If the Astros had lost Game 2 and been down 0-2 and heading out on the road, then they'd have just a 16.9 percent chance of winning the series, at least according to historical best-of-seven series outcomes in MLB. Consider, for instance, the alternative outcome. It's hard to call Game 2 a must-win for a team regardless of circumstances, but it was something close to that for the Astros. The win was a huge one for HoustonĪs noted, the best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1, which in essence makes it a best-of-five series with the Phillies set to host the next three contests. Saturday's contest marked Bregman's 22nd career World Series game. McDougald appeared in 53 World Series games as a member of the New York Yankees in the 1950s. The Phillies can only hope that Wheeler will be able to perform like his usual self if and when he's called upon later in this series.Įntering the night, Bregman had been tied with Gil McDougald at five apiece. Additionally, his slider and curveball actually exceeded their regular-season speeds, according to Statcast. Both his sinker and his four-seamer checked in a little under his seasonal averages for those pitches, though the disparity decreased over the course of his start. It's notable that his velocity appeared to be compromised early on. He struck out three and threw 41 strikes on 69 pitches. Wheeler finished his night with a line that saw him surrender four earned runs on six hits and three walks. By doing so, he notched the 13th time in his career he'd given up at least four extra-base knocks. He would later surrender another extra-base hit, a two-run home run by Alex Bregman that gave the Astros a 5-0 lead. It was the first time in his career that such an inning had led off the game. Wheeler struggled out of the gate, surrendering three extra-base hits in an inning for the fifth time in his career in the first inning. Unfortunately for the Phillies, it did him no good. Zack Wheeler had his start pushed back from Game 1 to Game 2 so that he could have an additional day of rest. You had know Altuve wouldn't stay down for long.Īll that work done by the top of the Houston lineup set the desired tone, as it gave them an 80 percent chance of winning Game 2 going into the second inning. Later in Game 2, Altuve added a pair of singles for his first three-hit game since the final game of the regular season against. Alvarez fouled off a high fastball and then doubled off a slider that was in almost the same location.Īltuve's knock was particularly encouraging for him and Houston, as he quite uncharacteristically entered Game 2 just 4 for 37 during these playoffs. Altuve yanked a first-pitch sinker from Wheeler for a double, and then Jeremy Peña did the same to a curve. Specifically, the Astros in the first inning on Saturday night ripped three doubles in a span of four pitches from Phillies co-ace Zack Wheeler, whose night will be examined in further depth below. He vindicated himself on Saturday, allowing just one run over 6 1/3 innings.Īs you can see, the Astros are one of just three teams to open a playoff game with three straight extra-base knocks and the only one to do so in the World Series. Lefty Framber Valdez struggled in his pair of World Series starts last fall, surrendering 10 runs on 12 hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Braves. Prior to Saturday's victory, the Astros had lost seven of the last eight World Series games played at Minute Maid Park. That was more than enough for Houston's lefty starter Framber Valdez, who fared very well against a Phillies team that was one of MLB's most potent offenses against left-handers during the regular season. In Game 2, the Astros enjoyed a big first inning and then a fifth-inning two-run home run from Alex Bregman, all off Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. The win evens the best-of-seven series at 1-1 ahead of Sunday's travel day. In contrast with the taut and stunning Game 1, however, the Astros in Saturday night's Game 2 were able to preserve that lead and prevail by a score of 5-2. For the second time in the 2022 World Series, the Houston Astros barged to a 5-0 lead over the Philadelphia Phillies.
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