Some days you win, some days you lose, and some days you get shutout 7-0 in the World Series by a combination of Ranger Suarez, Connor Brogdon, Kyle Gibson, Nick Nelson, and Andrew Bellatti. It happens.

In what ended up being one of the Phillies’ most dominant all-around postseason performances this year, Philadelphia is now two wins away from winning the World Series. Lance McCullers Jr. - tipping his pitches or not - never had a chance right from the start. A whopping five homers allowed, three of which came in the first two innings, over 4 ⅓ innings for the Astros’ starter.

Before McCullers Jr. took the mound though, Citizens Bank Park was already energized following yet another acrobatic catch from…Nick Castellanos?! Altuve’s first-pitching-swinging may have, unintentionally, given Philly all the momentum they needed as one pitch into the game, the stadium was roaring.

Bryce Harper hit a one-on, two-out bomb in the bottom of the first to give Philly a quick 2-0 lead, followed by Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh hitting solo-shots in the bottom of the second to jump ahead 4-0. Then, in the bottom of the fifth, Kyle Schwarber and Rhys Hoskins went back-to-back to extend the lead to 7-0. McCullers Jr. was pulled after that, but the door had already shut on Houston in Game 3.

Ranger Suarez started for the Phils’, and threw five shutout innings allowing only three hits - three singles - and a walk. The bullpen shut the door after him, with Houston not having an extra-base hit all night. The added bonus to a non-competitive Game 3, is that Rob Thomson now has Seranthony Dominguez AND Jose Alvarado on four days’ rest - something that is nearly unheard of come the playoffs.

With Game 4 going tonight, it wouldn’t be shocking to see a liberal use of the Phillies’ high leverage arms behind scheduled starter Aaron Nola in an effort to put a stranglehold on the Astros - and then, of course, it’d be all hands on deck for both sides. If Houston loses tonight, Philadelphia would then have the chance to secure the title on their own turf - a rarity, in recent years.

On the Astros’ side, Christian Javier takes the ball in an effort to, once again, tie up the series. He was outstanding this year for Houston and, so far as we know right now, will not have to be delayed due to weather like his rotation mate McCullers Jr. was.

Game 4 is just hours away, with Philadelphia 18 innings away from becoming one of the most improbable World Series Champions to exist.