Live-Blogging: Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros 10/03/2022

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball’. Tonight, it is an interleague battle, between Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros.

Astros have already wrapped up everything they can get. They will have home-field advantage throughout the American League Postseason.

This 3-game series is more important for the Phillies. Because they need a win or a Brewers loss to clinch the Final NL Wild Card spot.

Tonight’s Starting Pitchers are a pair of right-handed pitchers. Aaron Nola for the Phillies and Lance McCullers, Junior for the Astros.

Nola comes in with a pitches/plate appearance of 3.76. His strikeout/walk ratio is 7.79. And his groundout/airout ratio is 0.95.

For McCullers, he comes in with a P/PA of 3.84. His K/BB ratio is 2.14. And his groundout/airout ratio is 1.30.

It is Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros, a Phillies win, and they are in the Postseason. The Game will start shortly.

Starting Lineups:
Philadelphia Phillies:
1. Kyle Schwarber (LHB), LF
2. Rhys Hoskins (RHB), 1B
3. Bryce Harper (LHB), DH
4. J.T. Realmuto (RHB), C
5. Alec Bohm (RHB), 3B
6. Nick Castellanos (RHB), RF
7. Brandon Marsh (LHB), CF
8. Jean Segura (RHB), 2B
9. Bryson Stott (LHB), SS

Houston Astros:
1. Jose Altuve (RHB), 2B
2. Jeremy Pena (RHB), SS
3. Yordan Alvarez (LHB), DH
4. Alex Bregman (RHB), 3B
5. Kyle Tucker (LHB), RF
6. Yuli Gurriel (RHB), 1B
7. Trey Mancini (RHB), LF
8. Jake Meyers (RHB), CF
9. Martin Maldonado (RHB), C

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Houston Astros 10/03/2022

Phillies are in their road gray uniforms, red caps. While Astros are in their 'Space City' City Connect Uniforms.

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Schwarber
2. Hoskins
3. Harper
Lance McCullers, Junior (RHP) now starting as Houston Astros Pitcher.
First Pitch around 7:12 pm CDT.
LEAD-OFF HOME RUN: Schwarber hits a solo home run off Lance McCullers, Jr (1 pitch). PHI 1, HOU 0
Hoskins grounds out to Altuve (2 pitches). 1 out.
Harper lines out to Tucker (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Realmuto singles to left field (6 pitches). Runner on 1st.
With Bohm at-bat, Realmuto caught stealing by Maldonado. Maldonado to Pena. 3 outs.
Phillies get a run, off the homer by Kyle Schwarber.

Middle of 1st Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Altuve
2. Pena
3. Alvarez 
Aaron Nola (RHP) now starting as Phillies Pitchers.
Altuve grounds out to Segura (6 pitches). 1 out.
Pena strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Alvarez gets called out on strikes (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half o 1st Inning.


End of 1st Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Bohm
6. Castellanos
7. Marsh
McCullers currently at 13 pitches.
Bohm grounds out to Bregman (3 pitches). 1 out.
Castellanos grounds out to Pena (2 pitches). 2 outs.
Marsh gets called out on strikes (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Phillies go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

Middle of 2nd Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0


Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Bregman
5. Tucker
6. Gurriel
Nola currently at 14 pitches.
Bregman grounds out to Stott (2 pitches). 1 out.
Tucker grounds out to Stott (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Gurriel lines out to Marsh (2 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning. 


End of 2nd Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
8. Segura
9. Stott
1. Schwarber, 1-1, HR, RBI
McCullers currently at 29 pitches.
​D-Backs & Brewers Knotted Up at 1-1; Top of 4th Inning 
Segura grounds out to Pena (6 pitches). 1 out.
Stott hits an infield single to first base (3 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Schwarber draws a base on balls (6 pitches). Stott advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
DOUBLE PLAY: Hoskins grounds into a 6-4-3 double play (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Phillies stranded a base runner.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
7. Mancini
8. Meyers 
9. Maldonado
Nola currently at 21 pitches.
​Mancini lines out to Castellanos (3 pitches). 1 out.
Meyers lines out to Marsh (1 pitch). 2 outs.



End of 3rd Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Harper, 0-1
4. Realmuto, 1-1
5. Bohm, 0-1
McCullers currently at 47 pitches.
49ers Leading Rams 7-3 in Santa Clara; 2nd Quarter 
​Harper hits a lead-off single to right center field (8 pitches). Runner on 1st.
DOUBLE PLAY: Realmuto grounds into 6-4-3 double play (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Bohm grounds out to Altuve (1 pitch). 3 outs.

Middle of 4th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Altuve, 0-1
2. Pena, 0-1
3. Alvarez, 0-1
Nola currently at 29 pitches.
Altuve strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 1 out.
Pena strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Alvarez strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning. 


Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Castellanos, 0-1
7. Marsh, 0-1
8. Segura, 0-1
McCullers currently at 60 pitches.
Castellanos strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Marsh singles to right field (3 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Segura reaches on a 5-4 fielder's choice (8 pitches). Marsh is out at 2nd. Runner on 1st. 2 outs.
Stott doubles to left field (5 pitches). Segura advances to 3rd. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. 
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #1: Mound Visits Remaining (MVR)-PHI 5, HOU 4
Schwarber flies ou tto Mancini (1 pitch). 3 outs.
Phillies stranded a pair of base runners in scoring position. 

Middle of 5th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Bregman, 0-1
5. Tucker, 0-1
6. Gurriel, 0-1
Nola currently at 40 pitches.
​Bregman fouls out to Bohm (3 pitches). 1 out.
Tucker grounds out to Stott (6 pitches). 2 outs.
Gurriel fouls out to Castellanos (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Nola perfect through 5 innings.

End of 5th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
2. Hoskins, 0-2
3. Harper, 1-2
4. Realmuto, 1-2
McCullers currently at 81 pitches.
Hoskins strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
Harper strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 2 outs.
Realmuto strikes out swinging (6 pitches). 3 outs.
Phillies go down 1-2-3, in their half of 6th Inning.

Middle of 6th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
7. Mancini, 0-1
8. Meyers, 0-1
9. Maldonado, 0-1
Nola currently at 55 pitches.
NHL Preseason Scores:
Mancini flies out to Castellanos (5 pitches). 1 out.
Meyers gets called out on strikes (9 pitches). 2 outs.
Maldonado gets called out on strikes (3 pitches). 3 outs.
Nola perfect through 18 batters faced.


End of 6th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Bohm, 0-2
6. Castellanos, 0-2
7. Marsh, 1-2
PITCHING CHANGE: Jose Urquidy (RHP) replaces Lance McCullers, Junior as Astros Pitcher.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTIONS: Aledmys Diaz replaces Jose Altuve at second base. Mauricio Dubon replaces Jeremy Pena at shortstop. David Hensley replaces Alex Bregman at third base. Christian Vazquez replaces Martin Maldonado at catcher.  
Bohm strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 1 out.
MLB Scores: 
Castellanos draws a base on balls (7 pitches). Runner on 1st.
Marsh flies out to Mancini (7 pitches). 2 outs.
Segura flies out to Tucker (4 pitches). 3 outs.
Phillies stranded a base runner.


Middle of 7th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Diaz
2. Dubon
3. Alvarez 
Nola currently at 72 pitches.
​Diaz gets called out on strikes (3 pitches). 1 out.
Jose Alvarado (LHP) warming up in Phillies Bullpen.
Dubon pops out to Segura (7 pitches). 2 outs.
Alvarez breaks up the perfect game, with a single to right field (1 pitch). Runner on 1st.
Hansley singles to right field (5 pitches). Alvarez moves to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
PITCHING CHANGE: Jose Alvarado (LHP) replaces Aaron Nola, as Phillies Pitcher.
D-Backs Leading Brewers 4-1; Top of 9th Inning at American Family Field
PHILLIES MOUND VISIT #1: MVR-PHI 4, HOU 4
Tucker strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros stranded a pair of base runners.

End of 7th Inning:
PHI 1, HOU 0

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Stott, 2-2
1. Schwarber, 1-2, HR, RBI
2. Hoskins, 0-3
​Urquidy currently at 23 pitches.
HOME RUN: Stott hits a solo home run off Jose Urquidy (1 pitch). PHI 2, HOU 0
HOME RUN: Schwarber hits a solo home run off Jose Urquidy (6 pitches). PHI 3, HOU 0
​Hoskins draws a base on balls (5 pitches). Runner on 1st.
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR-PHI 4, HOU 3
Harper grounds out to Gurriel, unassisted (3 pitches). Hoskins advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. 1 out.
Realmuto grounds out to Urquidy (6 pitches). 2 outs.
Bohm fouls out to Vazquez (1 pitch). 3 outs.
Phillies get a couple of runs, off back-to-back homers by Stott & Schwarber. 

Middle of 8th Inning:
PHI 3, HOU 0

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Gurriel, 0-2
7. Mancini, 0-2
8. Meyers, 0-2
​Alvarado currently at 4 pitches.
Gurriel grounds out to Hoskins, unassisted (1 pitch). 1 out.
Mancini strikes out swinging (10 pitches). 2 outs.
Meyers strikes out swinging (4 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.


End of 8th Inning:
PHI 3, HOU 0

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
6. Castellanos, 0-2
7. Marsh, 1-3
8. Segura, 0-3
PITCHING CHANGE: Phil Maton (RHP) replaces Jose Urquidy, as Houston Astros Pitcher. 
Castellanos flies out to Tucker (1 pitch). 1 out.
Marsh doubles to left field (3 pitches). Runner on 2nd.
Segura strikes out swinging (3 pitches). 2 outs.
Stott draws a base on balls (4 pitches). Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Schwarber draws a base on balls (13 pitches). Bases Loaded.
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #3: MVR-PHI 4, HOU 2
Hoskins strikes out swinging (5 pitches). 3 outs.
Phillies stranded the bases loaded.


Middle of 9th Inning:
PHI 3, HOU 0

Bottom of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Vazquez
1. Diaz, 0-1
2. Dabon, 0-1
PITCHING CHANGE: Zach Eflin (RHP) replaces Jose Alvarado, as Phillies Pitcher.
​Vazquez grounds out to Stott (1 pitch). 1 out.
Diaz lines out to Bohm (1 pitch). 2 outs.
Dabon lines out to Marsh (11 pitches). 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, to end the Game.

Final:
PHI 3, HOU 0
PHI: (87-73)
HOU: (104-56)
W: Nola (11-13)
L: McCullers (4-2)
SV: Eflin (1)
PoG: Schwarber (PHI) 2-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI; Nola W, QS, 6.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 9K, 0 BB
ToG: 2:59
Philadelphia Phillies clinch the Final 2022 National League Wild Card Spot.

Final Thoughts:
Phillies end their postseason drought. All thanks to Kyle Schwarber & Aaron Nola. Schwarber began the game with a lead-off homer on 1-pitch. And it was all Aaron Nola and the Phillies Pitching Staff. As Phillies Pitching shutout the Astros, to earn their first postseason appearance since 2011.

For the Astros, not a big loss considering they own home-field advantage throughout the AL Postseason. 

Same two teams Tomorrow Night. Ranger Suarez will start for the Phillies. And right now, the Astros will go with Justin Verlander.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this post.
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