Justin Verlander chased: Best memes and tweets from Phillies Game 1 comeback
The Philadelphia Phillies overturned a 5-0 deficit against Justin Verlander and the Astros to have Twitter believing they’re a team of destiny.
The Phillies looked like they were going to have to concede Game 1 and look to claw back in the World Series in Game 2. Falling behind 5-0 with Justin Verlander on the mound, that seemed a reasonable conclusion.
This Phillies team had other plans instead. Looking like a team on a mission, they turned things around with three runs in the fourth inning and a game-tying double from JT Realmuto in the fifth inning.
If you didn’t believe in Philadelphia’s magic before, now might be the time to buy in. Twitter certainly is.
Best memes and tweets from the Phillies Game 1 comeback
This team just has no quit. The Phillies erased a 5-0 deficit, and the game is now tied in the top of the fifth. Against Justin Verlander no less!
— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) October 29, 2022
An unbelievable postseason just keeps on giving.
That is the first time in Phillies postseason history they have erased a five-run deficit in a postseason game . . .
— Bob Vetrone Jr. (@BoopStats) October 29, 2022
https://twitter.com/BetMGM/status/1586175783692804096
https://twitter.com/Pickswise/status/1586174020902219776
The Phillies had no hits off Justin Verlander all season (8 IP) before the 4th inning.
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 29, 2022
They got 6 hits, scored 5 runs, made up a 5-run deficit and forced him to throw 54 pitches in the last 2 innings.
Amazing.
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Team of Destiny.
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 29, 2022
Phillies sold their soul for a title. I’m jealous
— kyle (@knicks_tape99) October 29, 2022
More fight from the Phillies in 2 innings than the Yankees did in the entire series against the Astros….
— John Jastremski (@john_jastremski) October 29, 2022
Over on Astros Twitter, the focus was less on the Phillies’ storybook tale and more on the missteps of manager Dusty Baker and the World Series record of Verlander.
This collapse is on Dusty Baker. Should have pulled Verlander before he blew the 5-0 lead and let the Phillies tie it. A terrible two innings by Verlander. Bad decision by Baker.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) October 29, 2022
Think Dusty should have spent less time on the phone with Bill Cosby and more time on the phone with his bullpen.
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) October 29, 2022
Worst ERA in World Series history (min. 30 IP):
— Paul Casella (@Paul_CasellaMLB) October 29, 2022
- Justin Verlander: 6.07
- Carl Erskine: 5.83
- Don Sutton: 5.26
- Gary Nolan: 4.96
- Al Leiter: 4.59
Another lousy entry to Verlander’s hideous World Series career.
— Charlie Pallilo (@Pallilo) October 29, 2022
Sample size small, but not trivial...
8 starts, 0-6, 6.07.
No other pitcher is even 0-5 in WS.
Verlander is an outstanding pitcher but his World Series track record has been pretty horrendous. It sure looked like he was set up for his first win in the biggest series of them all but it all went to hell after a while.
Whether it was Baker’s fault or Verlander’s, the Astros were fighting for a win that felt like it was in the bag early.
Kyle Tucker was immense for Houston with two home runs. He opened the scoring with a solo shot in the second inning before dumping another three runs on the scoreboard in the third. In between those Tucker bombs, Martin Maldonado hit an RBI single to start his World Series off strongly.
The Phillies didn’t give up in the face of that deficit. Nick Castellanos drove in Rhys Hoskins in the fourth. Alec Bohm continued the run with a two-run double later in the inning.
Realmuto drew the two teams even with a double that sent Kyle Schwarber home in the fifth.
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