Photo credit Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The first portion of the first game of the 2022 World Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros was a game of mirroring offensive explosions, including the comeback magic the Phillies have shown all October.
The second half was a nail-biting pitchers’ duel until J.T. Realmuto’s opposite-field explosion in the 10th inning gave the Phillies a 6-5 lead they would not relinquish, and their first win in a World Series game since 2009. It was the biggest comeback win in a World Series game since 2002.
While Houston starting pitcher Justin Verlander was literally perfect in the first three innings, the Astros — notably Kyle Tucker — exploded on Phillies starting hurler Aaron Nola.
Tucker bombed a pair of home runs, one each in the second and third inning, to produce four of Houston’s five runs in the early stanzas to give the Astros a 5-0 lead that normally would be insurmountable.
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Except these are the Fightin’ Phils, a team that truly embodies their historical nickname.
A half-inning after Houston’s three-run third inning, Nick Castellanos slashed an RBI single to score Rhys Hoskins. Alec Bohm subsequently drove Castellanos and Bryce Harper home with a two-run double to further cut the Houston lead to 5-3.
Then, in the top of the fifth inning, J.T. Realmuto launched a double to score Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber, and the contest was tied.
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No one crossed the plate until extra innings happened. Houston almost won the game in the bottom of the ninth inning when the Astros had a runner on second base with two out. Jeremy Pena hit a fly ball that Castellanos barely reached with a diving catch to save the game.
Shortly afterward, Realmuto hit the home run that will go into Philadelphia Phillies’ lore.
Game 2 comes Saturday night at 8:03 p.m. in Houston with Phillies’ ace Zack Wheeler expected to start on the mound against Framber Valdez.