(Philadelphia) Bryce Harper hit his fifth home run of the playoffs, a two-run hit in the eighth inning, and the slugger helped the Philadelphia Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 to advance to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Posted at 6:57 p.m.
Rhys Hoskins also barreled in a two-run long ball to help the Phillies win the National League title. They will try to win their first World Series since 2008.
In the playoffs, Harper made the monumental feat of hitting a baseball seem so easy. He scored his biggest slap in four years with the Phillies on Sunday.
JT Realmuto opened the inning with a single off reliever Robert Suarez and Harper then sent the ball into Citizens Bank Park in left field. The sold-out crowd of 45,485 supporters immediately became frantic.
Harper, a left-hander, homered against a right-hander — Padres left-hander Josh Hader was warming up in the bullpen, but didn’t make the entrance.
Phillies reliever David Robertson gave up after conceding two walks in the ninth. Ranger Suárez, making his first outing of the season as a reliever, retired Trent Grisham on a bunt, then Austin Nola – the brother of Phillies ace Aaron Nola – on a fly ball to end the game.
Harper, Hoskins and company will be looking for a most unlikely World Series title.
The Astros took a 3-0 lead over the New York Yankees in the American League Finals. Game 4 is Sunday night in New York. The World Series will begin Friday night at the home of the American champion.
Harper, who turned 30 last week, is batting .439 (18 hits in 41 at bats), hit six doubles, five home runs, drove in 11 runs and crossed home plate at 10 recoveries in 11 playoff games. He hit a hit in 10 straight games and reached bases in 11 straight games.
And the fearsome designated hitter will try to keep those offensive streaks alive when he hits his first World Series.
The Phillies finished third in the NL East Division with an 87-75 record, 14 fewer wins than the Atlanta Braves, who have won 101 games this season. It was the last Major League club to qualify for the 12-team playoffs.
After sweeping the National Central champion St. Louis Cardinals, the Phillies needed only four games to eliminate the defending World Series champion Braves.