PHILADELPHIA — Seranthony Domínguez exited the Phillies’ bullpen with a Padres runner on first and no outs in the eighth inning Friday night at Citizens Bank Park.
They needed six outs from Domínguez.
The Phillies had not recorded a six-out save in the postseason since Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson for the final out in Game 6 of the 1980 World Series, clinching the first championship in franchise history. That was 42 years ago Friday. Domínguez followed McGraw’s path and helped the Phils lock down a 4-2 victory over the Padres in Game 3 of the National League Championship Series to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven set.
In all best-of-seven series tied 1-1, the Game 3 winner has won the series 67 of 97 times (69%). In series with the current 2-3-2 format, teams breaking a 1-1 tie by winning Game 3 in their home ballpark have gone on to win the series 28 of 46 times (61%).
It wasn’t the prettiest of the Phillies’ postseason victories, but it counted. Kyle Schwarber hit a leadoff homer in the first, Jean Segura hit a go-ahead two-out single to score a couple of runs in the fourth and Alec Bohm hit a two-out double to score an insurance run in the sixth.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson gave Ranger Suárez an early hook after five strong innings. He leaned hard on the bullpen, and it delivered, including Domínguez.