The Astros suffered their first loss of the postseason, dropping Game 1 of the World Series in extra innings after Justin Verlander blew a five-run lead to the Phillies
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and Black Pumas co-founder Eric Burton sings the national anthem before Game 1 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Houston.Bat met ball and Kyle Tucker spun in the batter’s box. He flipped his bat, a show of swagger for a player who never exudes it. The baseball landed 395 feet away in Houston’s bullpen, bringing a ballpark of 42,903 to near bedlam.
Baseball promises nothing. One bounce or bobble can break hearts or build statues. Guarantees are few, even with a pitcher who epitomizes excellence on every stage but this one. Friday brought the brutality into its third decade, delivering perhaps the most perplexing chapter of Verlander’s catastrophic Fall Classic storybook. Verlander vacillated from untouchable to unwatchable in an instant, aided by an unnaturally long leash from manager Dusty Baker.
A brilliant effort by Houston’s bullpen could only buoy Verlander and Houston’s deadened bats for so long. Bryan Abreu, Héctor Neris, Rafael Montero, Ryan Pressly protected a 5-5 tie for four frames, punching out six batters and surrendering one hit. For a fifth, Baker eschewed convention and turned to a converted starter, one who sparkled in Seattle but slipped up on Friday.
Enough blame exists to go around, but most must fall to the presumptive American League Cy Young winner, a man paid handsomely to deliver in these sorts of situations. Verlander retired the first nine Phillies he saw. Six of them faced either an 0-2 or 1-2 count. Verlander commanded his entire repertoire and worked with a wonderful pace, plowing through a powerful Philadelphia lineup almost without pause.
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