Berks Phillies fans mourn World Series loss, look forward to next season

The crack of the bat rang painfully Saturday night as Phillies fans watched Houston’s Yordan Alvarez send a three-run homer sailing deep into the stands at Minute Maid Park, giving the Astros the lead they needed to win the World Series.

As Alvarez’s home run ball left the ballpark, Philadelphia fans’ hopes sank. By the end of the game, disappointment was the dominant emotion, according to local fans who discussed the outcome Sunday.

“It’s unfortunate,” Gus Gustafson, an employee at S & B Sports Collectibles in the Berkshire Mall, said of the World Series outcome. “They (the Phillies) had a good team. The hot streak was great for them, they all started pitching together and hitting together. I thought Zack Wheeler and (Aaron) Nola would be unbeatable.”

Gustafson said he knew the Phillies would have a tough time winning back-to-back away games to clinch the title after losing two  at home.

Still, he was hopeful Saturday, especially after Kyle Schwarber’s solo home run in the sixth inning put the Phils in front.

“Whoever took that lead (first), I thought that was going to be it,” Gustafson said, “It was one-nothing, I thought (the Phillies would win). But then they gave it back. I was really disappointed.”

Longtime Phillies fan Chris Brown of Muhlenberg Township said keeping Wheeler in — instead of replacing him with relief pitcher Jose Alvarado — might have kept Alvarez from smashing the game-winning homer.

“Wheeler is more experienced, he probably would have worked his way through it,” Brown said, “But that’s what they do, they go to the relievers. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off.”

But even the heartbreak of a World Series loss wasn’t enough to stop Brown’s son, Drake, 19, from donning a Phillies hat to brunch Sunday at Wyomissing Restaurant and Bakery, where the team was the subject of conversation.

“Most of our players are staying,” Drake Brown said. “Schwarber and (Nick) Castellanos are signed four and five years, so they’re staying. (Bryce) Harper’s got another nine left. I have hope for them absolutely. Why not?”

Brown wasn’t alone. With his Phils cap proudly on display Sunday at the Wyomissing restaurant, Dean Shrawder said he’s anything but a fair-weather fan.

“I’m still supporting them the day after the loss. They did amazing, they went farther than anyone thought,” Shrawder said, “I think Bryce Harper is the real deal … Anything can happen (next year).”

Sharing that sentiment was Lori Moser of Wernersville, whose love for the Phillies saw her making her way to Citizens Bank Park for games 4 and 5.

Moser said she grew up waving towels in the Philly stadium with her father and continued the tradition by taking her sister and brother-in-law to see the Series.

“Great atmosphere, sad when (the Phillies) lost,” Moser said of those games, “It would’ve been nice to have a better result … but they beat a couple of teams that had way better records, and the fact they got as far as they did is great.”

She said she hopes the Phillies come back strong next year.

“I think they need to make a couple of changes here and there yet, but I think they’re a lot closer than people thought they would be,” Moser said.

Even thought they lost, the Phillies making it to the World Series is nothing to be sad about, Gustafson noted.

“At least (the Phillies) can say they went to the championship,” Gustafson said, “Only two teams get to say that.”

Gustafson said he’s hopeful that other Philly teams can harness the momentum that came from the underdog Phillies overcoming the odds to make it to the World Series.

He hopes the 8-0 Eagles keep their winning streak running strong.

“The Eagles are on a big roll, who would’ve thought that,” Gustafson said, “The third week, they were the only undefeated team in the NFL, which is surprising.”

Brown said he’s eager to see the Eagles face a team that can challenge them, so they can prove themselves truly worthy of the playoffs.