Astros rule World Series

WASHINGTON – Yordan Alvarez smashed a three-run homer and the Houston Astros captured their second World Series in six seasons on Saturday with a 4-1 victory over Philadelphia.

The Cuban slugger’s sixth-inning blast off Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado gave Houston the lead for good as the Astros took Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven championship final four games to two.

“I just tried to stay a little calm and get a good pitch to swing at and that’s what I did,” Alvarez said of his third game-winning playoff homer.

“It was amazing. When I was rounding second base I felt the whole stadium moving.”

The home victory brought 73-year-old Astros manager Dusty Baker his first World Series crown in 25 seasons as an MLB bench boss.

“That’s the final chapter to the movie,” Baker said. “They told me in spring training they were going to win. Now what’s next? Party.”

Baker, whose 2,093 wins were the most for any manager without a World Series title, quickly enjoyed the long-sought title.

“It hit me all right,” Baker said. “It hit me as soon as Yordan hit that ball over the moon out there.”

The Astros, in their fourth World Series in six seasons and fifth overall, won their only prior title in 2017.

Many MLB fans see that as a tainted title after the Astros were found to have used an electronic sign stealing system, allowing Houston batters to know what pitch was coming.

Baker took over in January 2020 after A.J. Hinch was fired over the scandal and helped the Astros put the shameful episode behind them.

“All the stuff we’ve been going through the last three years, hopefully it’s over,” Baker said. “You’ve got to let it ride.”

The Astros, who lost the 2019 World Series to Washington and 2021 Series to Atlanta, were emotional about winning the crown for Baker.

“He means everything,” said Astros star Jose Altuve, among five players from 2017 still on the roster. “He came here at the right time with the right team.”