Astros Combine for a No-No in Game 4 Win Over Phillies

PHILADELPHIA – The Houston Astros combined for a no-hitter for the first time in World Series history in Game 4 to shut out the Philadelphia Phillies 5-0 in Philadelphia. Don Larsen no longer owns the League’s only World Series no-hitter, but it took four Astros pitchers to match Larsen.

Cristian Javier took the mound for Houston and absolutely dominated the Phillies. The team that hammered the Astros the night before had no answer to Javier all night. He threw six no-hit innings, accumulating nine strikeouts and two walks. Manager Dusty Baker went with Bryan Abreu in the 7th, who struck out the side, Rafael Montero in the 8th, and closer Ryan Pressley in the 9th. The Astros’ defense backed the pitchers up to keep the no-hitter alive, and the only Phillies to get on base walked to get there.

After falling flat against the Phillies’ home run derby in Game 3, the Astros’ offense came to life in the 5th inning of Game 4 and scored five runs. Chas McCormick started off the inning with a single to shallow left. Jose Altuve then singled to center, and Jeremy Pena singled to left field. Houston set the stage with the bases loaded and no outs for the floodgates to open. Yordan Alvarez got hit by a pitch to score McCormick, and then Alex Bregman doubled to deep right scoring Altuve and Pena.  The Astros were now up 3-0. Kyle Tucker then hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Alvarez and moved Bregman to third. Finally, Yuli Gurriel singled to left to score Bregman. The five-run inning ended up being the only runs scored in the game.

With the Astros’ win, they evened the series 2-2. Game 5 is tonight, Nov. 3, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia at 7:03 p.m. The Astros return home to Houston for Game 6 on Saturday.

The Astros starting pitcher for Game 5 is Justin Verlander. The Phillies will put Noah Syndergaard on the mound.