Six Dominicans, five pitchers and one shortstop, made the difference in the victory of the Houston Astros over the Philadelphia Phillies, the otherwise favorite to win the World Series.
Twenty-six players make up the roster of a Major League Baseball team. On the winning Houston Astros roster, 13 of those players were Latinos. The explanation is that Houston is a city of over 2 million where nearly half the residents are Latino.
Of those 13, six are Dominican players – pitchers Framber Valdez, Bryan Abreu, Christian Javier, and Rafael Montero and Hector Neris and outfielder Jeremy Peña. They did what they were contracted to and worked together to deliver the Houston Astros victory on Saturday, 5 November 2022.
Framber Valdez, who won his two games pitching the full six innings, was key to the final victory. He became the first Dominican left-handed opening pitcher to win a game in the MLB playoffs and tied with Pedro Martinez in number of victories in the playoffs, with six.
The media also highlighted the stellar participation of pitcher Christian Javier. Baseball America reported on how seven years after being recruited in MLB, the converted outfielder with a light fastball stood on the mound in the World Series with his team desperately needing a win to keep its championship dreams in reach and delivered. Baseball America highlighted that facing an offense that had bashed opposing pitchers into submission again and again, Javier calmly delivered one of the most dominant playoff starts of the last 50 years to put his team in the history books and get them back in the series.
Javier then combined with Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly to pitch the second no-hitter in World Series history and lead the Astros to a 5-0 win over the Phillies on Wednesday, 2 November 2022. Javier delivered six no-hit innings before handing it off to his bullpen, which finished the job and set the series to return to Houston.
Javier became the first pitcher to throw six no-hit innings in a World Series game since Mets lefthander Jerry Koosman in Game 2 of the 1969 World Series. He struck out nine, walked two and retired the final 11 batters he faced. The Phillies offense came in averaging nearly three home runs per game at home in the postseason. Against Javier, they only managed to hit two balls out of the infield.
Javier did what no other pitcher has been able to do this postseason and beat the Phillies at home. The Phillies were 6-0 this postseason at Citizen’s Bank Park, beating a list of pitchers that included Joe Musgrove, Charlie Morton, Lance McCullers and Spencer Strider.
Relief pitcher Rafael Montero is also praised. He completed the playoffs with 0.83.
In the final sixth game, 25-year old Jeremy Peña singled, en route to becoming the first rookie position player to be named the 2022 World Series Most Valuable Player. He batted .400 with a home run in the series and splendid defense at shortstop as well. He had just recently replaced All-Star Carlos Correa who was traded to Minnesota.
CBS reports on Peña: “In Game 6, 25-year old Peña singled twice, including ahead of Yordan Alvarez’s game-winning three-run home run. He socked the go-ahead solo home run as part of a three-hit effort in Game 5 as well. Peña had a hit in all six World Series games and finished the postseason with a seven-game hitting streak dating back to the ALCS. He is the first rookie with a hit in six consecutive World Series games.”
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7 November 2022