1 innings with 25 strikeouts. In two starts against the San Diego Padres in the NLCS, he held the team's dangerous lineup to four hits and two runs, striking out 16 across both wins.
Nola, 29, has been excellent himself this postseason, posting a 3.12 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 17.1 innings. Those numbers were hurt by a tough start against the Padres in Game 2, when he gave up six runs, but in his wild-card round and NLDS starts, he gave up just nine hits and a run while striking out 12 batters in 12.2 innings.
While Houston was fantastic all season long, earning the top seed in the American League after a 106-win season, the Phillies were the final team to get into the postseason in the National League, winning 87 games in the regular season.
It's the ultimate front-runner vs. underdog matchup, and both Wheeler and Nola will have a major say in how it unfolds.
The last fewWorld Serieshave come out of the gates with tremendous pitching matchups. A year ago, Clayton...
Phillies Fans Climb Greased Light Poles After PHI Advance to 2022 World Series
Oct 23, 2022
Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper rounds the bases after a two-run home run during the eighth inning in Game 5 of the baseball NL Championship Series between the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
It's a tradition quite literally unlike any other: Philadelphia fans climbingâor attempting to climbâup greased light poles in South Philly after a huge win for one of the city's major sports franchises.
So when the Phillies clinched a World Series berth with Sunday's 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres, thanks to a Bryce Harper two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning that will live on in Philly sports history forever, you can bet the poles were being summited on the streets:
Sunday was a rainy day in Philadelphia, so it's possible some of that grease had washed away. Not that a wet light pole would be easy to climb.
But if you've ever met a joyous (and likely intoxicated) Philadelphia sports fan, you know that a little bit of adversity isn't going to get in the way of a good, dumb time. The City of Brotherly Love is partying on Sunday.
Phillies Twitter Hyped After PHI Makes Franchise-Record Comeback vs. Padres in Game 4
Oct 23, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 22: Rhys Hoskins #17 and Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after scoring on Hoskins two-run home run in the first inning of Game 4 of the NLCS between the San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday, October 22, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia Phillies are one win away from the World Series after outlasting the San Diego Padres, 10-6, in a slugfest in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
Philadelphia tied a franchise record for the largest playoff comeback after trailing 4-0.
the Phillies entered today 2-21 when trailing by 4+ in their postseason history
the 2 comeback wins, each of which came after trailing by exactly 4 runs:
San Diego landed the first haymaker with four runs, all with two outs, in the top of the first inning. Phillies starter Bailey Falter was pulled after Brandon Drury doubled to make it a 3-0 game.
Going into the bottom of the first trailing 4-0, the Phillies wasted no time attacking Padres starter Mike Clevinger. They scored three runs after four hitters to knock Clevinger out of the game without recording an out.
The combined pitching line for tonight's starters with Falter and Clevinger: .2 innings 6 hits 7 runs 5 walks 39 pitches
Both bullpens did settle into a good rhythm for a bit. They traded zeroes in the second and third innings before Bryson Stott's RBI single in the bottom of the fourth tied the game at four.
The Padres responded in the top of the fifth when Juan Soto hit a two-run homer off Brad Hand.
San Diego's lead was shortlived after Rhys Hoskins tied the game with a two-run blast off Sean Manaea that also inspired an instantly iconic Philadelphia image.
The Phillies added two more runs in the inning on a Bryce Harper double and Nick Castellanos single to take their first lead of the game. They padded their advantage with solo homers by Kyle Schwarber in the sixth and J.T. Realmuto in the seventh.
Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper just doing a ton at the plate right now. All three are locked in. This place has come to expect big moment after big moment.
After another memorable postseason performance that gave the Phillies an opportunity to clinch a berth in the World Series in front of their home crowd, Philadelphia fans were understandably fired up.
The Phillies' bullpen went 8â innings tonight, allowed 2 runs and put 6 men on base in relief of Bailey Falter tonight. That's without Dominguez & Alvarado.
Big-time effort. The Phillies are 4-0 this postseason in games *not* started by Wheeler and Nola.
the sports bar across the street from me is singing âDancing On My Ownâ in unison and I assume this means the Phillies won but WHy is this their anthem
(Iâm just confused and also tearing up a lil bit)
The Phillies were the final team to clinch a playoff berth this season. They didn't lock up the third NL wild-card spot until Oct. 3, two days before the end of the regular season. Their 87-75 record was the worst of the 12 teams that made the field.
Since the start of the playoffs, though, the Phillies have been red hot. They swept the St. Louis Cardinals in the wild-card round and needed four games in the NLDS to eliminate the defending World Series champion Atlanta Braves.
Saturday's win was a different type of performance than the Phillies have had, but the end result was the same as it has been for most of the playoffs. Their 10 runs were the most by a Philadelphia team in the postseason since Game 1 of the 2011 NLDS (11).
Sunday will feature the aces for both teams dueling it out. Yu Darvish gets the nod looking to get the Padres back to San Diego for Game 6. Zack Wheeler will get the start with a chance to send the Phillies to their first Fall Classic since 2009.
Game 5 will begin at 2:37 p.m. ET from Citizens Bank Park.
Phillies Twitter Celebrates Jean Segura's 'Roller-Coaster' Game 3 in Win over Padres
Oct 22, 2022
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 21: Jean Segura #2 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates after hitting a two-run RBI single during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres in game three of the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 21, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Jean Segura had a roller-coaster performance Friday, but in the end, he catapulted his team to a 4-2 win over the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series.
Segura had an adventurous day at the dish and in the field at Citizens Bank Park, to the point where there was only one way to sum up the outing:
The positive vibes from that play briefly withered away in the fourth, however.
The Padres had runners on the corners with one out and were down 1-0 when Jake Cronenworth hit a double-play ball to shortstop Bryson Stott, who tossed the ball to Segura at second. But Segura dropped the ball, a run scored and Philadelphia found itself in trouble.
The second RBI ended up being the difference. Unfortunately for Segura, he was promptly picked off first.
The second baseman got a chance to flash the leather in the sixth and seventh, though, to make his previous error an afterthought.
The Padres put runners on the corners with one out down 3-2 and Josh Bell up. A ground ball found Segura, and he promptly started a 4-6-3 double play to end the potential rally.
Game 4 will go down Saturday in Philadelphia at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Edwin Diaz Rumors: Mets Closer Looking to 'Break New Ground' with Free-Agent Contract
Oct 21, 2022
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 07: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets speaks to the media before game one of the NL Wild Card Series against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field on October 07, 2022 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Padres defeated the Mets 7-1. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Coming off a stellar 2022 season, New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz is reportedly hoping to land a game-changing contract when free agency opens.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports that Diaz is looking to reset the market for closers with a record-breaking deal.
"Word is heâs looking to 'break new ground' off his amazing season, and presumably that means higher than Liam Hendriksâ record $18 million closer salary, which seems likely," Heyman wrote. "The Mets understandably do have him as a priority among their seven outstanding free agents."
Diaz established himself as one of the best closers in the majors this season with 32 saves, a 1.31 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP and 118 strikeouts in 62.0 innings pitched. He gained popularity this season from his signature walkout song.
Heyman noted that Diaz could benefit from a thin closer market, as Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen is the only proven veteran expected to be available on the open market this year. He also listed Diaz as the top priority for the Mets in free agency, over the likes of starting pitchers Jacob deGrom, Chris Bassitt and Taijuan Walker.
Last month, ESPN's Jeff Passan said on The Pat McAfee Show that Diaz could "become the first 100-million-dollar closer." He noted that the 28-year-old is a marketable star who can increase interest from fans.
"I think part of it [is] when you factor in, if you're a baseball team, the idea that you can market your closer, that you can market the ninth inning as something that everybody wants to watch," Passan said. "I want someone to come up with an app that says, 'The closer is coming in right now, I want to watch him shove for one inning.'"
The Mets had a strong regular season but fell short of their title aspirations when the San Diego Padres bounced them in the National League Wild Card round. Retaining Diaz would go a long way to ensuring the team is back in position to aim for a better finish next season.
