World Series Preview: Philadelphia Has an Edge on Houston’s Routine Game 4 Upset
The Philadelphia Phillies won an emotional Game 3 in the last round of the World Series on Monday, edging Houston to a Game 4 in an 8-2 victory for the Philadelphia Phils.
But while the home team went on to win Game 4 on Tuesday, it was Houston who had the better of the series.
The Astros’ win in Game 4 took advantage of Philadelphia’s errors, as well as some timely hitting by the Phillies.
Here’s a closer look at the series and how the Astros and Phillies match up:
Game 4: A Different Series
Houston’s playoff experience was tested in Game 4 at Busch Stadium, as it came into the series on the heels of a Game 2 loss that dropped them to a record of 17-5.
In his postgame remarks, Astros manager Bo Porter praised the intensity that Philadelphia manager Ryne Sandberg played up in his gameplan.
“You’re on the run here in Philadelphia,” Porter said after the Astros won, which meant that they could be sent to Houston to play in Game 5. “We want to play a good game. It’s very important for us to take Game 4 here in Philadelphia.”
The Phillies are 5-0 in Game 4 of deciding games since moving to Philadelphia in the winter of 1995.
Houston will start J. A. Happ, who has been the ace of the Astros since June 24, though his streak of seven straight quality starts could be over if the Houston lineup comes up big early against a Phillies lineup which boasts only two homers in its last 10 games.
The Houston offense has struggled this season and will be missing Lance Berkman, Carlos Lee and A. J. Burnett.
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg knows what it takes to win a series like the series that he just saw:
“We have to match the intensity of Houston, the same intensity that Houston plays with all the time,” Sandberg said. “We have to pitch it every day, as Houston does. They’re the best team in baseball, the Houston Astros.”
Game 4: A Different Series – 2-0 on the Road
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