The Houston Astros are just one game away from winning the World Series after beating the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series. Both teams scored early, but Jeremy Pena’s fourth-inning home run gave the Astros a 2-1 lead in Philadelphia. Yordan Alvarez drove in another run for Houston in the eighth, but Jean Segura did the same for the Phillies to set up a tense finale at Citizens Bank Park. However, Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly held his nerve to complete the victory. Closer Pressly, who had a five-out save in the bottom of the ninth, was indebted to center fielder Chas McCormick — a Pennsylvania native and young Phillies fan — who made a stunning leap high over the fence. After a day of travel on Friday, the series returns to Houston for a sixth game on Saturday and a possible seventh game on Sunday. While the previous four games all featured one team leading by five runs, Wednesday’s no-hitter was followed by an absolute nail-biter. Jose Altuve led off the first inning with a double, reached third base on a fielding error and was beaten by Pena on only his fourth pitch of the night. Kyle Schwarber smashed just the second pitch the Phillies faced over the right field fence to tie the score. Pena’s solo homer restored Houston’s lead and ended the game for pitcher Noah Syndergaard, with the Phillies opting for a “bullpen game” with an outside link instead of using a conventional starter. Astros ace Justin Verlander allowed four hits and walked four batters, but struck out six and used all of his experience to get through five innings and turn that narrow lead into the bullpen. Disappointingly for Houston, Yuli Gurriel reached third base with no outs in the seventh inning, but was injured in a fielder collision when caught in a situation as his teammates failed to score a run. After Alvarez made it 3-1, the Phillies rallied in the bottom of the eighth as Segura struck out Nick Castellanos to make it 3-2. Both sides then sat out several key players as the tension grew, but manager Dusty Baker’s gamble to go to Pressly early paid off to bring the Astros to the brink of a second title in six years. Justin Verlander, 39, was finally credited with his first win in a World Series game, but it may have been his last appearance with the Astros as his contract soon expires. uniforms – giving Aston VillaSports fans in Houston and Philadelphia a chance to see – as Game Five of the World Series was played concurrently with Thursday’s NFL game, where the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Houston Texans 29-17
