This Phillies team is different.
The Phillies have been the cardiac kids all year, but this time, they took it to a historical level, pulling out a 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series.
The Phillies, the last team to qualify for the postseason, are now threatening to pull off perhaps the biggest World Series upset since the Los Angeles Dodgers stunned the Oakland A’s in 1988, triggered by Kirk Gibson’s walk-off homer in Game 1. Said right fielder Nick Castellanos, who saved the game in the ninth inning with his diving catch: “We've been there before. I think that's what this team does so well. We know there's no quit, really. We really respect all 27 outs. We take that seriously, and we take it personal.’’
“Our guys came in and responded. We got the strikeouts when we needed them. We got the ground balls when we needed them. You just can't say enough about how good they were for us. It's been that way all postseason long. They have carried us.’’ It began in the fourth inning when Hoskins produced the first hit, and was about to be doubled-up on an inning-ending line drive hit by Realmuto, only for Verlander to drop the ball.
“I thought the game was over,’’ Realmuto said. “I thought it was hit so softly that I didn't think he was going to get there. But then I saw him charging in, coming in hot, and I thought, 'Oh, man, he might have a chance to catch that.’ Once the Phillies survived, they felt they were the team of destiny and would win, just as they have done this entire postseason.
Certainly, they’ve proven that, with the Astros the latest team to witness the Phillies’ magical postseason tour.