Framber Valdez hit a five-run home run after Houston’s first-inning blitz, Alex Bregman homered, and the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-2 on Saturday night to even the World Series at one game apiece.
Just like in game 1, the Astros took a 5-0 lead. Unlike ace Justin Verlander in the opener, Valdes and Houston persevered.
Valdez bounced back from a pair of bad outings in last year’s series to throw the ball in the seventh and the bullpen worked through a few jams to get things done.
Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña and Jordan Alvarez doubled as Houston took a two-run lead in four innings against Zack Wheeler. An error allowed one more run in the first, and Bregman added a two-run homer in the fifth.
A day after coming back to win 6-5 in 10 innings. Philadelphia tried to rally in this one, too.
With the Phillies trailing by four runs, Kyle Schwarber drove deep down the right field line with a man on in the eighth against Rafael Montero, who had initially driven a two-run homer down the right field line by umpire James Hoy.
First base umpire Trip Gibson initially signaled to the umpires for a conference, and the call was overturned during a home crew review when it was determined the ball was on the foul side of the pole.
Schwarber, who led the NL in home runs this season, then hit a long drive that was caught off the right field wall.
Ryan Pressley capped off a six-hitter, giving up a run on an error by first baseman Julius Gurriel.
After a split in Houston, the streak resumes Monday night when the streak hosts Citizens Bank Park for the first time since 2009.
Of the 61 previous 1-1 series ties, the winner of Game 2 has won the title 31 times — but only four of the last 14.
After struggling to a 19.29 ERA in a pair of starts in last year’s six-game loss to Atlanta, Valdes pitched with polish and poise. His cheeks glistening with sweat, the 28-year-old left-hander struck out nine and walked three while allowing four hits in 6 1/3 innings.
He blasted batters with a fastball averaging 95.6 miles per hour and baffled them with his curveball, which resulted in three strikeouts — it looked like it. Unusually, he changed gloves and cleats in the middle of an outing.
With the Phillies’ only two runners on base against him in the sixth, Valdez struck out Game 1 star JT Realmuth on a hot out, then got Bryce Harper to ground out on the first pitch into an inning-ending double play.
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