Early offense propels Astros to Game 2 victory, evening World Series
The Houston Astros evened up the World Series at a game apiece on Saturday, coming away with a 5-2 victory in Game 2.
Houston's bats got to Phillies' starter Zack Wheeler early in Game 2, posting a three-run first inning highlighted by three straight Astros doubles off the first four pitches they saw in the ball game.
After starting pitcher Framber Valdez posted a scoreless top half of the first, the Astros offense went to work.
Jose Altuve led the inning off by smashing a first-pitch double off the left-field wall. Jeremy Pena followed with a sharp line-drive double past Phillies' third baseman Alec Bohm to put the Astros up 1-0 only two pitches into Wheeler's outing.
After Pena's double, Yordan Alvarez kept the train rolling; only it took him two pitches to claim his two-bagger. Alvarez drove the second pitch he saw from Wheeler off the left-field wall, driving home Pena to increase Houston's lead to 3-0 in a flash.
Still ahead 3-0 in the fifth inning, the Astros added on thanks to a two-run home run from third baseman Alex Bregman, who golfed a 2-0 slider from Wheeler over the left-centerfield fence, giving the Astros a 5-0 advantage.
After blowing a 5-0 lead to the Phillies in Game 1, there would be no repeat performance in Game 2.
While the Phillies were able to scratch across runs in the seventh and ninth, they never really threatened Houston's solid pitching.
Valdez went 6.1 innings for the Astros, allowing one earned run off four hits while striking out nine to earn the victory. The Astros' bullpen took care of the rest, as Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined to pitch the final 2.2 innings, allowing two hits and an unearned run to seal the win.
Meanwhile, Altuve set the tone for Houston's offense on Saturday, accounting for nearly half of the Astros' hits in Game 2. Altuve was the only Astro with multiple hits, finishing 3-for-4 with a run scored out of the lead-off spot.
The World Series now shifts to Philadelphia for Games 3 through 5.
The Phillies will host the Astros for Game 3 Monday at 8:03 p.m. Noah Syndergaard will start for Philadelphia, while Lance McCullers Jr. will get the ball for Houston.
More must-reads: