Philadelphia Phillies reach the World Series – and a Canadian leads it | CBC sport

Bryce Harper hit his fifth homer of the postseason, a two-run blast in the eighth inning that turned Citizens Bank Park into a madhouse, and the $330 million slugger powered the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 to the San on Sunday Diego Padres over and into the World Series for the first time since 2009.

Rhys Hoskins also hit a two-run homer to set off Philadelphia’s unlikely run to the National League pennant and a shot at its first World Series championship since 2008.

Harper made the monumental feat of hitting a baseball look so easy in the postseason, and he delivered by far the biggest hit of his four-year Phillies career.

JT Realmuto started the inning with a single off reliever Robert Suarez and Harper lined a 2-2, 98 mph sinker down left field as another sell-out crowd of 45,485 fans shook the stadium.

“I knew he would come with his heater,” the two-time NL MVP said in a televised interview. “I was just trying to make the best swing I could and was able to do some damage with it.”

Left-hander Harper completed a right-hander — the Padres had left-handed closer to Josh Hader, who was warming up in the bullpen, but didn’t bring him in.

Harper, who turned 30 last week, is batting 439 (18 to 41) with six doubles, five homers, 11 RBIs and 10 runs hit in 11 postseason games. He’s hit in 10 straight shots and hit base in 11 straight.

And the dreaded designated hitter can keep those streaks alive playing in his first World Series.

“To an extent it’s overlooked because of the way he is and the star that he is,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said ahead of the game. “He’s a guy who’s a big star who delivers. I can’t say enough about it.”

Thomson, of Sarnia, Ontario, led Philadelphia to a 65-46 record in the regular season after taking on Joe Girardi in June and leading the club to their first playoff spot since 2011.

The 59-year-old is the first Canadian-born manager to lead an MLB team into the postseason.

Thomson is Canada’s first full-time executive since George Gibson of London, Ontario, managed the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934. Arthur Irwin of Toronto, who managed five teams between 1889 and 1899, is the only other Canadian who is a full-time manager.

Thomson had been the Phillies’ bench coach since 2018 before being promoted to interim manager on June 3. On October 10, he was stripped of the interim title from his title.

Philly, get ready.

Harper, Hoskins & crew arrive for a highly unlikely World Series championship.

Houston led 3-0 in the ALCS against the New York Yankees. Game 4 is in New York. The Fall Classic begins Friday night at the AL champion’s home.

Philadelphia finished third in the NL East, 87-75, a full 14 games behind Atlanta, who have 101 wins this season, and were the last club in the majors to make the 12-team playoff field.

After beating NL Central champions St. Louis 2-0 in MLB’s newly created wild card round, it took the Phillies just four games to knock out defending World Series champion Atlanta.