It was if it were meant to be.

Bryce Harper’s two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning propelled the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-3 win over San Diego, the National League Championship, and into the 2022 World Series.

With the win, the Phillies eliminated the Padres four games to one, and a date with either the Houston Astros or New York Yankees in the Fall Classic, which begins Friday.

The Phillies, who advance to the World Series for the first time since 2009, improved to 5-0 at home in the postseason and 27-9 since late July.

The Phillies become the sixth team since divisional play started in 1969 to reach the World Series after a midseason managerial change, the first since the 2003 Marlins.

The Phillies were just 22-29 on June 2 when bench coach Rob Thomson replaced Joe Girardi.