NLCS: Phillies Beat Padres to Move One Win From World Series
The Phillies have not won a playoff game on their home field since they beat the Dodgers in the 2005 NLDS.
PHILADELPHIA – This might be the most interesting World Series, with some oddities, some similarities, and a surprising upset.
In the eighth inning, with the score tied, 3-3, the Phillies tied the game on a two-out, two-strike, walk-off homer by Shane Victorino, ending a 15-year postseason drought dating back to their 2003 NLDS loss to the Braves in Atlanta.
Their record improves to 19-9; their postseason road record is 14-8.
The Phillies didn’t have a run all night, but their bullpen held the Padres to zero hits through five innings. In the seventh, they loaded the bases with one out against closer Jonathan Papelbon, who allowed a walk, a single, a triple and a walk-off, walk-off homer to Shane Victorino.
“It’s always exciting to pitch in the postseason,” Victorino said.
He had three hits, two on the night. He crushed a ball toward right field that looked like it traveled a mile, and landed in the Phillies 13th row of seats.
He finished with four RBIs. He had three hits in all, including a double, and scored two runs.
The Phillies will play in the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.
“Now we just have to keep our feet on the pedal and play like they have,” manager Ryne Sandberg said. “They were outmatched. We played the kind of baseball you expect from a playoff-type team.”
The Padres, who never have before advanced to a World Series game, will play in their first, since 1965, when they lost to the New York Mets.
“It’s always exciting to play in the postseason, but at the same time, it is something we thought that we needed to get that done,” Padres manager Brian Sabean said. “We’re disappointed in that, but at the same time, we are excited to play in the playoffs and see what we can do. We are in the playoffs, after all, and we will play, and that’s all you can ask for.”
The