For the second time in the 2022 World Series, the Houston Astros blew a 5-0 lead over the Philadelphia Phillies. However, in contrast to the tense and impressive Game 1, the Astros in Game 2 on Saturday night were able to hold on to that lead and prevail by a score of 5-2. The win evens the best-of-seven series at 1-1 before Sunday’s travel day.
In Game 2, the Astros enjoyed a big first inning and then a two-run home run in the fifth inning by Alex Bregman, all off Phillies starter Zack Wheeler. That was more than enough for Houston left-handed starter Framber Valdez, who fared very well against a Phillies team that was one of MLB’s most potent offenses against lefties during the regular season. Before Saturday’s win, the Astros had lost seven of the last eight World Series games played at Minute Maid Park.
Now for some takeaways from Game 2.
Valdez slowed down the Phillies
Lefty Framber Valdez struggled in his pair of World Series starts last fall, giving up 10 runs on 12 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Braves. He vindicated himself on Saturday, allowing just one run in 6 1/3 innings.
Valdez gave up four hits and three walks, but struck out nine batters in 104 pitches. He didn’t allow the Phillies to get a runner in scoring position until the sixth inning, and later neutralized that threat by striking out a batter and then inducing an inning-ending double play.
Valdez generated a game-high 15 swings and errors, including nine on his curveball. His signature pen, meanwhile, went 1.7 mph faster than usual compared to the regular season.
Altuve and the Astros made history in the first
During the regular season, the Astros’ offense led all of MLB with an .860 first-inning OPS. (This kind of thing can happen when you have the likes of Jose Altuve and Yordan Alvarez coming to the plate in the opening frame consistently.) In the first inning of Game 2, they lived up to that advanced billing and then some . In fact, they made some World Series history en route to a three-run inning:
As you can see, the Astros are one of three teams to open a playoff game with three straight extra-base hits and the only team to do so in the World Series. Specifically, the Astros in the first inning Saturday night ripped three doubles in a four-pitch span off Phillies co-ace Zack Wheeler, whose night will be examined in more depth below. Altuve bunted Wheeler’s first pitch for a double, then Jeremy Peña did the same on a curveball. Alvarez fouled off a high fastball and then doubled off a slider that was in nearly the same location.
Altuve’s hitting was especially encouraging for him and Houston, as he entered Game 2 uncharacteristically just 4-for-37 during these playoffs. Later in Game 2, Altuve added a pair of singles for his first three-hit game since the final game of the regular season against … the Phillies. You knew Altuve wasn’t going to hang around for long.
All the work done by the top of Houston’s lineup set the desired tone, giving them an 80 percent chance to win Game 2 in the second inning.
Wheeler fights on a long rest
Zack Wheeler had his start pushed back from Game 1 to Game 2 so he could get an extra day of rest. Unfortunately for the Phillies, it didn’t do him any good.
Wheeler struggled out of the gate, surrendering three extra-base hits in an inning for the fifth time in his career in the first inning. It was the first time in his career that such an inning had resulted in the game. He would later surrender another extra-base hit, a two-run home run by Alex Bregman that gave the Astros a 5-0 lead. In doing so, he marked the 13th time in his career that he had given up at least four extra-base hits.
Wheeler finished his night with a line that saw him surrender four earned runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out three and threw 41 hits on 69 pitches. Remarkably, his speed seemed compromised from the start. Both his home run and four-seam were slightly below his season averages for those pitches, though the disparity narrowed over the course of his start. Additionally, his slider and curveball exceeded his regular-season velocities, according to Statcast.
The Phillies can only hope that Wheeler can perform like himself if and when he is called up later in this series.
Bregman makes home run history
As mentioned earlier, Bregman uncorked a two-run home run in the fifth to give the Astros a 5-0 lead. This was his sixth career World Series home run, setting a new record for most by a third baseman in Fall Classic history.
Entering the night, Bregman had been tied with Gil McDougald at five apiece. McDougald appeared in 53 World Series games as a member of the New York Yankees in the 1950s. Saturday’s contest marked the 22nd World Series game of Bregman’s career.
The win was huge for Houston
As noted, the best-of-seven series is now tied 1-1, essentially making it a best-of-five series with the Phillies hosting the next three contests. It’s hard to say that Game 2 is a must-win for a team regardless of the circumstances, but it was something like that for the Astros. Consider, for example, the alternative outcome. Had the Astros lost Game 2 and fallen 0-2 and gone on the road, they would have had just a 16.9 percent chance of winning the series, at least according to MLB’s all-time best seven-series record. Instead, they’ve essentially made the series a coin toss, and perhaps a bit more favorable than that considering the Astros were the better team during the regular season. The Astros may not have had to win Game 2, but they badly needed to.
What comes next
Sunday will serve as a travel day for the teams as the series moves to Philadelphia. Game 3 will take place on Monday night. The Phillies were expected to go with Ranger Suarez, but will instead turn to Noah Syndergaard after Suarez appeared in relief in Game 1. The Astros are expected to start Lance McCullers Jr.