Houston Astros & Philadelphia Phillies reach World Series after beating Yankees & Padres
- Published
Having struggled all series, Yankees star batter Aaron Judge (left) was thrown out at first base as the Astros recorded the final out of the game
The Houston Astros will meet the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2022 World Series after clinching their league titles on Sunday.
The Phillies beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 in Philadelphia to win the National League Championship Series 4-1.
After a rain delay in the Bronx, the Astros edged out the New York Yankees 6-5 to sweep the American League Championship Series 4-0.
The best-of-seven World Series will begin in Houston on Friday.
Because the Astros have the superior regular-season record, they will enjoy home field advantage, with four of the seven games at Minute Maid Park.
After finishing with the best record in the American League, Houston are yet to lose a postseason game in 2022, sweeping the Seattle Mariners 3-0 in the Division Series before overwhelming the Yankees.
Star outfielder Aaron Judge, who broke the AL home run record at the start of October, again struggled at the plate and went hitless in what could be his final Yankees game as he now qualifies for free agency.
The Astros were indebted to shortstop Jeremy Pena at Yankee Stadium after the rookie hit a three-run homer to left field in the top of the third inning to tie the game at 3-3 - and was later driven in by Alex Bregman in the seventh for the go-ahead run to make it 6-5.
Judge came up to bat in the bottom of the ninth with the Yankees down to their last out, but he could only ground out to Astros closer Ryan Pressly, who flipped the ball to first base as Houston booked their fourth World Series appearance in six seasons.
The Phillies were trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning before Bryce Harper's two-run homer made it 4-3 to the hosts
Earlier, the Phillies were celebrating on home turf at Citizens Bank Park as they saw off the Padres to reach the 'Fall Classic' for the first time since 2009.
Designated hitter Bryce Harper, who hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring the Phillies back from 3-2 down, was named as the most valuable player of the NLCS.
Philadelphia had been the lowest-ranked NL team to qualify for the postseason, but overcame the St Louis Cardinals 2-0 in their Wild Card series, and then the defending champion Atlanta Braves 3-1 in the NL Division Series.
World Series schedule
Game 1: Friday 28 October, Minute Maid Park, Houston
Game 2: Saturday 29 October, Minute Maid Park, Houston
Game 3: Monday 31 October, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
Game 4: Tuesday 1 November, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
*Game 5: Wednesday 2 November, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
*Game 6: Friday 4 November, Minute Maid Park, Houston
*Game 7: Saturday 5 November, Minute Maid Park, Houston
*if required
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