(Philadelphia) Bryce Harper hit an early two-run homer and the Philadelphia Phillies raced to a 7-0 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, taking a 2-1 World Series lead.
Updated yesterday at 11:35 p.m.
Harper sent the ball past right field in the first inning after Kyle Schwarber walked.
The hitter of choice, Harper is already six long balls in the current series.
Houston threatened in the second inning, putting runners on the ends — the result of singles earned after two outs.
Ranger Suarez, however, got his people out of trouble by removing Chas McCormick at bat, on decision.
In the second round at the Phillies plate, Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh added solo home runs.
Bohm’s was the 1000e four-goal hit in World Series history.
Cy Young allowed the first homer in the Fall Classic in 1903—an infield hit by Jimmy Sebring of the Pittsburgh Pirates against the Boston Americans.
The Astros also left two runners on base in the fifth, where their last out was a flyout by Jose Altuve at first base.
Suarez gave up just three singles in five innings, striking out four batters.
Four relievers completed the job, allowing only two more hits.
Lance McCullers allowed seven runs and six hits in four and a third innings.
He became the first pitcher to give up five homers in a World Series game.
“I’m not used to being pushed around like this,” McCullers said. I couldn’t quite believe it. »
The crowd favorites stunned the opponent with three runs in the fifth, via two more homers.
After a single from Marsh, Schwarber slammed a ball well past center field, then Rhys Hoskins landed a cannonball as well.
Right fielder, Nick Castellanos made a nice sliding play to catch a fly ball from the very first batter of the game, Altuve.
Bohm drove in two runs in the World Series curtain raiser on Friday. The Phillies won that game 6-5 in 10 innings.
The Astros won 5-2 on Saturday, tying the series.
Games 4 and 5 are Wednesday and Thursday, also at Citizens Bank Park (where the Phillies are 6-0 in the playoffs).
“It’s simple: our fans give us wings,” Harper said.
On Wednesday, the starting pitchers will be Christian Javier for the Astros and Aaron Nola for the Phillies.
Grand champions in 2017, the Astros are in the final stage for the fourth time in six years, the second time in a row with Baker as manager. Atlanta won in six games in 2021.
The Phillies won the World Series in 1980 and 2008.
A native of Sarnia, Ont., manager Rob Thomson took over the helm after Joe Girardi was fired on June 3.
He’s looking to join Bob Lemon (Yankees, 1978) and Jack McKeon (Marlins, 2003) as the only managers hired in the middle of a season to go on to triumph in the World Series.
Thomson is the first Canadian to lead a team in this prestigious showcase.
Mike Schmidt, Julius Erving, Brandon Graham and Bernard Parent made ceremonial pitches to Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Jayson Werth and Shane Victorino, members of the 2008 champion Phillies.