Astros one win from World Series title after bullpen, Chas McCormick’s catch seal 3-2 Game 5 win over Phillies
PHILADELPHIA – The ball left J.T. Realmuto’s bat and a stadium roaring with anticipation seemed to grow silent.
Citizens Bank Park is a cozy ballyard, not known to contain well-hit balls, and so when Houston Astros center fielder Chas McCormick glided to his left toward the fence, the World Series in the balance, a command performance from the Houston Astros bullpen and a career milestone from their ace in jeopardy, the championship fate of two clubs lingered in the balance.
“I thought it had a really good shot to go out,” says Astros first baseman Trey Mancini. “When he jumped up, I was holding my breath.”
Seconds later, Houston could exhale.
McCormick’s fantastic catch against the fence in right center field culminated an excellent night of pitching and added to the frustration of a Philadelphia Phillies team that was stymied for two consecutive games. Moments later, the Astros secured a 3-2, Game 5 victory that left them with two shots at home to capture their second World Series championship in six years.
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first combined no-hitter in World Series history, the Astros’ relief corps took up for their 39-year-old ace who was good for just five innings, stared down a fearsome group of Phillies sluggers and survived until their offense could provide just enough wriggle room.
And while Bryan Abreu and Pressly may not find their names engraved on an MVP trophy, for the second consecutive night, they dominated when it mattered most.
Citizens Bank Park emptied out for the final time this year in the wee hours, but the famously raucous facility found itself silenced all night, first by Verlander, who recorded his first career World Series victory in his ninth attempt, and then by a bullpen quartet that wobbled but never wavered against the roaring pleas of the 45,693 on hand.
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Why would they start now?
After covering the final four innings, striking out six and giving up one run, the postseason numbers look like this: Just five earned runs allowed in 51 ⅓ innings, 67 strikeouts and just 21 hits. Their 0.88 ERA is the best in postseason history for any bullpen with at least 45 innings pitched, bettering the 2013 Red Sox’s 1.28 mark.
And in Game 5, the Astros needed them more than ever.
The final dose of dominance came from closer Pressly, who stranded two runners in the eighth inning and then retired the heart of the order in the ninth.
McCormick’s catch was the centerpiece.