(Philadelphia) Jeremy Pena drove in two runs as the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 on Thursday to take a 3-2 World Series lead.
Posted at 12:32 a.m.
In addition to distinguishing himself on defense, the young shortstop scored the Astros’ first two points.
He hit a run-off single in the first, before hitting his fourth long pitch of the playoffs in the fourth.
Justin Verlander finally signed a first victory in the World Series, in his ninth start. He had an 0-6 performance and a 6.07 average.
Yordan Alvarez made it 3-1 in the eighth with an optional.
Jean Segura made things worse with a one-run single in the bottom of the eighth, but the Phillies weren’t going to do any more damage.
Trey Mancini had a great play at first base to end the eighth, grounded by Kyle Schwarber.
Ryan Pressly handled the final five outs.
In the ninth, he struck out Rhys Hoskins, then Chas McCormick jumped to the center field fence to catch a JT Realmuto strike.
Bryce Harper was hit, but Nick Castellanos was then grounded out to Pena.
After a day off Friday, the Phillies and Astros will meet at Minute Maid Park for Game 6 on Saturday night.
If an ultimate match was necessary, it would take place Sunday night, in Houston.
The Phillies’ first run came on a long ball from Schwarber in the first inning.
After the Pena homer, Noah Syndergaard was replaced by Connor Brogdon, who went just one hit while going five out on strikes in two full innings of work.
Jose Alvarado took over in the sixth inning.
In three innings, Syndergaard allowed three hits and two earned runs. He had four strikeouts.
Verlander pitched for five innings and allowed one run, four hits and four walks. He had six strikeouts.
Hector Neris struck out two of three batters he faced in the sixth inning before giving way to Bryan Abreu. The Astros right-hander reached Brandon Marsh, but forced Schwarber to hit a ground ball to Jose Altuve to close the inning.
Quick points
After just four pitches from Syndergaard in the first inning, the Astros were already up 1-0.
Altuve hit the second offering deep to right center field for a double. On the streak, Altuve went all the way to third base when Marsh struggled to recover the ball.
With the Phillies’ infielders playing tight, Pena followed it up with a single across the mound and into center field to give the visitors the lead.
The Astros helped Syndergaard’s cause when Pena was called out trying to steal second base, just as Alvarez blasted through the air on a third strike.
Alex Bregman was then moped out to end the inning.
The Phillies’ response was quick. On Verlander’s second pitch, Schwarber slammed a line that flew over the right-field fence for his fifth homer since the start of the playoffs.
The Phillies threatened in the second half of the second inning. After two outs, Segura singled to center field, then Marsh and Schwarber racked up free passes. But Verlander got out of this quagmire by retiring Hoskins on three strikes.
The Phillies put two more runners on the trails late in the third inning, but Verlander forced Bryson Stott to low fly ball to right fielder Kyle Tucker.