CNN –
The Houston Astros won the franchise’s second World Series title on Saturday after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park.
It was the Phillies who started the scoring in the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run by Kyle Schwarber off Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, who was able to limit the damage before being pulled after the sixth. . Valdez finished with nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits and one run.
After allowing two baserunners, Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was pulled from the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Phillies reliever Jose Alvarado gave up a three-run home run off Astros shortstop Yordan Alvarez to give Houston the lead. Houston would pick up one more run on a Christian Vazquez single.
Ryan Pressly came in to close out the game and make sure the home crowd in Houston went home celebrating a World Series victory.
Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena was named World Series MVP. Pena becomes the first rookie position player in MLB history to win the award, according to the league.
After falling behind 2-1 through the first three games of the World Series, Houston evened the series after pitching a no-hitter in Game 4. Game 5 saw Astros ace Justin Verlander get the his long-awaited first career World Series win. pitching five innings with six strikeouts and giving up one run.
Astros skipper Dusty Baker can now add the World Series championship to his impressive managerial resume.
Asked if the win has “hit him” yet, Baker said, “It’s hit me good.”
“It hit me as soon as that ball — Yordan hit one over the moon out there. That’s when it hit me,” Baker added.
Baker was also asked what the most enjoyable part of the career has been for him, and he quickly responded that the answer “hasn’t sunk in yet” but called the team “the best group of guys “.
“They told me in spring training they were going to win,” Baker said. “Now, what’s going on? Party!”
The Astros’ victory marked the first time since 2013 that a team claimed the title on home soil. And Minute Maid Park hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for the team.
Houston has stumbled twice since the team’s first title in 2017. The Astros appeared in the Fall Classic in 2019 against the Washington Nationals and in 2021 against the Atlanta Braves, both of which resulted in losses.
The team’s 2017 victory came with many questions and controversy.
After the win, Astros owner and president Jim Crane fired then-manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow after MLB had suspended both of them for one season without pay in a hit-and-run scandal. posters
Major League Baseball found the club illegally created a system that decoded and communicated opposing teams’ pitching signals during its 2017 championship season.
The team forfeited its usual first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts and paid a $5 million fine.
The Astros retained their title, but for many non-Houston fans, it remains shrouded in scandal.
For Philadelphia, the loss spells heartbreak as the franchise seeks its first championship since 2008. The city was dealt a double blow on Saturday as the Philadelphia Union lost on penalties to Los Angeles FC in the 2022 MLS Cup final in the early afternoon.