Host Phillies trail Houston late in Game 5 of World Series
Going into the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series, Philadelphia trailed Houston, 3-2. The game finished too late for press.
The visiting Astros got on the board first, tagging the hosts’ Noah Syndergaard with a run in the top of the first inning. Jose Altuve doubled on the contest’s initial at-bat, then reached third on a fielding error by center fielder Brandon Marsh. Rookie Jeremy Pena drove him home right after, singling to center.
Philly responded in its half of the inning when left fielder Kyle Schwarber belted a 368-foot home run to even things up.
The Phillies notched a pair of inconsequential knocks in the two innings that followed, but Pena struck again in the top of the fourth with a leadoff homer to left. That dinger chased Syndergaard from the mound.
Seranthony Dominguez walked Altuve to ring in the eighth frame, then Pena’s single moved him to third. Yordan Alvarez grounded out after that, but plated Altuve to make it 3-1.
In the ensuing half-inning, reliever Rafael Montero walked Philly’s Nick Castellanos and Bryson Stott. Second baseman Jean Segura’s base hit brought home Castellanos and pushed Stott to third.
With the opportunity to knot things up going into the ninth inning, Marsh was set down on strikes by Ryan Pressly and Schwarber grounded out.
Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander made the start on the mound for the Astros, going five innings and giving up four hits, four walks, and an earned run.
Going into the bottom of the ninth, the Phillies had gone 1-7 with runners in scoring position. They’d left 11 on base.
Game 6 is set for 8 p.m. Saturday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. Game 7, if necessary, would be played Sunday.
