The Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros advanced within a victory of the MLB World Series thanks to playoff triumphs on Saturday in vastly different fashion.
Rhys Hoskins smashed two home runs as Philadelphia outslugged visiting the San Diego Padres 10-6, while Houston pitchers allowed the host New York Yankees only one hit over eight innings in a 5-0 shutout.
The Phillies seized a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven National League Championship Series against the Padres, while Houston took a 3-0 edge over the Yankees in the American League Championship Series (ALCS).
Photo: AP
J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber added solo homers to Hoskins’ pair of two-run homers as Philadelphia rallied after trailing 4-0, matching their greatest playoff comeback victory ever.
“Just persistent at-bats,” Realmuto said. “As soon as we got down 4-0 we got back in the dugout and we just kind of regrouped as a team and said: ‘There’s a lot of ballgame left. We’re going to score runs today.’”
The Astros won the ALCS title in 2017, but lost in 2019 and last year.
Chas McCormick smacked a home run and Christian Vazquez drove in two runs for Houston while 25-year-old Dominican right-hander Cristian Javier, making his first start in three weeks, hurled 5-1/3 shutout innings, striking out five while allowing only one hit, and five relievers completed a three-hit shutout.
“He’s got one of the best fastballs and sliders in the game,” catcher Vazquez said of Javier. “So attacking hitters, that’s the key for him, and getting ahead.”
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