EVERY-THING SPORTS
Verlander records his first World Series victory as Astros take a 3-2 series lead
Nov 3, 2022, 11:22 pm
EVERY-THING SPORTS
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When a best of seven series is tied 2-2, the winner of game five goes on to win the series roughly 70-80% of the time across all major sports. The Astros came into this game riding high off their game four 5-0 combined no-hitter. With future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander taking the mound, there was some skepticism entering this game. As good as Verlander's regular season has been throughout his career, even his postseason stats, his World Series record is horrendous. 0-6 in eight starts with a 6.07 ERA and nine homers given up doesn't say Hall of Fame caliber pitcher. Things got going early on in the game.
Jose Altuve got the party started with a triple off the wall to right field. Jeremy Pena followed with a single to score Altuve and make it 1-0 Astros. Phillies starter Noah Syndergaard only lasted a couple more innings after that. Verlander gave up a solo home run to Kyle Schwarber on his second pitch to tie the game at 1-1. It was Verlander's 10th World Series home run allowed, most of all time. Pena gave the Astros the lead with a solo shot in the fourth inning. Verlander went five innings only giving up the solo homer to Schwarber. He settled down and got out of some jams with 94 pitches thrown and six strikeouts.
In the eighth inning, both teams scored another run. In the top of the inning, Yordan Alvarez grounded to first base and Altuve scored from third. In the bottom of the inning, Jean Segura singled to right and Nick Castellanos scored. 3-2 going into the ninth inning with Ryan Pressly on the mound is about as solid as things can get. Except the Phillies had their two, three, and four hitters coming up. Those guys were a combined 0 for 8 with six strikeouts in the game.
Rhys Hoskins got up and struck out after fighting off several 0-2 pitches. J.T. Realmuto was up next and gave a ball a ride to the warning track where Chas McCormick made a tremendous catch against the wall for out number two. Phillies big bopper Bryce Harper was up with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Pressly hit him in the shoe to put the winning run in the batter's box. Castellanos, the free swinger, was up next. Pressly got him to ground out to Pena. Ball game!
Verlander got off the schneid with his first World Series win. The Astros take a commanding 3-2 series lead. The series is headed back to Houston for Game Six. Now this team has the opportunity to close out the series at home. They have the chance to quiet the haters and doubters with their second World Series title in their fourth appearance in the Fall Classic in the last six seasons. This will cement legacies and be a fitting feather in the cap of this dynasty. One more win. Nine more innings. 27 more outs away from one of the biggest EFF YOU'S in sports history!
Jose Altuve homered twice and drove in a season-high four runs and Jeremy Peña tripled for his 500th career hit to help the Houston Astros to a 9-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Thursday night.
It was tied with two outs in the fourth when Jake Meyers singled off George Kirby (0-1) before Cam Smith walked. Mauricio Dubón’s single on a grounder to right field scored Meyers to put Houston on top 3-2.
Peña then sent two more home with his triple off the wall in left-center to make it 5-2 and chase Kirby.
Altuve’s solo shot came with no outs in the fifth to push the lead to 6-2. He connected again with one on and two outs in the sixth to make it 8-2 and give him his 12th career multihomer game.
Houston’s Lance McCullers Jr. allowed five hits and two runs with a season-high eight strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings in his longest start this season. Shawn Dubin (1-0) got the last two outs of the fifth for the win.
Kirby allowed six hits and five runs with four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings in his season debut after sitting out with inflammation in his throwing shoulder.
Seattle played without Julio Rodríguez after the center fielder was scratched from the lineup about 30 minutes before the first pitch. Manager Dan Wilson said Rodríguez had back tightness and is day to day with the issue.
Dylan Moore homered and Rowdy Tellez had two hits and an RBI on a night the AL West-leading Mariners went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position.
Tellez gave the Mariners an early lead with an RBI single with two outs in the first. Seattle made it 2-0 when Moore homered to open the second inning.
Altuve hit a sacrifice fly to tie it in Houston’s two-run second.
Peña’s triple in the fourth padded the Astros' lead and ended Kirby’s night.
Peña is the fifth player in franchise history to reach 500 hits while playing shortstop, joining Roger Metzger (839), Carlos Correa (778), Craig Reynolds (767) and Adam Everett (530).
Houston RHP Ryan Gusto (3-2, 4.85 ERA) opposes RHP Emerson Hancock (1-2, 6.21) when the series continues Friday night.