Houston Astros Head Home One Win Away From World Series Title
The Houston Astros can clinch a World Series title on home soil for the first time in franchise history.
On Thursday night, the Astros took a 3-2 series lead over the Philadelphia Phillies with a 3-2 victory at Citizens Bank Park. They now head home with two games left to clinch their second World Series title in six years.
The stars of the game were Justin Verlander, Jeremy Peña, and Chas McCormick. Verlander was the star on the mound, earning his first career World Series win. He pitched five innings and gave up only one run. He struck out six Phillies batters.
Peña, meanwhile, was the MVP at the plate. He had three hits and two RBI on the night, including a fourth-inning solo shot that gave the Astros the lead. Finally, McCormick was a hero with the glove. He made an incredible leaping catch against the center field wall, robbing J.T. Realmuto of a ninth-inning extra base hit that could have spelled serious trouble for the Astros.
After a travel day on Friday, the World Series will resume at Minute Maid Park, where the Astros are 5-1 this postseason. They'll send Framber Valdez and his nasty curveball to the mound with a chance to finish off the pesky Phillies once and for all.
More From SI's Inside The Astros:
- Could Mike Trout Request a Trade to the Houston Astros?
- Report: Former Astros Pitcher Fiers' Contract Terminated By CPBL Club
- Can the Houston Astros Handle the Loss of Yordan Álvarez?
- Is There Any Hope for an Aging Yuli Gurriel?
- Grading the Houston Astros MLB Trade Deadline Transactions
- Jeremy Peña isn't Competing for Rookie of the Year, And That's a Good Thing
- Houston Astros Poised to Make Another World Series Run
- Mancini Mania: Behind the Houston Astros' Latest Streak of History
- Trey Mancini Gives Houston Astros a Much Deeper Lineup
- Astros' Álvarez Stopped Striking Out and Became the Best Hitter in Baseball
Make sure to follow Inside the Astros on Twitter @InsideAstrosSI!