PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – NOVEMBER 01: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros walks off the field after being pulled from the game during the fifth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game Three of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park on November 01, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The Houston Astros took a rough 7-0 loss against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, and Lance McCullers crumbled hard under the pressure of the World Series.
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers wasn’t at his best potential in Game 3 of the World Series, ultimately leaving the Astros to be shut out 7-0 by the Philadelphia Phillies. As he was warming up, Phillies fans yelled to him, heckling him and not cutting him any slack.
The World Series is certainly a time more than ever to be so competitive. After all, it’s the most notable game in MLB that a team can win, and each team works hard with their eyes on the title every season. The competitive nature has certainly brought out the best (or worst) of each fanbase.
Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, for example, set the tone as soon as he stepped off the bus in Philadelphia by flipping off fans, but in a good-hearted nature. Phillies fans have given the ‘warm welcome’ right back by taunting them over billboards about their cheating scandal, refusing to serve them at local pizza joints and taunting McCullers during a warmup.
The Astros were doomed from the moment they stepped foot in Philadelphia with the energy the Phillies fans have put out.
Game 3: Astros didn’t stand a chance against the wild Phillies crowd
The Phillies truly have one of the most chaotic group of fans this postseason, in the best way possible. The city of Philadelphia had to go as far as greasing their lamp posts so that fans wouldn’t try to climb them after advancing in the playoffs.
Phillies fans have been deprived of seeing their team in the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, so they’ve been waiting for a while for this opportunity to come. They’re finally releasing all of their pent-up energy, and any team that’s come into their stadium this postseason has been decimated.
The Astros should’ve known what was coming, and hopefully McCullers knew as he was targeted in some humorous heckling.