Houston Astros vs Philadelphia Phillies Match Player Stats On Nov 02, 2022

PHILADELPHIA -- The Houston Astros needed a victory to even the World Series.

They got that and so much more.

Cristian Javier, Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly combined for the second no-hitter in World Series history, and the Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 on Wednesday.

Houston leveled the best-of-seven series at two wins apiece.

It all started with Javier (2-0). The 25-year-old right-hander struck out nine and walked two in six innings. He threw 97 pitches, 63 for strikes.

"He was electric," Astros manager Dusty Baker said. "He threw the ball up, down. The best pitch in baseball is still the located fastball."

Javier said, "I knew I had to stay focused, keep calm and attack the hitters as quickly as possible. I thought my fastball was really good. ...

"It's funny, my parents told me I was going to throw a no-hitter, and thanks to God, I was able to accomplish that."

He did get help from the Houston bullpen, though.

Bryan Abreu struck out the side in the seventh inning, and Rafael Montero fanned one in a 1-2-3 eighth.

In the ninth, Pressly struck out leadoff batter Brandon Marsh swinging. Kyle Schwarber walked to end a streak of 18 consecutive Philadelphia batters retired. Rhys Hoskins flied out to right, and J.T. Realmuto grounded out to third baseman Alex Bregman, who threw to first baseman Yuli Gurriel for the final out.

The only previous World Series no-hitter was a perfect game by the New York Yankees' Don Larsen against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the 1956 Fall Classic.

"It's special and it's a moment we'll all cherish forever," Bregman said. "We'll remember it forever."

The other prior postseason no-hitter was also thrown in the same venue as Wednesday's gem, Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies' Roy Halladay no-hit the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the 2010 National League Division Series. The Reds' manager that day was Baker.

Javier became the first starter to throw at least six no-hit innings in a World Series game since the New York Mets' Jerry Koosman in 1969.

The three relievers refused to let up.

"We have an extremely fresh bullpen," Baker said. "It's one of the best bullpens. We had faith they could do the job."

Bregman hit a two-run double, Gurriel added two hits and an RBI and Jeremy Pena had two hits for the Astros.

The Phillies had three walks and two stolen bases, and they stranded a runner at second base in both the second and third innings.

Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola (2-2) tossed four-plus innings and allowed three runs on seven hits and no walks. He struck out four.

Jose Alvarado relieved Nola in the fifth with the bases loaded and no outs, and he allowed all three inherited runners to score and gave up two runs of his own.

"Just a little bit off," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said of Alvarado. "That's a tough situation. We were trying to keep the damage to a minimum."

Chas McCormick, Jose Altuve and Pena each singled to open the fifth before Alvarado took over. Yordan Alvarez was hit by Alvarado's first pitch to score McCormick for a 1-0 lead.

Bregman followed with a two-run double on an 0-2 pitch, and Kyle Tucker hit a sacrifice fly to give the Astros a four-run advantage. Gurriel added an RBI single.

Javier (seven innings), Hector Neris (one inning) and Pressly (one inning) also combined to no-hit the Yankees this year on June 25. The Phillies were no-hit on April 29 in a combined effort by five New York Mets pitchers.

"These guys have a short memory," Thomson said.

In the end, the Phillies realize it's just one loss despite the historical significance.

"I really don't give a (bleep)," Schwarber said. "Move on to tomorrow. We'll be in the history books, I guess."

Phillies slugger Bryce Harper added, "We've got to flush this today and get ready for tomorrow."

--By Andy Jasner, Field Level Media