The following batter, Rhys Hoskins decided six runs wasn't enough, and tacked on another run with a big fly of his own. It was now 7-0, and McCullers became the first pitcher to ever allow five home runs in a World Series game. Two batters later, Brandon Marsh hit his second home run of the postseason, another solo blast, but this time to right field.
The replay itself doesn’t necessarily do the moment justice. Alvarez pimped his home run off Ray — as he should, sorry baseball purists — and made his way around the bases like a badddd man. Mariners manager Scott Servais took a risk by putting starter Robbie Ray in for the final out, and it did not fare well.
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander in the dugout during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. After 17 scoreless innings, Houston Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena broke the tie, hitting a game-winning and series-clinching solo home run to put the Astros back in the American League Championship Series for the sixth straight year. The Astros completed the sweep of their American League West division rival, the Seattle Mariners, and the Mariners are eliminated from playoff contention. Servais turned to lefty starter Robbie Ray -- who allowed four runs in three innings against the Blue Jays on Saturday in Toronto -- as the manager hoped for a favorable left-on-left matchup.
Contrary to the unmistakable mastery displayed by Cristian Javier and his buddies in the bullpen in the first combined no-hitter in World Series history a night earlier, this win did not come easily or breezily for Verlander and the Astros. But it came -- and established a 3-2 edge that 31 of 47 (65.9%) previous Game 5 winners have converted into a title -- because for every jam there was a lam, for every obstacle there was, literally, an out. Following the lead of Justin Verlander, who was shaky yet successful in five effective innings to finally get his first Fall Classic victory in nine attempts, the Astros’ pitching staff bent but never broke. According to Baseball Savant, only one of Alvarez’s 97 career home runs is longer — the 469-foot missile he struck against A’s starter Paul Blackburn on May 30.
Astros hit season-high 5 HRs in rout of Halos
The Angels couldn’t even argue that point after watching the Astros set a season high by clubbing five home runs to overcome an injury-abbreviated start from José Urquidy and take the series finale, 9-1, on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park. Devers put Boston in front 1-0 when he jumped on Urquidy’s 95 mph fastball and drove it over the center field wall for his seventh homer of the season. Eovaldi (1-2) became the third pitcher in major league history to surrender five homers in an inning, joining Chase Anderson (Sept. 17, 2020 vs Yankees) and Michael Blazek (July 28, 2017 vs. Nationals). José Urquidy (3-1) allowed 12 hits and four runs, including homers to Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez, but lasted five innings to record the victory.
The Phillies used the long ball to earn a 7-0 win over the Houston Astros and take a two games to one lead in the World Series. The Astros pitcher plunked Crawford in the back on a 3-1 pitch after giving up Dylan Moore’s grand slam that helped the Mariners rally to an 11-8 comeback win. Raley appealed the suspension Friday, when he was also fined for intentionally throwing at and hitting Seattle’s J.P. Crawford. Kendall Graveman struck out three over 1 1/3 innings in his Astros debut. He entered in the seventh for his first outing since Houston acquired him Tuesday from the Mariners.
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Alvarez saw nine pitches, took four swings and hit three home runs in his first three at-bats against Oakland A’s starter Adrián Martinez. No Astro had ever struck three home runs against the same pitcher in the same game. Only 11 men in franchise history have ever hit three in one game. Houston Astros relief pitcher Phil Maton reacts after striking out Oakland Athletics Jonah Bride to end the top of the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros Yordan Alvarez singles against Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Jared Koenig during the seventh inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston.
It marked Altuve's sixth career slam and third this season. His third multi-homer game of 2021 was the seventh of his career. Correa was one of the Astros’ biggest stars during their 2017 World Series season, which has since been marred by the sign-stealing scandal that saw GM Jeff Luhnow and manager A.J. Hinch fired, but no sanctions against the players themselves.
Blasts from Altuve, Gurriel, Tucker, Alvarez and McCormick total 1,942 feet
Alvarez made the Mariners pay for that mistake big time. While several names have been floated in potential deals for Daulton Varsho, players such as Luis Garcia, Cristian Javier, and top prospect Hunter Brown have continually been mentioned as part of the deal. If the Astros are unwilling to part with Brown, Javier may most likely be headed to Arizona. Tucker struck again in the third inning, this time doing more damage against Nola and the Phillies with a three-run home run on a full count to push the Houston lead to 5-0.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander after striking out Oakland Athletics designated hitter Shea Langeliers to end the top of the fifth inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander steps over the base line as he walked out of the bullpen to the dugout before the start of the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander talks to home plate umpire Chris Guccione before the start of the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander delivers to Oakland Athletics Tony Kemp during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander delivers to Oakland Athletics Vimael Machin during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Adrian Martinez pitches to Houston Astros Jose Altuve during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander delivers to Oakland Athletics Ramon Laureano during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander checks the runner, Oakland Athletics Seth Brown, on first base during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston. Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander reacts after striking out Oakland Athletics Ramon Laureano during the fourth inning of an MLB baseball game at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022 in Houston.
Verlander entered with an unsightly 0-6 record and a 6.07 ERA in Fall Classic play -- the worst performance for any starting pitcher with as much experience as Verlander has on this stage. Half-filled champagne flutes sat strewn on a table a few feet away from Dubón’s locker. The team commemorated its sixth consecutive postseason appearance with a small toast and some brief speeches.
The baseball landed atop the Budweiser bar between the batter’s eye and Houston’s bullpen, making Alvarez’s hustle a moot point. The blast offered more hope for an awakening after Alvarez’s abysmal August. He slugged .312 and struck four extra-base hits in 92 plate appearances. He posted a 50 percent ground ball rate — more than 12 points above his career average. The day Yordan Alvarez awed the Astros began with no pregame batting practice.
Tuesday's signing marks the end of a contractual odyssey for Correa. He turned down a five-year, $160 million deal from Houston following the 2021 World Series, eyeing a deal that would near $300 million. No such market developed for Correa last offseason, and he then signed a three-year, $153 million contract with Minnesota that included opt-outs after each year.
The Philadelphia Phillies took a 2-1 lead in the World Series over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night. It’s a best-of-5 series, so by no means has Houston punched their ticket to the ALCS just yet, but a demoralizing defeat like this one is tough to get over. Seattle NEEDS to win at least one game in Houston to advance, and they just let one slip right through their fingers. In theory, Servais putting in one of his best pitchers to face Alvarez makes sense, until you consider the role and the moment.
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