The Philly-Houston Sportspocalypse Night: Houston's Leather Edge

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> Phillies had Meek Mill pump the crowd, take a victory lap on the Phanatic's cycle, and emerge from the dugout wearing the powder blue uniforms of my youth. Everything good at once, honestly. 

> They also tied the game after just two pitches, with OF Kyle Schwarber continuing his late playoff locked-in run. They just never got the later hits with men on that they needed.

> The first inning ended on a strikeout and throw out double play as Phillies SS Bryson Stott executed a perfect block, as Philly Fan got back into full throat. They like defense, too.

> Nice game for 2B Jean Segura, who got on several times and actually got a knock with men in scoring position. Jean's probably not going to be with this team too much longer and he's clearly not 100% now, but he's giving everything he's got.

> The Astros did just enough offensively tonight, with weak contact and lucky offense providing a lot of traffic. If you hold a good offense to three runs in a bullpen game with shaky defense, it's really not on your bullpen. I don't know how much longer they can do this, especially with two elimination road games in front of them, but anyone who expected five games of this was lying.

> RHP Connor Brogdon was great tonight, and it says something about Phillies manager Rob Thomson that he didn't just bury this guy when he stunk it up earlier in the post-season. Maybe he didn't have options given how aggro he's been with the starters, but there's no such thing as low leverage innings in a tight World Series game, people.

> The fact that RHP Hector Neris keeps getting big out for the Astros is especially infuriating.

> RHP Seranthony Dominguez gave up a run on a bad play by Marsh, a wild pitch, and a chop. Even hitting into a rundown worked out for them, as it got a defensive swap that paid off for them. Lucky bastards. 

> In the 8th, 1B Rhys Hoskins couldn't field a ball cleanly, costing the Phils any chance of cutting off a run at the plate. It would have been a very hard play, but winning World Series games requires hard plays, folks. 

> With the tying run on third, Astros closer Ryan Pressly came on and got CF Brandon Marsh to whiff, and Schwarber to ground out on a play to first that could have easily given the home team the lead. In the ninth, CF Chad McCormick tracked a ball by C JT Realmuto to the wall, lept and held on. Defense, folks. In a Series that's 3-2 with the teams separated by just a single run, defense matters.

> Game Six is Saturday in Houston, with SP Zach Wheeler working with extra rest to see if he can get back his velocity and effectiveness. You can't think much of his chances, but you also can't win a series when you've had one good starting pitcher performance in five games. I don't want to see this team go out quietly, but they also owe us absolutely nothing. Go Phillies.