HOUSTON— When you search for the 2022 Fall Classic winners into your Google search bar, little blue, orange and white fireworks will appear across your screen— and that can only mean one thing. The Houston Astros have brought another World Series title back to the H-Town and will ride in their victory parade outside the flourishing Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas.
For the second time in their franchise’s history and their second in five years, the Astros have come out victorious atop the league. This year’s World Series contenders were the Astros and a shock atop the National League— the Philadelphia Phillies, who entered the postseason by gaining the third seed in the Wild Card round.
Starting game one of the World Series was Justin Verlander for the Astros— who was looking to earn his first World Series win as a starter— and Aaron Nola for the Phillies. Both starters got rocked in their first appearances, giving up five earned runs each, but the Phillies won the game in extras after a home run by OF Nick Castellanos. The Phillies lead the series, 1-0.
Zack Wheeler was on the bump for the Phillies looking to go up 2-0 in the series in Houston and for the Astros it was Framber Valdez— one of their most reliable starters from this year who was not looking to put his team down 0-2 in the series. Valdez, however, dominated over the Phillies, holding them to just one run in 6 and ⅓ innings with nine strikeouts over the course of it. The Astros’ bullpen was able to shut down the remaining Phillies’ offense as the Astros came out victorious, winning 5-2 with their offense dominated by Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez and ALCS MVP winner, Jeremy Peña. Series tied at 1-1.
Back home in Philadelphia, the Phillies were teeing off the Astros, and this time it was off of Lance McCullers, who has been a reliable starter for them in the past, but not in game three. McCullers gave up seven earned runs in 4 and ⅓ innings, all of which came off of five home runs. The Phillies made it into the record books that night, being the first team to hit five home runs in a World Series game. The series was handed back over to the Phillies, and they now lead the series, 2-1.
The Phillies were now looking to bring their lead in the series up 3-1 as the Astros were looking ahead to game four. This game became a complete turnaround for the Phillies, and they ended up being no-hit. Christian Javier was starting for the Astros and he went six hitless innings and he passed the torch on to their bullpen, which consisted of Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and their dominant closer, Ryan Pressly to finish out the game and combine for a no hitter. This was the first no hitter to be thrown in a postseason game since 2010, when the Phillies’ own Roy Halladay threw a no hitter against the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 NLDS. The series is now tied again, 2-2.
Looking for a spark after the previous night’s no hitter, the Phillies whipped out their retro powder blue uniforms for game five, and the last game in front of their fans at home. While there was no teeing off on pitchers or another no hitter, the Astros win, 3-2, was carried heavily by Jeremy Peña, who drove in two of their three runs and Justin Verlander, who finally earned his first World Series victory, going five strong innings giving up just one run. Meanwhile in the opposing dugout, the Phillies were looking at their own postseason MVP in Bryce Harper, who had been carrying their offense heavily throughout the series. And with this victory for Houston, that puts them up in the series, 3-2, with just one win away from another title.
Back in Houston for game six and looking to close out this World Series, Framber Valdez was making his second World Series appearance this series, along with Phillies starter, Zack Wheeler making his second appearance. The Phillies again had no answer to Valdez, as he pitched his way to a victory, going six innings, giving up one earned run and striking out nine. Power hitter Yordan Alvarez carried his team to another World Series victory, driving in three runs off Wheeler and reliever Jose Alvarado. The Astros win game six, 4-1.
Just like that, another victory and parade were going back to Houston, as the Astros won the series, 4-2. And for the first time since 2017, it’s alright to say that the Astros deserve this title, because it’s true— they constructed a deep roster with dominant pitching and offense, a manager, Dusty Baker, who has been desperate to win a ring, and a rookie shortstop in Jeremy Peña who carried his team to winning a title and winning World Series MVP.