After getting a combined no-hitter in game four, the Houston Astros are tied at two a piece with the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. In Game five, Justin Verlander started on the mound for Houston as the Astros won game five 3-2 to take the one-game lead in the series.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Jose Altuve started the game with a double deep into right field and made it to third base on a fielding error on the play. Jeremy Pena drove in Altuve with a single into center field. Pena got caught stealing after Yordan Alvarez was struck out and Alex Bregman got caught swinging.
Kyle Schwarber on the second pitch hit one 368 feet over the right field wall to tie the game at one. Bryce Harper was walked but Nick Castellanos popped out into left field to end the inning.
At the bottom of the second, the Astros escaped the inning without giving up a run as bases were loaded. Justin Verlander struck out Rhys Hoskins as Chas McCormick was up next for Houston.
Following a quick third inning, Pena hit a solo home run to begin the fourth. Connor Brogdon came in for Noah Syndergaard after the hit. Brogdon gave up a double to Bregman, then Kyle Tucker and Yuli Gurriel struck out as they headed to the bottom of the frame.
In the next full frame of play, Verlander and Brogdon each struck out two batters for three up-three down innings. Verlander also finished the evening by retiring a couple more in the fifth to get his total to six.
Bryan Abreu came after Hector Neris for Houston in the sixth as they combined to give up just one hit.
At the top of the eighth, Houston extended their lead to 3-1. Altuve walked with Pena getting single into right field that set up Altuve at third. Alvarez had the sacrifice ground out to first that drove in Altuve for the two-run advantage.
Philadelphia cut it to within one run with a Jean Segura single that drove in Castellanos. Following the run, Ryan Pressly came in for Rafael Montero for the final two out of the inning.
Pressly clutched up in the bottom of the ninth to secure the 3-2 win and take the one-game lead in the World Series as they head back to Houston for Saturday’s game six.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jeremy Pena
Pena got three hits, two RBIs, and a solo home run at the top of the fourth to help give the Astros the one-run win on Thursday night’s game.
BIG NUMBER: 13
Houston’s 13 total strikeouts were enough for the Astros to get the 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies in game five of the World Series to take the one-game lead.
UP NEXT: The Astros will head back to Houston to play the Phillies for game six of the World Series on Saturday. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:03 p.m.