PHILADELPHIA (KGTV) — Two-time MVP Bryce Harper ended the Padres' World Series dreams Sunday.
In the bottom of the eighth, he hit a two-run bomb into left centerfield to take a 4-3 lead, essentially securing the NL Pennant for the Phillies.
Philadelphia scored first in this outing as Rhys Hoskins hit a 2-run homer off of Yu Darvish in the third inning.
Hoskins has been on an absolute tear these playoffs — hitting four of his five postseason home runs in this series alone.
Juan Soto responded with a dinger of his own in the top of the fourth, his second of the postseason after he ended his 13-game home run drought in Game 4. Neither team scored again until the top of the seventh, when the continuous downpour made conditions especially wet on the field.
Josh Bell hit an RBI-double that frame to tie the game at 2-2. Jake Cronenworth was in scoring position after he advanced to second off a wild pitch following his single to get on base. Jose Azocar checked in as a pinch runner for Bell, and his speed paid off big time.
Pitcher Seranthony Dominguez threw two more wild pitches, leading to Azocar crossing home plate and taking the lead for San Diego.
Robert Suarez came out of the bullpen for Darvish in the seventh after a Bryson Stott double. He retired three of the next four batters to get out of the inning, maintaining the 3-2 lead.
Phillies pitcher Jose Alvarado took over for Dominguez to open the eighth frame, and he managed to escape the inning as two Padres were on base with two outs remaining.
Bryce Harper came up clutch for the Phillies in the eighth, taking the lead and creating his postseason legacy with a two-run bomb to left centerfield.
Wil Myers was struck out by Phillies closer David Robertson to open the ninth, but Robertson walked the next two batters. The Phillies subbed in starting pitcher Ranger Suarez in a last-ditch effort to seal the deal.
Trent Grisham laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners to second and third, but also recording the second out for the Padres.
Austin Nola proceeded to hit a flyout on the next at-bat, ending the game and the Padres' unexpected playoff run.
Philadelphia will play the winner of the ALCS, which the Astros currently lead 3-0 over the Yankees, in the World Series beginning Friday, Oct. 28.
At the end of the day, the Padres far exceeded expectations. They caught lightning in a bottle with this postseason run -- eliminating the 100+ win Mets and Dodgers along the way.
Hopefully, newfound confidence created by playoff experience will carry the momentum from this Cinderella run into 2023.
