Manager's pregame speech propels Phillies to win over Dodgers in NLDS Game 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers hoped they would punch their ticket to the National League Championship Series with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies in NLDS Game 3 on Wednesday. However, the Phillies had other plans, winning 8-2, forcing the Dodgers to play a Game 4 on Thursday.

Philadelphia's offense finally woke up, giving fans hope that they could extend the series to a Game 5. Phillies manager Rob Thomson rallied his troops with a pregame speech that may have swung the tide.

Rob Thomson inspires Phillies to beat Dodgers 

Thomson gave his squad a few words of wisdom before Game 3. According to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, he told his players, “Don’t try harder, trust harder.” 

Resonating with his players, outfielder Max Kepler, who signed a one-year deal with the club over the winter, said it was “a revelation.”

“Everyone was just in awe,” Kepler said. “It felt like a revelation at the same time. A revelation of, we’re back.”

Meanwhile, longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto was asked how he felt about his skipper's speech, saying, “It was a weight lifted off our shoulders. We were able to just play our game from there on.”

Realmuto has been the Phillies' only consistent hitter in the series, going 5-for-13 (.385 average), with two doubles, a triple, a home run and three RBI. 

With Thomson lighting a fire under them, the team scored eight runs, with three coming off the long ball. 

The Phillies now have momentum 

Philadelphia now has the momentum back on its side. The Dodgers are feeling the pressure.

“We have to understand that we're still up 2-1," shortstop Mookie Betts said after the game. “Obviously, there's a lot of pressure on us to play the game, but that's a perfect pressure, it's a privilege, and just go out, play it.”