The Philadelphia Phillies have been good all postseason, but they’ve been otherworldly in Citizens Bank Park. They improved to 6-0 at home with a 7-0 win over the Astros in Game 3 of the World Series, which was spurred on by an offensive explosion that was kicked off by Bryce Harper in the first inning.
Lance McCullers Jr., a pitcher who doesn’t give up many home runs, didn’t live up to that reputation Tuesday. McCullers gave up five home runs to the Phillies in 4 1/3 innings pitched, tied for the most in World Series history for a game and the most a single pitcher has given up.
It didn’t matter what McCullers threw. The Phillies homered off his curveball, sinker, slider, and changeup. No matter how he tried to adjust, Philadelphia seemed ready to jump all over whatever he tried next. The result was a blowout win and a 2-1 series lead.
The win was significant within the vacuum of the series, but it also has historical significance in the World Series.
MORE: Astros’ fatal flaw in World Series losses: Sticking with starting pitchers too long
The Sporting News takes a look at Game 3 and beyond by the numbers.
World Series Game 3 by the numbers
7-0
The Astros do not like the NL East.
This is the second time in the past two years Houston has faced a sub-90 win NL East team, and it’s the second year in a row they’ve lost 7-0. The Astros lost the series in this fashion in Game 6 at home.
This time, they suffer the same score on the road. The good news for them: This year they have a chance to bounce back.
5
Obviously the most significant number of the night. McCullers gave up five home runs in Game 3, a World Series record for a pitchers and tied for the most a team has hit in a full game.
Lance McCullers Jr. is now the first pitcher in MLB history to allow 5 home runs in a single World Series game. pic.twitter.com/aICQkz0zUn
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 2, 2022
McCullers gave up just four home runs in 47 1/3 innings in the regular season, and in 2021 he was third in baseball in home runs per nine at 0.721. Only Zack Wheeler and Corbin Burnes were above him.
There was speculation McCullers was tipping pitches, but at best, the Phillies had the book on McCullers coming in.
1.429 (x3)
In the entire MLB postseason, five players have an OPS of 1.400 at home. Three of them play for the Phillies.
Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins are both right at 1.429, while Kyle Schwarber is at 1.482.
Between the three of them, they have nine home runs at Citizens Bank Park, and they’re a huge reason the Phillies have been so utterly dominant at home.
MORE: What did Bryce Harper tell Alec Bohm before HR off Lance McCullers Jr.?
17
The Phillies have 22 home runs in the playoffs, 17 of which have been at home.
According to John Clark, that number is tied for the most through the first six home games of a postseason in MLB history. Put simply, the Phillies rake at home.
The Phillies have tied a World Series record with 5 home runs in game 🔥🔥
The Phillies 17 HR’s in their first 6 home playoff games is also a baseball record for single postseason 🔥🔥
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 2, 2022
0.00
The bats can’t get all of the love.
For all of the talk about the struggles of the Phillies bullpen, the Philadelphia relievers are yet to give up a run this series. That’s right. Against the vaunted Astros lineup, which also boasts the best bullpen in baseball this season, the Phillies’ relievers have been superior.
They’ve thrown 12 2/3 innings through three games and have been excellent, particularly in a hyper-aggressive Game 1 managed by Rob Thomson.
Furthermore, after Tuesday’s 7-0 win, Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado will be available in the next few games, making the bullpen look even more daunting to face as this series wears on.
There’s still a lot of series left, and the Astros could well turn it around. But the Phillies have been dominant at home, and these teams have another two games in Philadelphia before the series potentially turns back to Houston for a potential Game 6 and Game 7.
Can the Phillies continue to ride their momentum at home? Only time will tell. But the Astros have to turn things around quickly with Game 4 Wednesday and Game 5 Thursday.
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