MLB WORLD SERIES: PHILLIES VS ASTROS

November 1, 2022

Rob Thomson

Citizens Bank Park

Philadelphia Phillies

Postgame 3 Press Conference

Philadelphia Phillies - 7, Houston Astros - 0

THE MODERATOR: We'll go ahead and get started with questions for Rob.

Q. How big was that 5th inning, both Ranger getting out of that jam and then you tack on in the bottom of the 5th and you kind of coast without touching any of your high-leverage guys?

ROB THOMSON: That was huge. Obviously we swung the bats well tonight, got some pitches to hit and capitalized. Five home runs. I thought Ranger really threw the ball well. He was really strong, good sinker, all his secondary pitches were good. He got a lot of soft contact. So, yeah, that was a big inning, just to be able to stay away from Alvarado and Seranthony. So it was big.

Q. Just those guys, they have all had four days down now going into tomorrow. How good do you feel about where your bullpen is at here two wins away from a World Series?

ROB THOMSON: I feel good about it because we have some guys rested, for sure. But everybody we've used so far has really pitched well, really executed. So I feel good about that.

Q. What did you think of the night that Ranger had and just how much do you think he fed off of that catch that Castellanos made?

ROB THOMSON: Castellanos' catch first pitch of the game kind of set the tone for our defense. I thought we played very well defensively. I just thought Ranger really, really pitched well. I mean, the poise is through the roof. Nothing really bothers him. He just executed all night long.

Q. Throughout the game there were several times where Harper was giving information to other guys. A lot of information being passed along about what to expect from McCullers?

ROB THOMSON: We've been doing that all year. These guys, they're always talking, communicating what they're seeing, what the pitches look like to them when they're standing in the box. So that's pretty normal.

Q. With Gibson going tonight, Syndergaard for Game 5, or do you want to see how tomorrow goes before you commit to anything there?

ROB THOMSON: No, it will be Syndergaard Game 5.

Q. What did you think of the atmosphere tonight from the fans?

ROB THOMSON: They're like the Eagles. They get better every game. It was really something. It was really good.

Q. Bryce, the home run in the first inning, how big was that? You mentioned the Castellanos catch --

ROB THOMSON: Yeah. So that was, kind of got the offense going and got everybody energized and it was really good.

Q. What can you say about Harper and the way he has played since coming back from the injury?

ROB THOMSON: Well he's been outstanding during the postseason and leading into the postseason. He got off to a little bit of a slow start because he was off for so long and his timing wasn't right. That takes some time. But since the postseason started he's been on fire. This is what he did last year the entire second half. He was that good.

Q. Going back to Ranger, he's had some big games this postseason. Now tonight maybe starting his most important game so far in his career. How much have you seen the growth of Ranger over these last couple weeks by having these big matchups?

ROB THOMSON: Yeah, I mean, truthfully, it doesn't really surprise me because I know the heartbeat that doesn't change at all. Doesn't matter what scenario we're in. I know the stuff. He's just, he competes. He's very calm.