Astros-Phillies World Series Game 3 highlights and takeaways

ByESPN Staff ESPN logo
Wednesday, November 2, 2022

The Philadelphia Phillies mashed their way to a 7-0 win over the Houston AstrosTuesday night to take a 2-1 series lead in the World Series .

After the Astros started quickly in Games 1 and 2, the Phillies returned the favor in Game 3, jumping out to a 4-0 lead after two innings, thanks to home runs by Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh. Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins added dingers of their own in the fifth to push the Phillies' lead even further.

According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Philly became the first team to hit five home runs in the first five innings of a World Series game. It was a rough night for Houston pitcher Lance McCullers Jr., whose five home runs allowed in Game 3 are tied for the most by a pitcher in a single World Series.

Here are some of the best moments and takeaways from Game 3.

Final takeaways

Home runs, home runs, home runs.

Add two more and you have the total number of homers the Phillies hit on Tuesday night against the Astros. Philadelphia's lineup demolished the ball off of Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr., with Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, Bryce Harper, Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm all contributing to the dinger tally Tuesday night. McCullers ended the evening with 4 1/3 innings pitched, allowing seven runs on six hits -- five of which were homers -- while walking one and striking out five.

The run output turned out to be overkill as Phillies starter Ranger Suarez turned in a dominant performance, going five innings, allowing no runs on three hits, walking one and striking out four. The Astros lineup struggled to generate any momentum all night, with only three at-bats with runners in scoring position. The Astros received little production from the top of their lineup, with the first five hitters -- Jose Altuve, Jeremy Pena, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker -- combining for one hit. -- Joon Lee

More dingers for Philly

The Phillies home run parade continues.

Philadelphia ended Astros' starter Lance McCullers Jr.'s evening in the fifth inning with two home runs. The first came from Phillies outfielderKyle Schwarber, who smashed an 87.9 mph changeup over the centerfield fence tallying in at 443 feet. The blast extended the lead to 6-0, knocking in Brandon Marsh, who singled to get on base. The second came from first basemanRhys Hoskins, who blasted an 85.1 mph slider over the left-field fence to make it 7-0.

McCullers ended the evening with 4 1/3 innings pitched, allowing six hits, seven earned runs with one walk, five strikeouts and five home runs. McCullers is now tied for the most home runs allowed in a single World Series -- and the other pitchers needed multiple games to reach that mark. -- Lee

Marsh adds to the Phillies' lead

Brandon Marsh got just enough. Barely.

With Philadelphia up 3-0 with two outs in the second inning, the Phillies center fielder faced a 2-0 count against Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr. and turned on a hanging 83.7 mph slider to drive it barely over the fence, extending the lead to 4-0.

The home run marked Philadelphia's third in two innings, following a first-inning shot by Bryce Harperand a dinger by Alec Bohm to lead off the second inning.

Umpires reviewed the homer to confirm that it went over the fence, with replay reviews showing a young fan dropping the baseball back onto the field.

Harper may have a magic touch. Prior to Bohm's at-bat, Harper called over the Phillies third baseman to tell him something. Bohm then knocked a first-pitch 93.2 mph sinker over the left field fence. What Harper told Bohm remains a mystery, however. When asked by the Fox broadcast about what Harper said, Bohm declined to comment. -- Lee

Bohm smashes one

Harper gets Philly on the board

A strong alliance

The World Series rivalry between the Astros and Phillies extends beyond the field and into the kitchens of Philadelphia restaurants.

Two popular Philadelphia restaurants -- Angelo's Pizzeria and Mike's BBQ -- declined catering requests from the Houston Astros.

In a post on the Mike's BBQ's Instagram account, Astros dietician Lisa Clarke reached out to the restaurant hoping to order food for the team. But in the post, Clarke mentions a "Gil" and appears to be searching for Latin food, which is not served at Mike's.

Philadelphians on the internet hypothesized the team might have been trying to reach Gil Arends, co-owner of Puyero Venezuelan Flavor, a restaurant that serves Latin food.

On the Angelo's Pizzeria's Instagram story, owner Danny DiGiampietro asserted that he had not cooked for the Astros after Phillies fans confused his restaurant with Angelo's, which serves hoagies.

No word if the Astros were able to eat food before Game 3. -- Lee

Gold Glove recipients

Before Game 3, Jeremy Pena (AL shortstop), Kyle Tucker (AL outfielder) and J.T. Realmuto (NL catcher) received their Gold Glove Awards.

Pregame fashion

Game 3 lineups and pitchers

Starters: Lance McCullers Jr. (4-2, 47.2 IP, 2.27 ERA, 50 K) vs. Ranger Suarez (10-7, 155.1 IP, 3.65 ERA, 129 K)

Houston Astros

1. Jose Altuve (R) 2B (.300 AVG, 28 HR, .921 OPS)

2. Jeremy Pena (R) SS (.253 AVG, 22 HR, .715 OPS)

3. Yordan Alvarez (L) LF (.306 AVG, 37 HR, 1.019 OPS)

4. Alex Bregman (R) 3B (.259 AVG, 23 HR, .820 OPS)

5. Kyle Tucker (L) RF (.257 AVG, 30 HR, .808 OPS)

6. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B (.242 AVG, 8 HR, .647 OPS)

7. David Hensley (R) DH (.345 AVG, 1 HR, 1.027 OPS)

8. Chas McCormick (R) CF (.245 AVG, 14 HR, .738 OPS)

9. Martin Maldonado (R) C (.186 AVG, 15 HR, .600 OPS)

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Kyle Schwarber (L) LF (.218 AVG, 46 HR, .827 OPS)

2. Rhys Hoskins (R) 1B (.246 AVG, 30 HR, .794 OPS)

3. J.T. Realmuto (R) C (.276 HR, 22 HR, .820 OPS)

4. Bryce Harper (L) DH (.286 AVG, 18 HR, .877 OPS)

5. Nick Castellanos (R) RF (.263 AVG, 13 HR, .694 OPS)

6. Alec Bohm (R) 3B (.280 AVG, 13 HR, .713 OPS)

7. Bryson Stott (R) SS (.234 AVG, 10 HR, .653 OPS)

8. Jean Segura (R) 2B (.277 AVG, 10 HR, .723 OPS)

9. Brandon Marsh (R) CF (.245 AVG, 11 HR, .679 OPS)