LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series (2024)

  • ESPN

Oct 23, 2022, 03:22 AM

The 2022 MLB playoffs are down to just four teams, each vying for a spot in this year's World Series.

The American League Championship Series shifted to the Bronx for Game 3 but saw similar results as the Houston Astros pushed the New York Yankees to the brink of elimination with a 5-0 win on Saturday.

After splitting the opening two games in San Diego, the Philadelphia Phillies have taken both home games over the San Diego Padres. Game 4 on Saturday started wildly with both teams combining for seven runs in the first inning. The game remained back and forth until the Phillies unleashed the big bats and broke it open with a four-run fifth inning.

More: Who has the NLCS edge? Predictions for Padres-Phillies | Who will rule the ALCS? Predictions for Yankees-Astros | Bracket, results and more

LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series (1)LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series (2)

Houston Astros 5, New York Yankees 0

Astros lead series 3-0

Game 3 takeaways

The Astros are a monster juggernaut that looks hard to stop. The depth of Houston's rotation shined on Saturday night when Cristian Javier shut down the Yankees' lineup over the course of 5⅓ innings, allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out five. Houston saw contributions from up and down the lineup, with the totality of the Astros' RBIs coming from their bottom three hitters: Trey Mancini, Christian Vazquez and Chas McCormick, who started the scoring with a two-run homer in the second inning, capitalizing off an outfield error that resulted from a miscommunication.

Meanwhile, New York's offense looked lifeless, managing just three hits all night. While Yankees ace Gerrit Cole looked sharp in the early innings -- the lone runs unearned after the error by Harrison Bader, things began to fall apart in the sixth when the Astros loaded the bases via an Alex Bregman double, Kyle Tucker walk and Yuli Gurriel single. Yankees manager Aaron Boone yanked Cole for Lou Trivino, who allowed all three inherited runners to score. That gave Cole a final line of five runs (three earned), two walks and seven strikeouts in five innings. Given the performance from Javier, Cole needed to be in top form, and he came up short. -- Joon Lee

Astros piling on

After Mancini hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Alex Bregman, Christian Vazquez singled in two more runs. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Houston has never lost a postseason game in which it scored five or more runs.

THIS train keeps rolling. pic.twitter.com/xOYlI0FMT4

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 22, 2022

Yuli was FLYING around the bases! #postseason pic.twitter.com/6znf8F8sLB

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2022

Yankees starter Gerrit Cole Gerrit Cole exited after allowing five runs, which is tied for the most he has ever allowed in a postseason appearance.

Yankees blunder leads to Astros home run

After a miscommunication by Yankees outfielders Aaron Judge and Harrison Bader allowed Christian Vazquez on base, Chas McCormick launched a two-run shot to put Houston on the board first. It's McCormick's second home run of the series.

Chas off the top of the wall! #Postseason pic.twitter.com/XvRNJR4V28

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2022

Arrivals

📍 Yankee Stadium#RepBX pic.twitter.com/mtq62kBymQ

— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 22, 2022

Who brought the drip? pic.twitter.com/AYqEdFFKSY

— Houston Astros (@astros) October 22, 2022

Yordan and the @astros are ready for Game 3 in the Bronx! 😎 #Postseason pic.twitter.com/GMJinEQOcA

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2022

LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series (3)LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series (4)

Philadelphia Phillies 10, San Diego Padres 6

Phillies lead series 3-1

Game 4 takeaways

A 4-0 deficit in a playoff game usually feels like the end of the story, especially in this 2022 postseason when runs have been scarce. But the good news for the Phillies: They had nine innings to make up that deficit after the Padres scored four in the top of the first -- and a star-studded lineup to mash baseballs. And boy did they mash. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Nick Castellanos -- all free agents who have been part of the Phillies' spending spree in recent years -- each delivered at least two hits or scored at least two runs. Schwarber and Realmuto both homered and Harper drilled two doubles.

But it was the homegrown kid who delivered the two biggest hits of the night. Rhys Hoskins hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first off Mike Clevinger to quickly make it 4-2 as fans were still recovering from that disastrous top of the first and then tied the score at 6 with a two-run, 417-foot, fifth-inning homer off Sean Manaea -- merely tossing his bat up in the air this time rather than slamming it into the ground as he did earlier this postseason.

The curious thing about the home run: Why Padres manager Bob Melvin had the left-handed Manaea in the game to face the right-handed Hoskins. Manaea had struggled in the second half with a 6.44 ERA, was bumped from the playoff rotation and was making his first appearance of the postseason. The Padres had a rested bullpen. While it made some sense to use Manaea to start the fifth against the left-handed Brandon Marsh and Schwarber, as soon Manaea walked Schwarber he should have been out of the game with Hoskins and Realmuto due up. Instead, a struggling pitcher -- rather than one of the Padres' flame-throwing relievers -- was left in to face the heart of the Phillies' order.

Hoskins homered, Realmuto walked and Harper laced the go-ahead double to left-center to drive in Realmuto for the go-ahead run. Only then did Melvin finally take out Manaea. In this era when managers now manage with the utmost of urgency, it was a curious lack of urgency. Schwarber and Realmuto would add insurance home runs. Yes, the Padres aren't done, but they face elimination on Sunday with Zack Wheeler going for the Phillies - coming off his brilliant seven-inning, one-hit effort in Game 1. This series might not make it back to San Diego. -- David Schoenfield

Realmuto adds to the lead

BEST. CATCHER. IN. BASEBALL. pic.twitter.com/uOgwIqjkkP

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

Schwarber does it again

GREAT JOB KYLE pic.twitter.com/NLHUf99miQ

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

112.5 mph. 429 ft https://t.co/ejUOmniuLS

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 23, 2022

Hoskins and Harper, oh my

RHYS RHYS RHYS RHYS RHYS RHYS pic.twitter.com/WxDey3P70C

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

BRYCE GIVES US THE LEAD!!!!!!!

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

THERE'S A REASON HE'S THE MV3 pic.twitter.com/nktsUr6sMf

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

Soto goes deep

That ball is JUAN GONE 💣 #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/KxR7ui2hFi

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 23, 2022

Juan Soto with his first of the postseason. Phillies had stormed back to tie it 4-4 but now 6-4 Pads. Top 5

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 23, 2022

Phillies tie it up

The @Phillies tie it up at 4 in the 4th! #postseason pic.twitter.com/aWEPFbBD9S

— MLB (@MLB) October 23, 2022

Say it with us now: You can't hit it to the Crone Zone 😤 #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/QasYlLZl1W

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 23, 2022

What a start

It was a wild first inning in Game 4 between the Phillies and Padres as both starting pitchers were pulled for just the second time in postseason history.

Phillies lefty Bailey Falter gave up four runs in the top of the inning while getting just two outs while Padres righty Mike Clevinger was sent to the showers in the bottom of the first without getting anyone out. The result was a combined, seven run inning with the Padres coming out on top, 4-3.

It was the first time both starters were pulled that early in a playoff game since Game 4 of the 1932 World Series. -- Jesse Rogers

The Big Fella#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/nyMBzXpdhd

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

MV3 is at it again pic.twitter.com/qW4OpWSPp9

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 23, 2022

Padres add to their lead

Brandon Drury doubled in Josh Bell and Jake Cronenworth, increasing the Padres' lead to three.

Double Drury Duty 🫡 #CaptureTheMoment pic.twitter.com/KhwMFmrMsr

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 23, 2022

Manny mashes one

Manny Machado opens the scoring in Game 4 with a 379-foot solo dinger in the top of the first. According to ESPN Stats & Information, it's his sixth postseason home run as a Padre, passing Ken Caminiti for the most career playoff homers in franchise history.

Manny's gonna cruise, that's what's in. #postseason pic.twitter.com/Eh1fnqJe5z

— MLB (@MLB) October 22, 2022

Arrivals

Back in the office pic.twitter.com/Sn5ClDtvb7

— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 22, 2022
LCS Saturday: Both Phillies and Astros one game from World Series (2024)

FAQs

Who has played for both the Phillies and Astros? ›

Roy Oswalt played 10 seasons for the Houston Astros (46.1 WAR) and 2 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (5.1 WAR).

Who beat the Phillies in the World Series? ›

However, in 2022 Philadelphia made the playoffs as a wild-card team and surprised many by advancing to the World Series, where it lost to the Houston Astros in six games.

Have the Astros and Phillies ever met in playoffs? ›

The 1980 National League Championship Series was played between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros from October 7 to 12. It was the 12th NLCS. Philadelphia won the series three games to two to clinch the NL pennant and advance to the World Series.

How many times Phillies went to World Series? ›

The Phillies are one of the oldest franchises in professional sports. You might hear more often about how they were the first to lose 10,000 games, but they've also reached the World Series eight times.

What is the name of the Phillies double A team? ›

Reading Fightin Phils

Who has played for both the Padres and Phillies? ›

Players who played for Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres
  • Shane Victorino. Shane Victorino played 8 seasons for the Philadelphia Phillies (24.0 WAR) and 1 season for the San Diego Padres (-0.2 WAR).
  • Rick Wise. ...
  • Tony González. ...
  • John Kruk. ...
  • Fernando Valenzuela.

What was the original name of the Phillies? ›

The Phillies played their inaugural season in the National League in 1883, but according to the site they were known as the Quakers through '89. It is interesting then that the Phillies are sometimes called the “oldest, continuous, one-name, one-city franchise” in baseball.

Why did the Phillies change their name? ›

According to additional sources, Hans had his hands in the name change. He thought that “Phils” sounded better. Plus, Phillies had become synonymous with losing baseball and he wanted to change the culture.

Did the Astros win the World Series twice? ›

Their fifth pennant in 2022 made them the second team created in the expansion era to win five league pennants (after the Mets) and the fifth expansion team to have won two World Series championships.

What year did Phillies and Astros play in World Series? ›

World Series 2022: Houston Astros play against Philidelphia Phillies 42 years after 1980 National League Championship Series - ABC13 Houston.

How likely are the Phillies to win the World Series? ›

2024 World Series odds: Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees among favorites
TeamWorld SeriesLeague
Philadelphia Phillies+450+225
New York Yankees+500+225
Baltimore Orioles+700+300
Atlanta Braves12-1+600
26 more rows
Aug 4, 2024

Who has better record Phillies vs Astros? ›

Among them, Philadelphia Phillies won 37 games (Total Runs 435, PPG 3.7), Houston Astros won 80 (Total Runs 584, PPG 5.0). Philadelphia Phillies vs Houston Astros Past H2H Results, Handicap-Runs Win%: 33.3%, Total Runs Over%: 0.0%. Last 5, Philadelphia Phillies won 2, Lose 3, 4.4 Points per macth.

What is the oldest baseball team? ›

The Cincinnati Red Stockings made their mark as the first openly professional baseball club in 1869. Members of the team would go on to form a club that still plays ball today, the Atlanta Braves.

Who won the most World Series? ›

The Yankees' 27 championships are the most of any team across the major U.S. professional sports. The Cardinals won World Series titles in 1926, 1931, 1934, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1964, 1967, 1982, 2006 and 2011.

Why are the Phillies wearing a blue uniform? ›

The team says the uniforms are an "ode to Philly's past, present and future." PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The Philadelphia Phillies have unveiled their new "2024 Nike MLB City Connect" uniforms, sporting a blue and yellow design that the team calls "Unapologetically Philly."

Who are the brothers on the Phillies and Astros? ›

The Stubbs brothers were part of the same organization for three years, as Garrett was the Astros' eighth round pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. The club selected CJ in 2019, the same year Garrett was called up to make his big league debut.

Who has played for both the Mets and the Phillies? ›

PlayerYears with New York MetsYears with Philadelphia Phillies
Marlon Anderson2005, 2007 - 20091998 - 2002
Richie Ashburn19621948 - 1959
Luis Avilan20192018
Wally Backman1980 - 19881991, 1992
140 more rows

Who played for both Phillies and Rays? ›

Zachary Adams Eflin (born April 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays.

Who has played for the Phillies and Rangers? ›

Batting
Philadelphia PhilliesTexas Rangers
NameYrsYrs
Dennis Cook1989-20011995-1996
Larry Cox1973-19751981
David Dahl20242021
29 more rows

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