TIED AT 1-1
The Fall Classic has now been tied, 1-1, in 62 of 118 World Series (including 1912 which was 1-1 with a tie through Game 3)…in the previous 61, the Game 2 winner has won the World Series 50.8 pct. (31 of 61) of the time and the Game 2 loser has won 49.2 pct. (30 of 61) of the time…however, the Game 2 winner has gone on to win the title on just four of 14 occasions since 1993: Astros in 2017, Cubs in 2016, Yankees in 2009 and Angels in 2002…the 2021 Astros, 2020 Rays, 2014 Royals, 2013 Cardinals, 2011 Rangers, 2008 Rays, 2006 Tigers, 2003 Yankees, 1997 Indians and 1993 Phillies all evened the series but lost the Fall Classic.
HOUSTON ASTROS
The Astros are 8-1 this Postseason and their 5-2 win tonight marked their 2ndlargest margin of victory behind Game 3 of the ALCS at NYY (5-0)…they improved to 10-16 all-time in World Series games, including 4-10 at home…are 2-7 in home World Series games since 2019, joining a win in 2021 Game 2 vs. ATL.
• The Astros got doubles from Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez to start the game, all within the first 4 pitches…they became the first team in World Series history to start a game with three consecutive extra-base hits…it also marked a first in Astros Postseason history and they were the first team to do it in the Postseason since the Nationals in Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS vs. STL.
• The Astros have pitched to a 2.18 ERA (91-IP, 22-ER) in 9 games this Postseason.
• The Astros have homered in all nine Postseason games, totaling 15 HR.
• This is the third time in five trips to the World Series the Astros have been tied 1-1 after Game 2, following 2021 vs. the Braves and 2017 vs. the Dodgers.
FRAMBER VALDEZ
Made his third career World Series start and recorded his first World Series win…became the eighth in Astros history with a World Series win, joining Jose Urquidy (3), Gerrit Cole (1), Chris Devenski (1), Josh James (1), Lance McCullers Jr. (1), Charlie Morton (1) and Joe Musgrove (1)…his 6.1 IP marked the longest World Series start since HOU Zack Greinke (6.1 IP) in 2019 Game 7 vs. WSH…it marked the seventh time an Astros starter went 6.1 IP (or more) in a World Series…is the second Astros starter to go 6 IP (or more) and record the win in a World Series game, joining Gerrit Cole (7 IP) in 2019 Game 5 at WSH.
• His only run allowed was on a sacrifice fly off Rafael Montero in the 7th.
• His 9 SO tied an Astros record for a World Series game, joining Gerrit Cole in 2019 Game 5 at WSH and Justin Verlander in 2017 Game 6 at LAD…marked the most at Minute Maid Park (Astro or opponent) in World Series history, passing the previous high of 7 SO (7x-last Jose Urquidy in 2021 Game 2 vs. ATL).
• His 2 GDP tied an Astros World Series record, joining Zack Greinke in 2021 Game 4 at ATL, Dallas Keuchel in 2017 Game 1 at LAD and Wandy Rodríguez in 2005 Game 1 at CHW…got them in consecutive innings (5th and 6th).
ALEX BREGMAN
Hit a 2-run homer off Zack Wheeler in the 5th inning for his 15th career Postseason homer (third this year) and sixth career World Series homer…the 15 Postseason homers rank 4th in Astros history behind Jose Altuve (23), George Springer (19) and Carlos Correa (18) and the six World Series homers rank 2nd in Astros history behind Springer (7)…all 15 HR in the Postseason have come as a third baseman, extending a Major League record (while playing the position) over Justin Turner (13) and Chipper Jones (11)…holds the record for World Series homers among third basemen, extending his lead over Scott Brosius (4) and Gil McDougald (4)…also ranks 3rd among third basemen in hits (73).
• Twelve of his 15 career Postseason homers have come against current or former All-Stars, including two of his three this Postseason (Severino, Wheeler).
• Among third basemen, is the third to homer in the World Series against the Phillies, following NYY Alex Rodriguez in 2009 and KC George Brett in 1980.
JEREMY PEÑA
Opened the scoring with a RBI double off Zack Wheeler in the 1st inning…his 8 XBH are tied for 4th among rookies in a single Postseason behind TB Randy Arozarena (14) in 2020, HOU Yuli Gurriel (10) in 2017 and TB Evan Longoria (9) in 2008…66.7 pct. (8 of 12) of his hits this Postseason are for extra bases.
• Became the fourth rookie in Astros history to record a game-winning RBI in the World Series (i.e. gave the Astros a lead they never relinquished), following Jose Siri in 2021 Game 2 vs. ATL (single), Yordan Alvarez in 2019 Game 5 at WSH (2-run homer) and Yuli Gurriel in 2017 Game 3 vs. LAD (homer).
JOSE ALTUVE
His 3 hits tied a career high for a Postseason game (9th time)…marked the third time he recorded a 3-hit game in the World Series, joining 2019 Game 2 vs. WSH and 2017 Game 5 vs. LAD…has hit safely in four consecutive Postseason games after opening the playoffs in a 0-for-25 skid…his 26 career World Series hits rank 1st in Astros history and his 11 XBH rank 2nd behind George Springer (14).
• His nine career 3-hit games are tied with Correa and two others for 3rd in Postseason history, trailing only Derek Jeter (12) and Bernie Williams (12).
DUSTY BAKER
• Baker’s 48 career Postseason wins as a manager are the 4th-most all-time, trailing Hall of Famers Joe Torre (84), Tony La Russa (71) and Bobby Cox (67).
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
The Phillies dropped to 10-3 this Postseason and lost for the first time since Game 2 of the NLCS at SD, snapping a 4-game winning streak…the Phillies are 1-3 in Game 2s this Postseason and 9-0 in all other games…they dropped to 15-24 all-time in the World Series, including 6-13 in World Series games on the road.
• The Phillies fell behind on the second pitch of the bottom of the 1st inning and never led…they allowed three straight doubles to start the bottom of the 1st.
• This is the sixth time in eight trips to the World Series the Phillies have been tied 1-1 through Game 2, and fifth consecutive time dating back to 1983…their only World Series title when being tied 1-1 through Game 2 was in 2008 vs. TB.
ZACK WHEELER
Made the fifth start of his Postseason career, all this year, tying Cliff Lee in 2009 and Cole Hamels in 2008 for the most in a single Postseason in Phillies history… his 6 hits, 5 runs, 4 ER and 3 BB marked Postseason career highs while his 5 IP and 3 SO were career lows…suffered his second Postseason loss (NLCS Game 2).
• Yielded 3 hits in his last 4 IP, compared to 3 hits (all doubles) within his first 4 pitches of the game…became the first pitcher in Major League history to allow three consecutive extra-base hits to start a World Series game…was the first pitcher to allow three straight extra-base hits to start a Postseason game since STL Adam Wainwright in Game 5 of the 2012 NLDS at WSH and was the first pitcher to start a Postseason game in this fashion in Phillies Postseason history.
• Including reg. season, was the fourth time in 31 starts this year he allowed 5 runs (or more): also Aug 14 at NYM (6), July 13 at TOR (6) and April 17 at MIA (7).
• Allowed the leadoff batter to reach in four of 5 IP, on 2 hits and 2 BB.
BRYCE HARPER
Went 0-for-4 and was hitless for the first time since Game 1 of the Wild Card Series at STL…snapped an 11-game hitting streak, which tied for the 2nd-longest in Phillies Postseason history behind Greg Luzinski (13) from 1976-80.
