Astros take World Series lead over Phillies with 3-2 win, as Houston takes Series back home

Jeremy Pena homered between his three hits and drove in two runs, Justin Verlander threw five solid innings and the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 in Game 5 of the World Series.

The Astros take home a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series and must win on Saturday or Sunday (if necessary) to claim the championship.

En route to his first-ever World Series-victory, Verlander (1-0) gave up four hits and one run with six strikeouts and four walks. The two-time Cy Young Award winner started the night 0-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight World Series starts.

Justin Verlander threw five innings en route to his first World Series win on Thursday in Game 5

Houston relievers Hector Neris and Bryan Abreu combined for two scoreless innings, and Rafael Montero gave up one run in a third of an inning. Ryan Pressly retired the side to record his fifth save of the postseason.

In the ninth, after Rhys Hoskins struckout, Astros midfielder Chas McCormick made a crushing flyout against the wall on a ball hit by JT Realmuto. Bryce Harper was hit by a pitch before Nick Castellanos grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

Jose Altuve added two hits and two runs for the Astros.

Jeremy Pena scored two runs for the Astros in their 3-2 win over the Phillies in Game 5

Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the first inning with a homerun, Jean Segura had two hits and an RBI and Alec Bohm added two hits for the Phillies.

Philadelphia starter Noah Syndergaard (0-1) threw three-plus innings and gave up two runs on three hits and no walks. He knocked out four.

Phillies relievers Connor Brogdon and Jose Alvarado combined for three shutout-innings, but Seranthony Dominguez gave up a run in the eighth. David Robertson and Zach Eflin also threw a shutout-inning each.

Bryce Harper looked downcast after Philly lost as they now have to win twice in Houston

Altuve led off the game with a double, moved to third base on a fielding error by centerfielder Brandon Marsh and scored on an RBI single by Pena.

The Phillies quickly tied the game at 1 when Schwarber ripped a solo home run.

After loading the bases with two outs in the second, Verlander rallied and retired Hoskins with a swinging hit. Pena responded with a solo homer to the left to open up the fourth, giving the Astros a 2-1 lead.

Harper doubled with two outs in the fifth, but Castellanos flied out to the left on the 10th pitch of the at bat against Verlander.

Yuli Gurriel from Houston doubled and was in third place with no outs in the seventh. One out later, McCormick grounded into a 5-2-6-3 out with Hoskins tumbling over his head while tagging out Gurriel.

The Astros led 3-1 in the eighth when Altuve walked, Pena singled and Yordan Alvarez hit an RBI groundout to first base. Hoskins bobbed the ball long enough for Altuve to score.

Segura performed an RBI single to the right to close the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, hitting an 0-for-20 stretch for the Phillies with runners in scoring position. Pressly then went in with one out and runners on first and third base, and he struckout Marsh before Schwarber grounded out sharply to Trey Mancini at first base.