Astros make MLB history off Zack Wheeler in electric start to Game 2

The Houston Astros made MLB history on Saturday night in Game 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

In the first inning, Houston had three straight extra-base hits off Zack Wheeler, one of the best pitchers in the National League. All of this came on Wheeler’s first four pitches of the game.

With extra-base hits from Jose Altuve, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez, Houston scored three first-inning runs off Wheeler. The Astros’ offense has not been its primary problem early in this series, however.

The question remains whether or not Houston can hold such a lead. The Astros held a 5-0 lead over the Phillies in Game 1, only to watch said advantage slowly fade away in Philadelphia’s eventual 6-5 victory.

Astros make history in Game 2 off Zack Wheeler

Jose Altuve had quite possibly the best swing of his 2022 postseason thus far, as he entered the contest with an abysmal playoff stat-line. When Altuve is on, Houston’s lineup is virtually unstoppable. Altuve was convinced he would break out of his slump in the ALCS:

“I wasn’t focused on getting my pitch, and that’s what I worked on in the season and all season long and what has worked for me,” Altuve said. “And I didn’t do that in these first three games.”

That didn’t happen. Still, Altuve kept the same optimism heading into the World Series, and he finally broke through in a big way to start Game 2.

As for Peña and Alvarez, both players have performed well under pressure. Peña made Astros fans forget all about Carlos Correa at times this season. Yordan Alvarez has the moment of the postseason so far, hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS.

With Framber Valdez on the bump, Houston hopes Game 2 won’t result in another blown lead, and a disastrous outcome at Minute Maid Park.