Rob Thomson leads club to 1st NL pennant since 2009 with series win over Padres

Bryce Harper slugged his fifth homer of the post-season, a two-run blast in the eighth inning that turned Citizens Bank Park into a madhouse, and the $330 million US slugger powered the Philadelphia Phillies past the San Diego Padres 4-3 on Sunday and into the World Series for the first the time since 2009.

Rhys Hoskins also hit a two-run homer to spark Philadelphia’s improbable run to the National League pennant and a shot at its first World Series championship since 2008.

Harper has made the monumental feat of hitting a baseball look so easy in the post-season and he delivered with easily the biggest hit in his four-year Phillies’ career.

J.T. Realmuto began the inning with a single off reliever Robert Suarez and Harper lined a 2-2, 98 mph sinker opposite field into the left field seats as another sellout crowd of 45,485 fans shook the stadium.

“I knew he was going to come with his heater,” the two-time NL MVP said during a TV interview. “Just tried to take the best swing I could and was able to do damage with it.”

The lefty-swinging Harper connected off a righty — the Padres had left-handed closer Josh Hader warming in the bullpen, but didn’t bring him in.

Harper, who turned 30 last week, is batting 439 (18-for-41) with six doubles, five homers, 11 RBIs and 10 runs scored over 11 post-season games. He has hit in 10 straight and has reached base in 11 straight.

And the feared designated hitter can keep those streaks alive when he plays in his first World Series.

“To a certain degree, it’s getting overlooked because of who he is and the star that he is,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said before the game. “He’s a guy that’s a big star that’s delivered. Can’t say enough about that.”

Thomson, from Sarnia, Ont., led Philadelphia to a 65-46 record in the regular season after taking over for Joe Girardi in June, propelling the club to its first playoff berth since 2011.

The 59-year-old is the first Canadian-born manager to lead an MLB team to the post-season.

Thomson is the first Canadian full-time manager since George Gibson of London, Ont., managed the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1934. Toronto’s Arthur Irwin, who managed five teams between 1889 and 1899, is the only other Canadian to serve as a full-time manager.

Thomson had been the Phillies’ bench coach since 2018 before he was promoted to interim manager on June 3. He had the interim removed from his title on Oct. 10.