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Phillies shake off early deficit, outslug Padres 10-6 to take 3-1 NLCS lead
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins (17) celebrates his two-run home run in the fifth inning with teammates in the dugout during game four of the NLCS against the San Diego Padres for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Citizens Bank Park. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Phillies shake off early deficit, outslug Padres 10-6 to take 3-1 NLCS lead

By Mike Santa Barbara  |  Last updated 10/23/22

The Philadelphia Phillies haven't played in the World Series since 2009. After 13 years, they're one win away from making it back. 

On Saturday, the Phillies shrugged off a four-run first-inning deficit, using the long ball to stun the Padres in Game 4 of the NLCS, 10-6. 

With the victory, the Phillies take a 3-1 advantage in the best-of-seven series with a chance to close things out Sunday with ace Zack Wheeler on the mound. 

Things looked grim for the Phillies early on as the Padres chased starter Baily Falter before he could get out of the game's opening inning. 

After recording two outs in the first, Falter fell apart quickly. Following a solo home run by Manny Machado to open the scoring, Brandon Drury hit a two-run double two batters later to put San Diego up 3-0 in the blink of an eye. 

Connor Brogdon entered the game in relief of Falter. Still, he didn't fare much better, immediately giving up an RBI single to Ha-Seong Kim, increasing the Friars' lead to 4-0. 

The resilient Phillies battled back in the bottom half of the first. After a lead-off single by Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins smashed a two-run home run off Padres' starter Mike Clevinger to put the Phillies on the board. 

Following a J.T. Realmuto walk, Bryce Harper chased Clevinger from the game after smacking an RBI double to pull the Phillies within a run at 4-3.

Still facing a one-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth, rookie shortstop Bryson Stott singled down the left field line, driving home the tying run in Nick Castellanos, who doubled to lead off the inning. 

In the fifth inning, Juan Soto announced his presence, blasting a two-run shot off Phillies' left-hander Brad Hand to put the Padres back in front, 6-4. 

As the Phillies have done throughout the postseason, they punched back. 

In the bottom half of the fifth inning, Philadelphia struck for four runs, turning the tide of Game 4.

After a one-out walk by Schwarber, Hoskins blasted his second two-run homer of the game, tying things up again, 6-6. 

But the Phillies weren't done. 

Catcher J.T. Realmuto forced a walk before Harper put a cap on the inning, ripping another RBI double to give the Phils their first lead of the night. 

Castellanos kept the train rolling, singling home Harper, upping the Phillies' lead to 8-6. 

Schwarber and Realmuto would leave little doubt about the outcome of Game 4, trading solo home runs in the sixth and seventh inning.  

The Phillies will look to close out the NLCS and punch their ticket to the World Series when they host the Padres for Game 5 Sunday at 2:37 p.m. 

The winner in Game 1, Wheeler, will take the hill for the Phillies, while Padres' ace Yu Darvish will go for the Padres, hoping to keep their season alive. 

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