HOUSTON – Framber Valdez held a five-run lead after Houston’s lightning-fast first inning, Alex Bregman homered, and the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 Saturday night to draw the World Series at one game apiece.
The Astros jumped out to a 5-0 lead, just like they did in Game 1. Valdez as well as Houston held on, unlike ace Justin Verlander in the opener.
Valdez bounced back from a couple of poor outings in last year’s Series to pitch shutout ball into the seventh inning, as well as the bullpen held off a couple of jams to seal the deal.
“Framber did a fantastic job,” Jose Altuve said after breaking out of a 4-for-37 postseason slump with 3 hits. “Just an amazing performance by him and our bullpen.”
Houston took a two-run lead against Zack Wheeler after Altuve, Jeremy Pea, and Yordan Alvarez all doubled. Shortstop Edmundo Sosa’s throwing error enabled another run during the first, and Bregman did add a two-run homer in the fifth.
Philadelphia attempted to rally in this game after bouncing back to win 6-5 in 10 innings the day before.
With the Phillies trailing by four runs in the eighth inning, Kyle Schwarber hit a deep right-field liner with a man on that was initially ruled a two-run homer by right field line ump James Hoye.
Umpire at first base Tripp Gibson initially signaled for a conference, but the call was reversed after a crew chief review ascertained the ball was only to the foul side of the pole.
Schwarber, who led the National League with 46 home runs as well as added three more in the postseason, then delivered a long drive that was apprehended at the right field wall.
Ryan Pressly pitched the final six innings, allowing one run on an error by first baseman Yuli Gurriel on Brandon Marsh’s grounder.
Just after the split in Houston, the Series returns to Citizens Bank Park on Monday night for the first time since 2009.
Out of 61 previous Series that were tied 1-1, the winner of Game 2 advanced to the title 31 times but just 4 of the last 14.
Valdez pitched with polish as well as poise after struggling to a 19.29 ERA in a duo of Series begins in last year’s six-game loss to Atlanta.
The 28-year-old left-hander struck out nine batters as well as walked three in 6 1/3 innings, enabling four hits.
He managed to blow batters away with a fastball that averaged 95.6 mph and astonished them with his curve, which resulted in six strikeouts, three of which were intentional. He changed his glove and spikes in the middle of the game, which was unusual.
As soon as the Phillies put two runners on in the sixth, Valdez struck out Game 1 hero J.T. Realmuto with high heat before getting Bryce Harper to bounce a first-pitch fastball into an inning-ending double play.
“His sinker was incredible.” “His curveball was quite good,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson. “His putaway pitches were excellent.”
Thomson didn’t mind Valdez rubbing his palm, social media was buzzing with speculation about whether there was anything to it.
“The umpires review these guys after nearly every single inning, and if something is wrong, MLB will take care of it,” Thomson explained. “We noticed it the last time he started.”
The Phillies’ seventh inning began with a double by Nick Castellanos, and Valdez left after a groundout advanced the runner. Montero permitted Jean Segura’s sacrifice fly to land on the warning track in left field.
The Astros roared back the next day, becoming the first team in Series history to start a game with 3 consecutive base hits.
Altuve singled to left, and Pea followed with a curveball into the left-field corner for a 1-0 lead.
Alvarez hit a slider high off the 19-foot wall in left after fouling off a pitch.
“I was hoping for a fourth,” Baker admitted. “Make as many runs as you can.” Because you understand Wheeler is one of baseball’s toughest players.”
Wheeler ought to have exited with a 2-0 lead, but shortstop Edmundo Sosa bounced his throw to first on Gurriel’s three-hopper for an inaccuracy, the ball bouncing off first baseman Rhys Hoskins’ mitt.
After two injury-plagued seasons, Bregman hit a two-run homer to left in the fifth inning when Wheeler left a slider over the middle of the plate. Bregman has 6 caree series homers as well as 3 this postseason with 9 RBIs.
Wheeler allowed five runs, four of which were earned, 6 hits, as well as three walks in 5 innings, the day after Aaron Nola battled.
“Everyone deserves a bad start every now and then,” Thomson said. “Those guys have been incredibly good for us for so long, and I totally expect them to be prepared to go and pitch well for us when they return.”
MAJOR DIFFERENCE
Houston managed to win 106 games and Philadelphia won 87, the second-largest win difference in the Series after the 93-win Chicago White Sox defeated the 116-win Cubs in 1906.
