Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

The World Series finally came to an end on Saturday night. The Houston Astros defeated the Cinderella Philadelphia Phillies in six games. The Astros, who were arguably the best in team in the regular season (outside potentially the Los Angeles Dodgers), earned their second World Series in franchise history (2017 being the first). Meanwhile, the Phillies end their terrific season just a tad short.

When you look at the series overall, besides one home run heavy game, the Astros showed to be the far superior team. If it was not for a five-run comeback by the Phillies in a 10-inning Game 1, led by J.T. Realmuto (2-for-4, 3 RBI), the Phillies could have gone home trailing by two games. As in Game 2, Houston responded in a big way, marching to a 5-2 victory thanks to a three-run first inning and a splendid game by Framber Valdez (6.1 IP, 1 ER, 9 SO).

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3 looked like it might have been a huge turning point. The Phillies pounced on Lance McCullers and rocked him for five home runs (most home runs against a starter pitcher in World Series history) and seven runs. Ranger Suarez held the Astros off the board and the Phillies took a 2-1 series lead with two more games coming in raucous Philadelphia.

Luckily for Houston, they were able to once again respond and take both remaining games at Citizens Bank Park in the series. Game 4 was the Cristian Javier show as he went six-hitless innings while striking out nine. He was sensational and the Astros’ bullpen added three more hitless innings behind him as Houston no-hit the Phillies in Game 4. This was only the second-ever no-hitter in World Series history.

The Astros then won a 3-2 pitchers’ duel in Game 5 where Justin Verlander outperformed Noah Syndergaard and the Phillies’ bullpen. The Astros brought back a 3-2 series lead to Houston heading into a potential-clinching Game 6.

Led by Framber Valdez, once again, the Astros clinched their second World Series title. Valdez pitched six strong innings and was supplemented by a mammoth sixth inning three-run home run via Yordan Alvarez.

Alvarez’s bomb cleared the batter’s eye in center field and flipped the game from a 1-0 Phillies’ lead to a 3-1 Astros’ advantage. Houston hung on and cruised to a 4-1 Game 6 victory.

After the game, rookie-sensation Jeremy Pena was named World Series MVP. Furthermore, future Hall of Fame manager Dusty Baker finally got to celebrate a World Series title. It was also great to see cancer-survivor Trey Mancini get his first ring as well. In all, the 106-win Astros dominated the postseason, going 11-3 and sweeping their first two series against the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees.

As for the Phillies, it was a terrific run for a team several counted out before they snuck into the third Wild Card spot with an 87-75 record. They swept the St. Louis Cardinals before surprisingly bouncing the National League champion Atlanta Braves in four games. Lastly, they defeated the Padres in five before falling to the 2022 World Series champion Houston Astros. Despite the loss, a sensational, and surprising season for the Phillies.