HOUSTON (AP) — JT Realmuto homered in the 10th inning and the Philadelphia Phillies, saved by a slippery catch from right fielder Nick Castellanos, edged the Houston Astros 6-5 Friday night in Game 1 of the World Series.
Trailing 5-0 early to Astros ace Justin Verlander, the Phillies became the first team in 20 years to overcome a five-point deficit to win a World Series game.
They can thank Castellanos for having this chance. Known far more for his bat than his glove, he rushed to grab Jeremy Peña’s blooper with two outs in the ninth inning and a runner in the second.
Realmuto, who scored an even two-run brace in the fifth against Verlander, completed the comeback when he led in the 10th by sending a Luis García fastball into the right field seats.
Kyle Tucker homered twice for the Astros, who were 7-0 in the playoffs.
Houston had a chance in the 10th when Alex Bregman doubled with one out. After Yuli Gurriel walked two out, David Robertson rebounded on a wild pitch that put the runners up for second and third.
Pinched hitter Aledmys Díaz was then hit by a 2-0 pitch from David Robertson – but plate umpire James Hoye ruled Díaz had hunched over the field and not allowed him to go first for load the goals.
Díaz fell short on a 3-1 pitch to end it.
The last team to take a 5-0 World Series lead was the 2002 San Francisco Giants, who wasted their chance in Game 6 to close out the Angels and win the title under Dusty Baker.
Baker saw it happen again this time as Astros manager, by the same final score of 6-5.
The Astros, who have 106 wins, hadn’t lost to anyone since Philadelphia beat them Oct. 3 to clinch a wildcard berth as the third-place team.
Houston took a big lead thanks in large part to Tucker’s two home runs. But the Phillies surged as Verlander struggled again in the World Series.
Perfect as he took a 5-0 lead in the fourth, he came out after the fifth with the score at 5-all. That left him 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight career World Series starts — barely the line for a pitcher who is expected to earn his third Cy Young Award soon.
The Astros fell 0-5 in early World Series games and dropped their first game this postseason after sweeping the AL Division Series and AL Championship Series.
Seranthony Domínguez threw a scoreless ninth to claim the win when Castellanos made another stellar catch in the ninth inning this postseason, this one definitely a game-saver.
With Jose Altuve at second base after his two single and stolen bases, Peña hit a ball that went off the bat at 68 mph and only traveled about 200 feet. Castellanos ran a long way, then with a lunge made the end-of-round hold while sliding to the floor.
In Game 1 of the NL Division Series against Atlanta, Castellanos made three points and helped retain the lead with a somewhat similar hold in the ninth of that 7-6 win.
In the World Series for the fourth time in six years — and after losing to Atlanta in six games last year — these Astros are looking to give Baker his first managerial title and secure their second championship after winning him. won in 2017, a title marred by a placard theft scandal.
The surprising Phillies, who have two championships, are participating in the World Series for the first time since 2009. They rebounded from a 21-29 start that led manager Joe Girardi to fire with a 66-46 finish to reach the playoffs.
They won their eighth pennant by eliminating the San Diego Padres in five games in the NLCS under the management of Rob Thomson.
NEXT
Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler takes on Framber Valdez when the series continues Saturday night.
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