HOUSTON—When the Philadelphia Phillies fired manager Joe Girardi after a 22–29 start to the season, it was hard to imagine that Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and interim manager Rob Thomson would be dancing in a champagne shower come October.
But this team persevered through the tough start and an injury that took Harper out for two months to do just that, beating the Houston Astros 3–0 Monday night to clinch its first playoff berth in 11 years.
“This is the goal,” Harper said. “This is what you play for.”
Aaron Nola took a perfect game into the seventh inning and Schwarber homered to propel the Phillies to the victory Monday….