Astros remind league they're still contenders with Phillies sweep

Houston allowed one earned run over 27 innings, with eight pitchers combining to throw shutouts on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Hunter Brown started the series' final game, pitching seven shutout innings to lower his earned run average (ERA) to 1.74, with Philadelphia's only run coming on a sacrifice fly in the eighth off reliever Bryan King. Brown allowed three hits and struck out nine.

Overall, Phillies batters hit .160 (15-of-94), including .083 (1-of-12) with runners in scoring position, and left 19 runners on base during the three-game sweep.

Philadelphia has one of the majors' top offenses, entering the Houston series ninth in runs scored, averaging 4.7 per game, and the league's No. 2 team in batting average (.258). (h/t FanGraphs)

The Astros' ability to shut down the potent Phillies' offense is a positive sign as they look to halt their gradual downward skid since winning the 2022 World Series vs. Philadelphia.

They lost 16 fewer contests in 2023 and fell in the ALCS to the Texas Rangers in seven games. Last season, Houston finished 88-73 and had its streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances snapped after being swept at home by the Detroit Tigers in the best-of-three wild-card series.

The Astros (48-33) started this season slowly, going 20-20 through their first 40 games. They've been red-hot in 41 games since, going 28-13.

Houston entered Thursday fifth in team earned run average (3.43) and first in strikeouts per nine innings (10).

As strong as the unit has been, its sweep of the Phillies was its masterpiece. With half the season down and one half to go, the Astros once again look like they could rule MLB by season's end.