“Everybody on the field deserves it.  Everyone in the stadium deserves it.”

Rhys Hoskins said it well.  Right after the 5^th game of the National League Championship Series (NLCS).  The one that the Phillies managed to win to become the National League Champions.  And, now will play the Houston Astros who beat the Yankees in  the American League Championship Series in the World Series.

And, for the first time in 13 years, the Phillies will be playing in the World Series.

Thinking back to the end of May, no one would have predicted this. (Except for the die-hard Philly Phans like me.)   Back then, our record was horrendous and we had just lost 11 of the last 15 games.

But, last Saturday night, we clobbered the San Diego Padres 10 to 6.  In a game that Rhys Hopkins managed to get not one home run, but two.   To put him in the elite members of the Phillies players. He became the first Philly since Chase Utley (#26) to hit two home runs in a single game.  Chase did that in the 2009 World Series (and that was his second time).  There’s also Jayson Werth (who also did it twice), Ryan Howard, Pat Burrell, and Lenny Dykstra.

Hoskins, when considering these august compatriots, observed, ”I have an appreciation for baseball history, but more so an appreciation of Phillies history…it’s an honor.  These are Phillies greats, potentially Hall of Famers.  Good list to be on for sure.”

By the way, it took 46 minutes for the teams to finish just the first inning of that game!  The game finished at 11:15, with a total playing time of 3.5 h.

And, then, there was Sunday’s game.  The one the Phils won 4 to 3.  It was touch and go.

No one scored until the third inning, when Rhys hit a home run , which brought Kyle Schwarber (who was walked just before Rhys came to bat) for a score of 2 zip.

And, the very next inning, for the second time in the series, Juan Soto (who had been recently acquired from the Washington Nationals) hit a home run.  Score- 2 to 1, still with the Phillies on top.

And, there it stood until the 7^th inning when Josh Bell doubled, allowing Jake Corneworth of the Padres on the bases to score.  Which tied the score, 2 all.

And, then, our usually reliable reliever, Seranthony Dominguez, threw a series of wild pitches.  Which let another Padre score.  And, now, in the 7^th inning, the Padres were leading 3 to 2.

pic.twitter.com/nWX1M3SuUh

— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) October 24, 2022

Until the bottom of the 8^th inning, When, Bryce Harper (who elected to leave the Nationals in 2018 to become a Philly [for life]) hit his  home run, scoring JT Realmuto who was also on base.  The score was now 4 to 3.  Where it would remain as the final score.  (This is but one of the reasons that Bryce Harper was awarded the NLCS Most Valuable Player Award.)

Bryce Harper explains in detail how much he loves Phillies fans 😍💗 pic.twitter.com/nqiZVUqOO8

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) October 23, 2022

Why Bryce Elected to become a Philadelphia Philly.

Another fact to recognize is that this year is the first year that the National League employed a designated hitter. (That is a player who doesn’t perform defense- he doesn’t play as an outfielder , nor as an infielder; he just comes to bat and hits.   ( Sure, the American League had designated hitters since 1973, but this was the first year for the National League.)

Which worked out well for the Phillies, since Blake Snell of the San Diego Padres (yes, those Padres) lost control of his pitch, hitting Bryce on the 25^th of June.  His left thumb fractured, he was unable to return to full play for a while, serving only as a designated hitter.

All reasons why this has been a charmed year for the Phillies.

Only four more to go.  To be the World Champions of 2022.