Big offense in Game 3 sets Phillies' bullpen up well

PHILADELPHIA -- The old cliche says that a win is a win, whether it's by one run or ... seven.

But in the Phillies' case, every last run mattered in their 7-0 victory over the Astros in Game 3 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Citizens Bank Park. It wasn't just that they took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, but the seven-run victory allowed Philadelphia to claim the pivotal win without using any of its high-leverage relievers.

The Phillies' top four bullpen arms -- Seranthony Domínguez, José Alvarado, David Robertson and Zach Eflin -- haven't pitched since Game 1 on Friday in Houston. Thanks to Sunday's off-day and Monday's postponement, they have each had four days of rest heading into Wednesday's Game 4.

That gives manager Rob Thomson complete flexibility when it comes to his bullpen over the next two days, with Aaron Nola starting Game 4 and Noah Syndergaard getting the call in Game 5. In theory, the Phillies -- who are two wins away from their first title since 2008 -- could deploy all of their best relievers on back-to-back days to clinch the World Series.

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

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Despite racing out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings, there was a point on Tuesday when it seemed like Thomson would again have to deploy the aggressive bullpen approach that he used in Philadelphia's Game 1 victory.

With the Phils still holding that four-run lead in the top of the fifth, Ranger Suárez found himself in a two-on, two-out jam with Jose Altuve stepping to the plate. Alvarado began warming in the bullpen.

Suárez, however, escaped the jam by getting Altuve to pop out to first baseman Rhys Hoskins in foul territory. Then, Kyle Schwarber promptly delivered a crucial two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to extend the lead to six.

Alvarado sat down in the bullpen. Though he would get up again moments later, it was only to celebrate the Phillies' fifth homer of the night as Hoskins went back-to-back with Schwarber.

"That was huge," Thomson said of the fifth inning. "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. ... But yeah, that was a big inning, just to be able to stay away from Alvarado and Seranthony. So it was big."

Without needing that duo to close it out, Thomson instead used Connor Brogdon, Kyle Gibson, Nick Nelson and Andrew Bellatti for one inning apiece to seal the shutout.

“No matter the situation, guys have answered," said catcher J.T. Realmuto. "You saw Nelly come in the game today -- he hasn't pitched yet, obviously his first World Series outing -- and he threw the ball great for us. Brogdon's been huge in those situations. Gibby's throwing the ball well. We have so much depth in the bullpen right now that it's nice to be able to get zeroes and be able to save those other guys."

As for "those other guys," Domínguez and Alvarado are now available to pitch each of the next two days, if needed -- and there's a strong possibility they will be.

Nola, who takes the hill in Game 4, has not made it out of the fifth inning in either of his past two starts. He's allowed 11 runs in just nine innings, including five runs over 4 1/3 innings in Game 1 against the Astros.

As for Syndergaard, the Phillies will likely only ask for three innings, at most, out of him in Game 5.

Even if Nola gets through six innings and Syndergaard takes down three frames -- likely a best-case scenario for Philadelphia -- that leaves nine innings for the bullpen to cover over the next two days. Plus, if the Phillies push Domínguez and Co. in those two games and they don't wrap up the World Series, they have an off-day Friday to recover and be ready for a potential Game 6 in Houston.

"That's massive to be able to get a win and not have to use those guys," Realmuto said. "But also, it's just our entire bullpen. The depth that we have, we have a lot of confidence in everybody we're bringing into the game right now."