CNN
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The Houston Astros won the franchise’s second World Series title on Saturday after defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 6 at Minute Maid Park.
It was the Phillies who got the scoring started in the top of the sixth inning with a Kyle Schwarber solo home run off Astros starting pitcher Framber Valdez, who was able to limit the damage before being pulled after the sixth. Valdez finished with nine strikeouts and allowed just two hits and one run.
After allowing two baserunners, Phillies starter Zack Wheeler was pulled from the game with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado gave up a three-run home run to Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez to give Houston the lead. Houston would tack on one more run on a Christian Vazquez single.
Astros closer Ryan Pressly came in to close out the game and make sure the home crowd in Houston went home celebrating a World Series victory.
Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena was named World Series MVP. Pena becomes the first rookie position player ever in MLB history to win the award, according to the league.
After trailing 2-1 through the first three games of the World Series, Houston evened the series after throwing a combined no-hitter in Game 4. Game 5 saw Astros ace Justin Verlander collect his long-awaited first World Series win in his career after pitching five innings with six strikeouts and giving up one run.
Astros skipper Dusty Baker can now add World Series champion to his impressive managerial resume.
When asked if the win has “hit” him yet, Baker said, “it hit me okay.”
“It hit me real quick when that ball — Yordan hit one over the moon out there. That’s when it hit me,” Baker added.
Baker was also asked what has been the most enjoyable part of the race for him, to which he quickly replied that the answer hasn’t “sunk in yet,” but called the team the “greatest bunch of guys.”
“They told me in spring practice they were going to win,” Baker said. “Now, what’s next? Party!”
The Astros’ win marked the first time since 2013 that a team took the title on their home field. And Minute Maid Park hasn’t always been a happy hunting ground for the team.
Houston has stumbled twice since the team’s first title in 2017. The Astros appeared in the Fall Classic in 2019 against the Washington Nationals and 2021 against the Atlanta Braves, both of which resulted in losses.
The team’s victory in 2017 came with a lot of questions and controversy.
After the win, Astros owner and chairman Jim Crane fired then-manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow after MLB suspended them both for one season without pay for a sign-stealing scandal.
Major League Baseball found that the club illegally created a system that decoded and communicated opposing teams’ pitching signs during their 2017 championship season.
The team forfeited its regular first- and second-round picks in the 2020 and 2021 drafts and paid a $5 million fine.
The Astros retained their title — but for many non-Houston fans, it’s still shrouded in scandal.
For Philadelphia, the loss results in heartbreak as the franchise seeks its first championship since 2008. The city was dealt a double blow on Saturday when the Philadelphia Union lost in penalties to Los Angeles FC in the 2022 MLS Cup Final earlier this afternoon.