Phillies 6, Astros 5 (10 Innings)
World Series Game 1 - Friday Night, October 28th in Houston
Phillies lead series, 1-0
One Sentence Summary: After spotting the Astros a 5-0 lead after three innings, the Phillies, bolstered by an amazingly dominant bullpen, battled back to win in extra-innings with J.T. Realmuto hitting the go-ahead and eventual game-winning home run.
What It Means: I felt physical ill for most of this game, but it was all worth it. We watched this game from the comfort of our living room, all four of us waving red rally towels as needed. The Phillies in essence regain home field advantage with this win, and they'll attempt to head back to Citizens Bank Park with a 2-0 lead as Zack Wheeler takes the mound in Game 2 tonight.
What Happened / Featured Card: Aaron Nola was hit early and often, with a combination of bloop hits and home runs from Kyle Tucker. The Astros' right fielder hit two home runs off Nola, accounting for four of the Astros runs. Nola yielded in the fifth, with one out, to Jose Alvarado who quickly mowed through three Astros batters in the fifth and start of the sixth. Zach Eflin, Ranger Suarez, Seranthony Dominguez and finally, David Robertson, would follow, holding the Astros scoreless over the final 17 outs needed for the win. Robertson walked a tight-rope in the 10th, allowing an Alex Bregman double, walking Yuli Gurriel, and then uncorking a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. After hitting pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz, who was called back to the plate as he had leaned into the pitch, Robertson got Diaz to ground out to third, giving the Phillies a crucial series opening win.
What It Means: I felt physical ill for most of this game, but it was all worth it. We watched this game from the comfort of our living room, all four of us waving red rally towels as needed. The Phillies in essence regain home field advantage with this win, and they'll attempt to head back to Citizens Bank Park with a 2-0 lead as Zack Wheeler takes the mound in Game 2 tonight.
What Happened / Featured Card: Aaron Nola was hit early and often, with a combination of bloop hits and home runs from Kyle Tucker. The Astros' right fielder hit two home runs off Nola, accounting for four of the Astros runs. Nola yielded in the fifth, with one out, to Jose Alvarado who quickly mowed through three Astros batters in the fifth and start of the sixth. Zach Eflin, Ranger Suarez, Seranthony Dominguez and finally, David Robertson, would follow, holding the Astros scoreless over the final 17 outs needed for the win. Robertson walked a tight-rope in the 10th, allowing an Alex Bregman double, walking Yuli Gurriel, and then uncorking a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. After hitting pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz, who was called back to the plate as he had leaned into the pitch, Robertson got Diaz to ground out to third, giving the Phillies a crucial series opening win.
From the offensive side, the Phillies started chipping away at the deficit in the fourth against Astros' starter Justin Verlander. With two outs, Nick Castellanos singled to left to score Rhys Hoskins. Bohm then doubled home Bryce Harper and Castellanos to pull the Phillies to within two. In the fifth, Realmuto delivered his first big hit of the night, doubling to left to tie the game at 5-5. The Phillies offense had their chances over the next several innings, notably in the seventh when they loaded the bases with two outs. But old friend Hector Neris emerged from the Astros bullpen to strike out Castellanos and end the threat.
Castellanos found redemption in the ninth, making a game-saving, diving catch in right and sending the game to extra innings. In the top of the 10th, facing reliever Luis Garcia, Realmuto launched a 3-2 fastball just over the right field wall, giving the Phillies the lead. It was the first extra-inning World Series home run by a catcher since Carlton Fisk's iconic Game 6 walk-off home run from 1975.
Transaction: The Phillies set their World Series roster on Friday afternoon, adding Nick Maton (inf) and Nick Nelson (rhp), while removing Dalton Guthrie (of) and Bailey Falter (lhp).
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