Advertisement

MLB playoffs: Phillies top Padres in NLCS Game 3, take series lead thanks to Jean Segura's adventurous game

Zach Crizer · Yahoo Sports Staff
·3 min read
55

Channeling the roller coaster ride that was their season, Jean Segura and the Philadelphia Phillies came through to beat the San Diego Padres in NLCS Game 3, taking a 2-1 series advantage. Shortly after his botched defensive play at second base allowed the Padres to tie the game, Segura lunged to poke a two-run single into the outfield, plating the go-ahead runs.

Backed in part by diving Segura plays, the Phillies pitching staff locked it down from there, securing a 4-2 win. The Phillies led for nearly the whole game after Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the first with his second home run of the series.

The Padres only pulled even on a strange play in the fourth when, with runners on first and third, Jake Cronenworth hit a ground ball to shortstop that looked like a double play. Bryson Stott made a routine throw to Segura covering second, but Segura simply didn't catch the ball. After a replay review to confirm he never caught the ball, everyone wound up safe and a run scored.

That, plus Rhys Hoskins' whiff on a chopper to first base, evoked the extreme defensive misadventures that plagued the team early on and ... well, coexisted more easily with winning in the latter part of the season.

This time, at least, Segura quickly put the mistake in his rearview mirror by coming up with the clutch hit to drive in two runs off Padres starter Joe Musgrove. As a sort of cosmic cherry on top, Segura was immediately picked off first base.

The Phillies later benefited from a Padres fielding mistake when an ill-advised Juan Soto dive allowed Alec Bohm's RBI knock to roll to the wall.

While it appeared San Diego had the upper hand in the Game 3 pitching matchup with the red hot Musgrove, Phillies lefty Ranger Suarez had other ideas. The 27-year-old allowed only two hits and one run in five innings, keeping the Padres hitters grounded. Phillies manager Rob Thomson nonetheless decided to remove Suarez after just 68 pitches and hand the ball to his bullpen.

Zach Eflin and Jose Alvarado each navigated scoreless, if tricky, innings before a dominant Seranthony Dominguez closed out the game with a two-inning save. In the ninth, a close check swing call wrung up Jurickson Profar and helped the Phillies' cause.

The Padres veteran was ejected after emphatically disagreeing with third-base umpire Todd Tichenor.

The Phillies will roll on in front of the home fans with a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for Saturday night at 7:45 p.m. ET on Fox. San Diego is planning to start Mike Clevinger. Thomson said the Phillies will go with lefty Bailey Falter. The 25-year-old has yet to pitch in the postseason but provided solid innings in the second half. Philadelphia will likely be leaning heavily on the bullpen again, as Thomson only expects Falter to work once through the lineup.

Need to catch up on the major October storylines? We've got you covered.