Phillies Off and Running in World Series

The Philadelphia Phillies are off to a flying start to the 2022 World Series, after erasing an early 5-0 deficit to defeat the heavily favored Houston Astros 6-5 in extras on Friday night.

J.T. Realmuto had the night of his life, driving in the game tying and game winning runs in the late stages of Game 1 to send Philadelphia to a shocking victory. In fact in their last eight home World Series games dating back to 2019, Houston is 1-7 in those games.

Philadelphia's rally started in fourth inning when Nick Castellanos' RBI single drove home Rhys Hoskins to put bring the Phils to within 5-1. Alec Bohm followed with a two-run double, scoring Castellanos and Bryce Harper to bring the Phillies back into it at 5-3.

Finally, the Phils chased Astros starter Justin Verlander from the contest when Realmuto tied the game with a two-run double to left-center. Verlander gave up five runs over five innings of work.

After a tremendous job by both bullpens working in and out of danger, Realmuto finally made the Astros pay when he cracked an opposite field homer to send the Phillies bench, and probably the entire city of Philadelphia into a tizzy.

Were the Astros at it again? Pinch hitter Aledmys Diaz was caught trying to lean into a pitch with two runners on in the bottom of the tenth. The umpire was caught on a hot mic.  Diaz would later ground out to end the game.

This kid is already ready to boo Santa Claus.

They weren't exactly "Dancing on my own" in sports bars across Philly and South Jersey.

Let us not forget Kyle Tucker went off for Houston.

Nick Castellanos threw the Astros and Jose Altuve under the proverbial bus.