This is such a strange World Series. Only a game after giving up the most home runs in World Series history, the Astros came back with a combined no hitter to blank the Phillies 5-0 and level the series 2-2.
Well, this World Series has easily been the most exciting one we’ve seen in the past few seasons. Not only has each game been a back-and-forth affair, but most of them have also had some historical significance to them to made them even more intriguing. And this one was no different.
Like I said, the Phillies set a single home run record in a World Series game with five in Game 3, while the Astros matched the Yankees great Don Larsen’s no hitter record with one of their own yesterday.
Though, in my humble opinion, this no hitter record was a much more impressive feat to accomplish. As we saw with Lance McCullers Jr. uncharacteristically getting lit up for 5 home runs, it’s very easy for a pitcher to have an off night or an opposing team to capitalize on some information they have on said pitcher.
Sure, it doesn’t happen often, but it’s not as unthinkable as a no-hitter for an entire game.
Yet, when a bullpen is able to completely shut down such fantastic hitters like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Rhys Hoskins, and J.T. Realmuto for nine innings without their supposed ‘best pitcher’, that’s when you know the Astros have a special group of pitchers. And even more so when they not only achieve the first ever combined no-hitter in World Series history, but also match the 66-year-old record of a Yankees legend.
Nonetheless, as for the game itself, all of the action came in the 5th inning as Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola lost control of his pitch count against the top of the Astros lineup, which was the worst thing he could have possible of done. Allowing McCormick, Altuve, and Pena, all to hit singles and to fill up the base, Nola was quickly replaced by Rob Thompson for Jose Alvardo to try and shore up the Phillies horrible position.
And, in classic Philly sports fashion, Alvardo struck his first pitch against Yordan Alvarez’s back to send McCormick home and give the Astros a 1-0 lead. Following that calamity, Alvardo thought he needed to do one better as he gave up an Alex Bregman 2-run RBI double and then a two more hits from Kyle Tucker and Yuri Gurriel that brought home the 4th and 5th, respective, Astros runs that won them this game 5-0.
Even though the Phillies hitters tried to mount a late comeback, the Astros bullpen of Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreau, Rafael Montero, and Ryan Pressley shut them out at every opportunity. A truly legendary performance from an all-time great team.
I still think the Phillies have a great chance of winning this series as the Astros’ pitchers can’t throw no-hitter every night (probably), but this was a momentum killer. They still have one more game at home to win the all-important Game 5 to go back to Houston up 3-2, but the thought of succumbing to only the second no-hitter in World Series history will plague the minds of every one of those Philly hitters when they step up to the plate tonight.
We’ll see who wins the decisive Game 5, but I have my money on the Astros now. Such an other-worldly pitching performance has to give the Astros an edge.
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