WORLD SERIES GAME 4
Houston Astros throw a combined no-hitter beating the Phillies, 5-0
Nov 2, 2022, 10:40 pm
WORLD SERIES GAME 4
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After four innings of brilliant pitching from Cristian Javier and Aaron Nola, the Astros finally got on the board in the top of the fifth. The Astros loaded the bases bringing Yordan Alvarez to the plate. The Phillies would pull Nola and bring in Jose Alvarado. Alvarado then hit Yordan on the first pitch and then gave up a double to Alex Bregman scoring two runs.
Keep fightin'. pic.twitter.com/FpNFS95cug
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 3, 2022
A sac fly from Kyle Tucker and a base hit from Yuli Gurriel would make the score 5-0.
We got 5 on it. pic.twitter.com/CEKGTOwque
— Houston Astros (@astros) November 3, 2022
Christian Vazquez and Aledmys Diaz would both strikeout, ending the inning.
Cristian Javier (6 innings, 0 runs, 0 H, 9 Ks) would keep mowing down the Phillies in the fifth and sixth innings handing the game to the bullpen.
Bryan Abreu would be the next pitcher in for Houston in the bottom of the seventh. He shut down the heart of their order, striking out the side.
Bryan Abreu. Annihilating the Side. 😯 pic.twitter.com/0O5xBnvh7m
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) November 3, 2022
Zach Eflin would come in for Philly for the top of the eighth, returning the favor and striking out the side (Vazquez, Diaz, McCormick).
Rafael Montero was next in for Houston to pitch the eighth inning and retired the Phillies in order.
After a scoreless top of the ninth for the Astros, Ryan Pressly would come in to pitch the bottom of the ninth and complete the combined no-hitter after allowing a walk.
Final score: Astros 5, Phillies 0.
Up next: The Astros play Game 5 in Philadelphia on Thursday night with Justin Verlander taking the mound.
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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