Houston Astros’ World Series run in pictures

The Astros got off to a rough start in Game 1 of the ALDS, falling behind 4-0 and trailing 7-3 through seven innings. Alex Bregman cut the gap to two with a two-run shot in the bottom of the eighth, setting the stage for heroics from Yordan Alvarez, who hit a walk-off, three-run home run with two outs in the ninth to lift Houston to an 8-7 victory.

Alvarez delivered another key long ball in Game 2 of the series. With Houston down 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, he launched a go-ahead, two-run homer into the Crawford Boxes, and the Astros held on to win 4-2.

Game 3 against the Mariners was one for the record books, although it certainly wasn’t the finest moment for either offense. With neither team finding the scoreboard through the first 17 innings, it marked the longest a playoff game had gone without a run being scored, and tied the longest postseason contest ever. Rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña broke the scoreless tie in the top of the 18th with a solo shot off Penn Murfee, and the Astros held on for a 1-0 victory to seal the series sweep.

ALCS vs. New York Yankees (Astros won 4-0)

The Astros built off of a strong start to the postseason with a four-game sweep of the New York Yankees in the ALCS. Game 1 was tied after 5 1/2 innings, but Yuli Gurriel changed that in the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff home run off Clarke Schmidt. Chas McCormick and Peña followed this up with solo shots of their own to stretch the lead to three, and Houston held on to win 4-2.

Game 2 was another close call for the Astros. Bregman launched a three-run home run in the third to give Houston an early 3-0 lead, but errors by Framber Valdez in the next inning led to a pair of runs for New York. Valdez rallied, however, striking out nine while allowing just four hits in seven innings as the Astros won 3-2.

The Astros displayed the overpowering nature of their pitching staff in Game 3, as Cristian Javier, Hector Neris, Ryne Stanek, Hunter Brown, Rafael Montero and Bryan Abreu combined to shut out the Yankees in a 5-0 victory. A notable play also happened at the plate, as Jose Altuve broke out of an 0-for-25 slump to start the playoffs with a double in the fifth inning.

Game 4 was a tighter affair, as New York jumped out to a 3-0 lead, before Houston—with the help of a three-run home run by Peña—pulled ahead with a four-run fourth. The Yankees eventually reclaimed the lead, but the Astros ultimately won 6-5, as Alvarez and Bregman delivered RBI singles in the top of the seventh. Peña was named ALCS MVP, becoming the fifth rookie ever and the only first-year shortstop to earn championship MVP honors.

World Series vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Astros won 4-2)

The Astros suffered their first loss of the 2022 playoffs in Game 1 of the World Series against the Phillies, despite a pair of early home runs from Kyle Tucker. They ultimately blew a 5-0 lead, falling 6-5 in extra innings.

The Astros built a 5-0 lead again in Game 2, this time holding on for a 5-2 victory. Three straight doubles by Altuve, Peña and Alvarez to start the bottom of the first helped Houston build an early 3-0 advantage, with Valdez throwing nine strikeouts with four hits and one run allowed in 6 1/3 innings.

Game 3 was a forgettable night for the Astros in all aspects, falling 7-0 in Philadelphia, but they were able to even the series with a historic pitching performance in Game 4. Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly teamed up to toss just the second no-hitter in World Series history, as Houston won 5-0.

Astros ace Justin Verlander picked up the first World Series win of his career in a 3-2 victory in Game 5, thanks to another home run by Peña and a pair of clutch defensive plays by Trey Mancini and Chas McCormick helping Houston hold on in the late innings.

Minute Maid Park went quiet for a moment in top of the sixth, as Kyle Schwarber put Philadelphia up 1-0 with a solo shot to left, but the silence wouldn’t last for long. Alvarez came through once again for Houston, blasting a three-run home run 450 feet in the bottom half of the inning to give the Astros a 3-1 lead on their way to a World Series-clinching win.