Launching the roller coaster ride that was her season, Jean Segura and the Philadelphia Phillies came through to beat the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the NLCS, taking a 2-1 series advantage. Shortly after a 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 run.
Aided in part by a diving play by Segura, the Phillies pitching staff locked him out of there, securing a 4-2 victory. The Phillies led for almost the entire game after that Kyle Schwarber he led off the bottom of the first game with his second home run of the series.
The Padres only pulled even on a strange play in the fourth with runners on first and third, Jake Cronenworth hit a ground ball to shortstop that looked like a double play. Bryson Stott threw to Segura at second, but Segura didn’t catch the ball. After a replay review to confirm that he never caught the ball, everyone was relieved and a run scored.
That, plus Rhys Hoskin‘ who went on a chopper to first base, the major defensive incidents that made the team very uncomfortable early on and … well, winning became easier in the second part of the season.
This time, at least, Segura quickly put the mistake in his rearview mirror coming up with the clutch hit to drive in two runs from the Padres starter Joe Musgrove. As a sort of Cosmic cherry on top, Segura was immediately selected to first base.
The Phillies later took advantage of a Padres pitching mistake when they had no tips Sean Soto diving allowed Alec Bohm‘s RBI knock to roll to the wall.
While San Diego had the upper hand in Game 3 pitching with the red-hot Musgrove, Phillies lefty Soldier Suarez he had other ideas. The 27-year-old allowed just two hits and one run in five innings, keeping Padres hitters grounded. However, Phillies manager Rob Thomson decided to remove Suarez after 68 pitches and give the ball to his pinch hitter.
Zach Eflin and Jose Alvarado each pitching a scoreless, if complicated, innings in front of a dominant Serantony Dominguez closed the game with a two inning save. In the ninth, a close-checked swinging call went up Jurickson’s profile and helped the Phillies cause.
The Padres veteran was ejected after a heated disagreement with third base umpire Todd Tichenor.
The Phillies will advance in front of the home fans with a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 is set for Saturday night at 7:45 pm ET on Fox. San Diego plans to start Mike Clevinger. Tomás said the Phillies will go with the lefty Bailey Falter. The 25-year-old has yet to pitch in the postseason but provided solid second-half innings. Philadelphia will likely put a lot of pressure on the bullpen again, as Thomson expects Falter to work only once through the lineup.
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