Astros get to Wheeler early, keep bats in check to even up World Series at one apiece
Final score: Astros 5, Phillies 2
Whatever magic has helped guide the Phillies through one of the most memorable playoff runs in franchise history seems to have elected Game 2 as its night off.
Not just Game 2 of the World Series. Every Game 2 since the NLDS. The Phillies fell 5-2 to the Astros on Saturday night, dropping just their third game of the postseason, each of which have come in the second game of the last three postseason rounds.
Likely, though, Zack Wheeler’s uncharacteristic start — three straight doubles to kick off a five-run, five-inning outing — coupled with a very characteristic one by Framber Valdez would’ve been too much to overcome in any game. Despite the Phillies keeping within striking distance, Saturday was all Astros from the jump.
It’s a good thing the Phillies erased that 5-0 deficit in Game 1. They’ll head back to Citizens Bank Park with the World Series tied at a game apiece.
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Zack Wheeler entered Saturday’s start on five days’ rest, and the Astros quickly made up for lost time.
Thrice.
José Altuve (who went 3-for-4) doubled on Wheeler’s first pitch of the night, Jeremy Peña doubled on the second and Yordan Álvarez doubled on the fourth for a very early 2-0 Houston lead.
Wheeler almost ended the damage there, but a throwing error by Edmundo Sosa on a ball that Rhys Hoskins should’ve picked anyway put the Phillies down three.
Despite a couple walks, Wheeler somewhat settled in — that is, until the fifth, when Alex Bregman cranked a long two-run homer:
Meanwhile, Valdez cruised. The Phillies didn’t put multiple runners on in an inning until the sixth, when a J.T. Realmuto strikeout and Bryce Harper double play on consecutive pitches quickly ended a two-on, no-out threat.
They finally got one in the seventh on a sacrifice fly by Jean Segura — driving in Nick Castellanos shortly after a leadoff double — but the real opportunity to make things interesting came in the eighth.
Kyle Schwarber came to the plate after Bryson Stott worked another long plate appearance, this one a 12-pitch walk to lead off the frame against Rafael Montero. Schwarber yanked a 2-2 fastball to the second deck, but after he circled the bases, the umpire crew (correctly) reversed the call to a foul ball.
Schwarber flew out to the back of the warning track on the very next pitch, a sequence that summarized Game 2 well: It was one of a select few days this month that just wasn’t theirs.
Instead of the deficit cutting to two on either of those pitches, Harper eventually flew out with runners on the corners to end the inning. It was an unusually quiet night for Harper, who came up short in a couple big spots as part of an 0-for-4 Game 2.
After Brandon Marsh knocked in Alec Bohm on an E-3, Ryan Pressly got Stott to ground out to finish the series-tying Houston win.
Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon and Brad Hand took down an inning apiece after Wheeler, as the four-run deficit let the Phillies avoid their top relievers. Barring injury, they’ll be fully available for a pivotal Game 3.
Shibe Vintage Sports Starting Pitching Performance
- The Astros were on Zack Wheeler from the jump, opening his night with three straight doubles with exit velocities above 97 mph. The Phillies’ defense didn’t help his line; neither did three walks. Perhaps most concerning: Wheeler didn’t reach 97 mph all night, despite an extra day of rest before his World Series debut.
- The Phillies couldn’t do much of anything against Framber Valdez, who use his devastating sinker-curveball combo to keep the Phillies off balance all night. Valdez didn’t exactly have pinpoint command of all his pitches, but he didn’t really need it. There’s a reason he’d be a Game 1 starter on most teams in baseball.
Ticket IQ Next Game
- World Series Game 3 on Monday, Nov. 1 at 8:03 p.m. ET
- Citizens Bank Park
- TV: FOX
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP, ESPN Radio
- Spanish Radio: WTTM 1680
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