World Series Game 4 live: Aaron Nola takes mound for Phillies vs Astros’ Cristian Javier | world series

Astros 0-0 Phillies, end of the second inning

Phillies talisman Bryce Harper, who slashed an outrageous .382/.414/.818 in 59 plate appearances this postseason, works a full count before going out of the zone on a fastball. I’m not sure why the Astros turned him on in the first place…

…especially when Castellanos, who goes down swinging on three straight pitches, didn’t do much to protect him. one down.

Now it’s Bohm’s turn, with Harper first and an out. Falling down 2-0, he fights back to 2-2 before swinging with a fastball for a swinging strikeout…but Harper steals second base. That gives Bryson Stott a runner in goal position.

And Stott jumps out to shortstop, quickly ending the Phillies’ threat.

Astros 0-0 Phillies, middle of the second inning

The Astros’ Kyle Tucker, who homed in his first two at-bats of this World Series in Game 1, falls back 0-2 before ripping a curveball for a double in the alley in right field.

Gurriel jumps to the first pitch and lands on third base. Bohm takes the game, but Tucker takes third place. The lone significant group of Houston fans, concentrated primarily on the second deck of the left stand, comes to life with cheers of “Let’s go Ast-ros!” …which leads to lustful boos from the Phillies fans around them.

Vazquez is hit by a pitch, giving the Astros runners in first and third place an out.

Diaz falls behind at 1-2, barely fouling an ankle turn to extend the at-bat but swinging and missing a big cutter for the second out.

It’s because of McCormick, who grew up in nearby West Chester. He works the count to 2-2 before swinging and missing on an ankle turn.

Nola comes out of trouble in the second, working around the leadoff double to keep the Astros scoreless in the Philadelphia portion of their World Series journey.

Astros 0-0 Phillies, end of the first inning

And here comes Phillies leadoff hitter, National League Home Run Champion Kyle Schwarber, to a great cheer from the crowd.

Schwarber falls behind at 1-2 before flying to left field.

Hoskins does a full count, sending the crowd into an uproar. But the first baseman gets caught under a fastball and flies to shortstop Pena.

Realmuto fall behind 1-2 before meeting an 81m shifter.

A good time to share the wife of Hoskins, jaymeHe bought 100 beers for Phillies fans before today’s game.

Updated at 00:36 GMT

Astros 0-0 Phillies, middle of the first inning

Aaron Nola takes the mound for his second start of this World Series. The temperature during the game is a comfortable 17 °C (62 °F).

The first pitch to Altuve is a strike that gets a big roar from the crowd. Chants of “Cheaters! Cheater!” tumbling down from the stands, a nod to the Houston sign-theft scandal that tainted their first and only World Series title of 2017. Altuve, who has struggled this potseason, works the count down to 1- 2 before flying into midfield.

Pena, the ALCS MVP, falls back 2-0 to loud “Let’s go Phillies!” chants and then hits with a breaking ball. Two minus points in nine places for Nola, eight of them goals. Good start.

Alvarez, Houston’s dangerous power hitter in tonight’s DH slot, works the count to 2-2 before lining up a fastball into left field for a base hit for a single.

Bregman, the 2019 American League MVP (and, interestingly, Aaron Nola’s college roommate at LSU), falls 1-2 behind … and then gently kicks out second baseman Jean Segura.

Updated at 00:18 GMT

We’re getting closer to the South Philly season. The starting rosters were announced, with the name of each Astros player drawing thunderous boos from the sold-out crowd. American Idol producer Madison Watkins sang the national anthem. Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, two of the heroes of Philadelphia’s youngest World Series championship team in 2008, along with that club’s manager, Charlie Manuel, delivered the ceremonial first pitches.

We didn’t think this ballpark could get any louder than last night, but early indications are that anything is possible…

Updated at 00:16 GMT

Here’s what the story says about Philadelphia’s series leadership. Of the 93 previous times a World Series has been tied 2-1 after three games, the leading team has won the title exactly two-thirds of the time (62 of 93), including the last five instances (the 2021 Braves, 2020 Dodgers, 2019 Nationals, 2018 Red Sox, 2017 Astros) and 11 of the last 14. The youngest clubs to win it all from a 2-1 deficit were the 2016 Cubs, 2014 Giants, 2013 Red Sox and 2003 Marlins.

Will the Phillies win tonight? Your chances, at least historically speaking, tip from 66.7% to 84.8%. A total of 39 of the 46 previous clubs to lead 3-1 have won everything, including 12 of the last 13. The only seven teams to win the World Series from a 3-1 deficit are the 2016 Cubs, 1985 Royals, 1979 Pirates, 1968 Tigers, 1958 Yankees, 1925 Pirates, and 1903 Boston Americans (who won Games 5 through 8 when the series was a best-of-nine affair).

Awarding intrigue: The Astros send probable AL Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander up the mound for Thursday’s Game 5, while the Phillies have tapped Noah Syndergaard to open an expected bullpen game. That’s a matchup Houston favors by a wide margin, at least on paper.

Essentially, that’s a lot of words to say that Game 4, scheduled to start in about 20 minutes, is crucial for both the Astros and Phillies.

The Lineups!

Here’s a look at tonight’s lineups. No surprises on either side as Houston’s Dusty Baker and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson go with their regular starting nines when faced with right-handed pitching.

Houston

Altuve, 2B
Pena, SS
Alvarez, DH
Bregman, 3B
Tucker, RF
Gurriel, RF
Vazquez, C
Diaz, L.F
McCormick, CF

Philadelphia

Schwarber, LF
Hoskins, 1B
Realmuto, C
Harper, DH
Castellanos, RF
Boehm, 3B
Stot, S.S
Segura, 2B
March, CF

prelude

Hello and welcome to today’s World Series Game 4 between the Houston Astros and the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies lead by two games to one in the best-of-seven-game encounter after breaking a record five home runs in Tuesday night’s 7-0 win over the American League champions at Citizens Bank Park, where they were up from six wins this year’s postseason to a perfect six wins.

Should the Fightin’ Phils capitalize on that home field advantage in Game 4 tonight and Game 5 tomorrow – a deafening atmosphere right fielder Nick Castellanos compared to a Liverpool game at Anfield – the Phillies can end the streak before their long-suffering home fans and save themselves a trip back to Houston.

The Phillies will pick right-hander ace Aaron Nola (2-1, 4.57 ERA postseason), their longest-tenured player, for his second start of the series after an uneven performance in Game 1 when he was tagged send five runs up the hill in four and a third innings. The Astros will start right-hander Cristian Javier (1-0, 1.35 ERA), who has been a trusted weapon for Houston over the past six years as he clinched four American League pennants in the last six years with a 3-1 Record set with a 2.70 ERA in 13 career postseason games.

The first pitch is scheduled for 8:03 p.m. local time, approximately in 45 minutes. In between there is much more to come.

Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s his report on Tuesday night’s Game 3, which saw the Phillies capitalize on an early performance boost to get closer to their third World Series title and first since 2008.