On the eve of playing in the WorldSeries for the first time, J.T. Realmuto promised himself that he would pause whatever he was doing on the field before the game, look around, and savor the sights and sounds. ✅ Here's ScottLauber's story from Game 1.
over with quickly, and darned if the Houston Astros right fielder didn’t try his hardest to make it so.Faced with their largest deficit in the postseason — a five-run hill built on two Tucker home runs through three innings Friday night — the Phillies rallied to win a Game 1 for the ages. They knocked out future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in the fifth inning. Manager Rob Thomson managed like it was Game 7. And J.T.
And consider the degree of difficulty. The Astros, a 106-win team in the regular season, hadn’t lost yet in the playoffs, going 7-0 en route to dispatching the Seattle Mariners in the divisional round and the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series. Verlander, who will almost certainly win his third Cy Young Award this season, didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and looked like he may never give one up.
The Phillies have been doing this all month, rampaging through the playoffs with big play after big play, unexpected victory after unexpected victory.On the eve of playing on baseball’s biggest stage for the first time in his career, Realmuto promised himself that he would pause whatever he was doing on the field before Game 1, look around, and savor the sights and sounds. The occasion called for — nay, it demanded — a few moments of reflection.For everyone.