Nov 3, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Houston Astros left fielder Chas McCormick (20) makes a catch on the fly ball hit by Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (not pictured) for the second out during the eighth inning in game five of the 2022 World Series at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports
MLBBy Matt Clapp on

The Houston Astros trailed the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in the World Series entering Game 4. Then the Astros threw a no-hitter on the road to even up the series on Wednesday night, and they followed it up with another road victory on Thursday night.

Houston took down the Phillies 3-2 at Citizens Bank Park, to also take a 3-2 series lead. And now the series heads back to Houston, where the Astros need to win just one of two games to secure a World Series title.

After being mocked for his historically poor career performance in the World Series, Justin Verlander — a lock to win his third AL Cy Young Award — stepped up with a terrific start to earn his first career World Series win. Verlander allowed just one run over five innings, and that run came on the first batter he faced, with Kyle Schwarber hitting a home run to lead off the bottom of the first.

Houston shortstop Jeremy Peña continued to wow in his rookie campaign, hitting an RBI single in the first inning for the game’s first run, and crushing a solo homer to regain the lead for the Astros in the fourth inning. He became the first rookie shortstop to homer in a World Series game.

In the eighth and ninth innings, Houston’s defense stepped up with two remarkable plays to keep the lead.

First, it was first baseman Trey Mancini making a terrific stop to end the eighth on a Kyle Schwarber rocket that could’ve easily been a go-ahead double.

And in the ninth, Chas McCormick made a ridiculous catch — that may have robbed a homer in some parks — to rob J.T. Realmuto of extra bases.

With a runner on first, Astros closer Ryan Pressly got Nick Castellanos to ground out to Peña to end the ballgame.

From trailing 2-1 in the series to winning the next two games on the road for a 3-2 series lead, with the series now going back to Houston. That’s quite a series swing for the Astros.

While the Phillies have surprised all postseason and anything can happen in two baseball games, they have a very difficult challenge ahead. The Astros are the better baseball team, as 162 games showed (Houston won 107 and Philadelphia won 87). If the Phillies can take this Astros team down twice in Houston, they’ll have certainly earned the championship.

But, the odds heavily favor Houston entering Game 6.

FiveThirtyEight gives the Astros an 83% chance to win the title, and FanDuel Sportsbook has Houston as a -550 favorite (that’s an implied probability of 84.6%).

Here’s a look at how the baseball world is reacting to Houston’s Game 5 win in the World Series:

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About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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