Category Archives: Sports

Winners Win: How the Houston Astros Pulled Off A Second World Series Title

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The Golden Age of Astros Baseball

The Houston Astros are no strangers to postseason baseball, having made it to the postseason in every season since 2017, and to the World Series four times in six years. Since their first title win in 2017 and after falling short last year, the Houston Astros were chasing one thing this season: another World Series Championship. In a Game 6 against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Houston Astros won their second World Series title in six years, capping off an incredible season.

Road to the World Series

The Astros finished the regular season with a second-best franchise record of 106 wins, having already accomplished incredible feats such as pitching two immaculate innings in one game and throwing a combined-no hitter.

To start the postseason they swept the Seattle Mariners in the first three games of the American League Division Series (best-of-five), the first two games of which were defined by game winning home runs by Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez. The finale was a tense 18-inning game, a pitching dual from both teams that ended in a 1-0 win for the Astros in Game 3 thanks to a solo home run by Astros rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña. Then, in the American League Championship Series (best-of-seven) they swept their rival team the New York Yankees in four games, one of which was a complete game shutout, punching their ticket to a second straight World Series.

This October met an unlikely matchup in the final series of the season. The Phillies were the #6 seed team in the playoffs, a spot that didn’t even exist before the playoff bracket this year was expanded to include an additional Wild Card spot. The Phillies battled their way through opponents to face the #1 seed Astros in the 2022 Fall Classic. The stars aligned and the Houston Astros were set up for a chance at another World Series run.

Perfect Pitching

The success of this team can largely be attributed to what the team previously lacked: an all-around stellar pitching staff. The Houston Astros bullpen alone finished the playoffs with the lowest single postseason ERA with a stunning 0.83 ERA (earned run average), while the Astros starting pitching staff held their opponents through the postseason to a .172 batting average. In the World Series, Astros pitching got the Phillies to strike out a record-breaking 71 times.

Astros Aces:

Framber Valdez

Dominican-born left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez signed as an international free agent with the Astros at age 21, which is considered “old” for most international free agents. In 2022, he pitched dominantly and had considerably the best season of his career. Valdez relies heavily on his sinker and curveball pitch to record a high percentage of ground balls for outs. In the regular season he broke the record for the most consecutive quality starts, which is when a pitcher completes at least six innings allowing no more than three earned runs. He recorded a streak of 25 quality starts. In the postseason, he held a 1.44 ERA with 33 strikeouts, and was credited with three of the team’s wins during that span.

Cristian Javier

Another Dominic-born Astros pitcher, Christian Javier, was a 16 year old outfielder who decided to give pitching a try. Just shy of turning 18, again considered “old”, he signed a contract worth $10,000 with the Astros in 2015 and made his MLB debut in 2020. This season, he has proven himself to be a reliable ace for this team. Starting the year out as a bullpen pitcher, he soon became a key asset in the team’s starting rotation. While considered only the team’s number four starter, with his electric fastball he’s been nearly unhittable versus opponents. During the regular season he and the bullpen combined no-hit the New York Yankees. Later in the ALCS, the Yankees would see a complete game shutout pitched by none other than Javier and the Astros’ bullpen. Then, in the World Series, he gave the Phillies’ hitters the same treatment. In Game 4 of the World Series, Javier and the bullpen combined no-hit the Phillies, completing the first combined no-hitter in World Series history. He threw his fastball 70 out 97 pitches in this game. His plan was plain and simple: attack the strike zone and get ahead in counts. He finished the World Series credited with a win and a perfect 0.00 ERA.

Bryan Abreu

Yet another Dominican-born player Bryan Abreu, who signed with the Astros as an international free agent in 2013 and made his MLB debut in 2019, became the Astros’ secret weapon out of the bullpen this season. All year Abreu proved to be lights out and only continued this dominance throughout the postseason. In ten postseason games played this year, through 11.1 innings pitched (IP), he recorded 19 strikeouts while allowing zero runs.

Ryan Pressly

Astros closer Ryan Pressly had an incredible 2022 season. As a closer, it is generally the pitcher’s job to record the final outs of the game and preserve your team’s lead with the hopes of securing your team’s win. In this year’s postseason alone, Pressly had 6 saves out of 6 save opportunities (SVO) through 10 games and 11.1 IP. In that span, he recorded 13 strikeouts and a spotless 0.00 ERA.

Stepping Up to the Plate

With the loss of veteran shortstop Carlos Correa prior to the 2022 season, it was unclear if the Astros would be able to find a player of value to fill his shoes. But, rookie shortstop Jeremy Peña set off to make a name for himself in his first season as an Astro. He became the first rookie shortstop to win a Gold Glove, winning the award for his exceptional defense. In the regular season he lead all shortstops with 16 total defensive runs saved (DRS). Offensively he hit 22 home runs (HR), with 63 runs batted in (RBI). In Game 4 of the ALDS, he put an end to the Seattle Mariners season with a solo home run to snap a 17-inning scoreless game, completing the sweep and allowing the Astros to advance to the ALCS. After the Astros swept the Yankees, Peña was named MVP of the ALCS. Peña hit one home run during the World Series, becoming the first roookie shortstop to hit a home run in the World Series. His batting average through the World Series was .400 and his on-base percentage (OBP) was .423. He hit a total of four postseason home runs. As the Astros were crowned the 2023 World Series Champions, Peña was named MVP of the World Series, becoming just the third rookie, and first ever rookie position player to do so. If this is just the beginning of this 25 year old’s MLB career, the future is bright for this Astros star.


“Do it for Dusty!”

In 2020, Dusty Baker became the new manager of the Houston Astros. Prior to the 2022 World Series, 73 year old head coach Dusty Baker had managed the most MLB games without winning a World Series title. Both his 2002 San Francisco Giants and 2021 Houston Astros lost in the World Series. Since becoming manger of the Houston Astros, Baker has been successful in guiding his team to the postseason in each season he has managed, but his teams had just fallen short every time. That all changed when this year the Houston Astros prevailed against the Philadelphia Phillies and rewarded Baker with his first managerial World Series win.

H-town vs. Everyone

Ever since the Astros’ 2017 Championship was tarnished by scandal, this team has been fighting to put the past behind them and show everyone that they are a force to be reckoned with. On November 5th, after steamrolling their way through their two previous opponents, the Astros silenced the haters and in six games remarkably won the World Series trophy for the city of Houston. The final blow was executed by Astros power hitter, Yordan Alvarez, who hit a 450 ft. bomb to center field to put the Astros on top.

“Bury Me in the H”

I have followed this team all season long and never once doubted that this would be the outcome in the end; winners win. If this so-called “Golden Age” of Astros baseball and their postseason success is not to last for much longer, then I, as a true fan of my hometown Astros, call myself proud to be able to witness these days in which we can revel in the taste of sweet victory.

Three Strikes, You’re Out!: How Astros Pitching Made History in June

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After making their way to the World Series last season, the Houston Astros are already off to an impressive start this season. They currently have a healthy lead and hold the first place spot in the AL West division. This is significantly due to impressive starting and relief pitching.

Astros vs. Rangers: June 15th, 2022

During an away game against state rivals the Texas Rangers, starting pitcher for the Astros Luis Garcia was off to a great start with his team leading 6-1 in the first inning. The real excitement though, came in the second inning when Garcia flawlessly struck out all three batters he faced in exactly nine pitches, all of which were strikes. By throwing the minimum nine strikes to record all three outs, he completed a phenomenon more rare than a no-hitter: an immaculate inning.

Starting Pitcher Luis Garcia threw nine pitches for strikes to strikeout Rangers hitters Nathaniel Lowe, Ezequiel Duran and Brad Miller in order.

To put things into perspective, while the last time the Astros franchise recorded such feat was only in 2019, before that it had been fifteen years since any Astros pitcher had an immaculate inning. So imagine baseball fans’ shock when just five innings later, the team achieved something never done before.

When Garcia’s night was done, bullpen pitcher Phil Maton came in to pitch one inning, the seventh inning. Just when you thought something so rare couldn’t possibly occur twice in one game, he proved otherwise. Once again, in another phenomenal outing, an Astros pitcher struck out each three hitters in a total of nine strikes, imprinting yet another immaculate inning into Astros history. To make matters more spectacular, it was the same three hitters Garcia had pitched his immaculate inning against earlier that same day.

This video shows both immaculate innings side by side.

Not only did baseball fans in attendance and those watching at home witness Astros history, but Major League Baseball history. This was the first time two pitchers had ever recorded two immaculate innings in the same game, much less two pitchers on one team against the same three batters.

Astros pitchers Phil Maton and Luis Garcia pose for a postgame picture with catcher Martín Maldonado, who caught both pitcher’s immaculate innings.

Following the game, when asked about his performance, Garcia told reporters “It feels so good, because it’s history…I’m so happy for me and for Phil.” After completing the second immaculate inning of the day Maton commented: “It’s super cool…It’s not something you go out here every day and obviously strive to do. Obviously, you’re trying to strike out every hitter you face. Still kind of trying to wrap my head around it. Cool experience.”

Relief pitcher Phil Maton cracked a smile as he accepted high-fives from his teammates after pitching the second immaculate inning of the day, to the same three hitters.

Here are some remarkable statistics that show just how rare immaculate innings are:

Though immaculate innings are more rare than no-hitters, we can now add both to the list of accomplishments by the Astros pitching staff this season in the month of June.

Astros vs. Yankees: June 25th, 2022

Just ten days later, in Yankees Stadium, the Astros pitching staff pitched a combined no-hitter against one of the hottest teams in baseball so far this season. Previously a bullpen pitcher, Cristian Javier now acting as a pitcher in the Astros’ starting rotation dominated through seven innings of work with a career-high 13 strikeouts. In his postgame interview, through an interpreter, the Dominican pitcher stated “I feel really happy, really proud right now for this moment that God has given me.”

Starting pitcher Cristian Javier threw a career-high 115 pitches and 13 strikeouts in seven innings in the Astros’ combined no-hitter.

Following Javier, in a tough outing that included two walks, bullpen pitcher Hector Neris worked through some traffic on the bases to record a clean eighth inning with two flyouts and one forceout for all three outs. The Astros were then just three outs away from a combined no-hitter.

Closing pitcher Ryan Pressly came into the ninth inning in an attempt to keep the no-hit bid alive. After he had a rough outing against this team just two days earlier, resulting in an Astros loss, the pressure was on. This time though, Pressly recorded all three outs without allowing a hit, securing the 3-0 win for the Astros and completing the combined no-hitter. It’s no secret that the New York Yankees are the Houston Astros’ biggest rivals, dating back to 2017 when the Astros beat the Yankees in the ALCS to move on to the World Series. At the completion of the game, the Astros closer told reporters “…to do it in New York, it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Ryan Pressly records the last out and completes the combined no-hitter against the Yankees.

This is the second time the Astros have no-hit the Yankees in the Yankees’ home stadium, and the first to happen in the new Yankees Stadium built in 2009. They are the only team to have no-hit the Yankees since 1958, with the first coming on June 11th, 2003. Both have been combined no hitters. This is the 14th no-hitter in team history for the Astros.

Astros pitchers pose with catcher Martín Maldonado after completing a combined no-hitter vs. the Yankees at Yankees Stadium.

There is no denying the talent of this team’s offense, but they have shown why pitchers are so important to the game of baseball. Astros catcher Martín Maldonado, who has caught two immaculate innings and a combined no-hitter all in the month of June, has played an important role on this team with his pitch calling and he has significantly contributed to the confidence and efficiency of these Astros pitchers. Maldonado told reporters “I take a lot of pride behind the plate.” On being a part of both major accomplishments this month Maldonado stated, “Every time you make history is amazing…Those are memories that are going to last [a] long [time].”


It seems like the Astros are heating up this June! This is why watching the sport of baseball is so thrilling, it’s unpredictable and you never know when you will witness history.