The Houston Astros appeared to be in full control of Game 1 of the World Series. Entering the fourth inning, Houston had a 5-0 lead and starting pitcher Justin Verlander — who will win the AL Cy Young Award — hadn’t allowed a baserunner.
Well, it was the Phillies that came away victorious at Minute Maid Park, 6-5 in 10 innings.
Philadelphia got the comeback started with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, capped off by an Alec Bohm two-run double with two outs.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1586168805700427776
In the top of the fifth, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto crushed a two-run double off the wall in left-center field to tie the game 5-5. What appeared to be a potentially dominant start from Verlander turned into a five-run outing over five innings pitched.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1586175843855802368
Justin Verlander career in the World Series:
Games Started: 8
W-L: 0-6
ERA: 6.07 pic.twitter.com/kZZtch3QZB— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 29, 2022
In the bottom of the ninth, the Astros had a runner on second and two outs, when Jeremy Peña hit a blooper into right field. Nick Castellanos — one of the worst defenders in baseball by the metrics — made a terrific sliding catch to save the game for Philadelphia.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1586206600779296769
And leading off the top of the 10th, Realmuto hit what would serve as the game-winning homer on an opposite-field shot.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1586207898069127168
Another call for the ages. Here’s Scott Franzke on @JTRealmuto’s HR pic.twitter.com/V3Km0hv5MD
— Jamie Apody (@JamieApody) October 29, 2022
Houston had runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the 10th, but David Robertson closed the door by getting Aledmys Díaz to ground out.
https://twitter.com/thecomeback/status/1586216728953966593
So, after trailing 5-0 through three innings, the Phillies outscored the Astros 6-0 in the final seven innings. On the road, against Justin Verlander and company. The Astros entered Game 1 unbeaten this postseason.
It’s the biggest comeback in Phillies postseason history, and it’s the largest comeback by an NL team in the World Series since 1956.
The baseball world has had a lot to say about Philadelphia’s wild comeback to take a 1-0 lead in the World Series:
teams are now 220-6 when leading by 5+ runs in World Series games
comebacks:
Tonight PHI trailed by 5
2002 G6 LAA trailed by 5
1996 G4 NYY trailed by 6
1993 G4 TOR trailed by 5
1956 G2 BRO trailed by 6
1929 G4 PHA trailed by 8 https://t.co/7HXYN7Is77— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 29, 2022
why you always play nine innings!! pic.twitter.com/fHS8Qcktce
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) October 29, 2022
The Phillies are the sixth team all-time to overcome a five-run deficit to win a World Series game. Dusty Baker has now been on the losing end of the last two, also dropping Game 6 of the 2002 series vs the Angels. pic.twitter.com/lUzS00PEex
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 29, 2022
FINAL: Phillies 6, Astros 5
Down 5-0, Phillies score 5 off Verlander, get a game-saving Castellanos catch in the 9th, a Realmuto homer in the 10th and a wobbly Robertson save to win Game 1 of the World Series.
Doesn't make much sense. Win anyway. The 2022 Philadelphia Phillies.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 29, 2022
Phillies 6, Astros 5 (F/10). They will talk about this game forever. The Phillies were down five runs against a future Hall of Fame pitcher and they won it. Rob Thomson managed his bullpen with aggression and it worked.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) October 29, 2022
.@Phillies are the first team in 2️⃣0️⃣ years to rally from down 5 and win a World Series game 😉 pic.twitter.com/tgpa2ByxIY
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 29, 2022
The @Phillies are the 2nd team in MLB history to be down 5-0 (or worse) on the road against a former MVP-winning opposing starter & come back to win (reg or post).
The other was on July 11, 1918, when Ty Cobb's Tigers rallied from down 6-0 to beat Walter Johnson & the Senators.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) October 29, 2022
The Philadelphia Phillies take Game 1 of the #WorldSeries
Teams that have won Game 1 have won the World Series 63 percent of the time. pic.twitter.com/ZBfj8W2wFf
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 29, 2022
The Phillies went down to Houston, fell behind 5-0 & still took Game 1 from the big, bad Astros to change the complexion of this World Series
Phils have won Game 1 in every series & are 10-2 in the playoffs with their ace starting tomorrow before 3 games back home. What a setup
— Corey Seidman (@CSeidmanNBCS) October 29, 2022
The Astros have lost for the first time in 25 days. Prior to tonight, their most recent defeat was to the Phillies on Oct. 3. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) October 29, 2022
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2022
These teams will be right back at it on Saturday, with Game 2 scheduled for an 8:03 pm ET first pitch at Minute Maid Park. Zack Wheeler will get the start for Philadephia, while Framber Valdez will take the hill for Houston. The Astros should be treating this game as a must-win before the series heads to Philadelphia.
