AP Photo/David J. Phillip
PHILADELPHIA — Just a day after raining a World Series record-tying five home runs down on the Houston Astros, the Philadelphia Phillies failed to record a single hit in Game 4.
Astros starting pitcher Cristian Javier was sharp, placing his fastball with precision and leaving batter after batter with a frustrating walk back to the dugout. After Javier threw six innings without giving up a single hit and striking out nine batters, the Astros passed the ball over to a trio of relievers that completed the combined no-hitter, just the second in World Series history.
After the game, some Phillies were asked what must have been a frustrating question — how did it feel to be on the wrong end of an historic accomplishment?
"For me? I mean, a loss is a loss," said Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson, whose even-keeled demeanor has been a key factor in the Phillies' postseason run. "That's the way I kind of look at it."
Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber was even more direct.
"I really don't give a shit," Schwarber said in the clubhouse after the game. "Nope. Move on to tomorrow."
"It's cool. We'll be in the history books I guess."
—John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) November 3, 2022
Thomson and Schwarber are right. While the no-hitter is quite an accomplishment, a loss, especially here in the World Series, is all that matters.
Indeed, the Astros noted as much from the visitors' clubhouse in Philadelphia. "It's a moment that we'll all cherish forever and we'll all remember forever," said Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. "It was really awesome. But like you said, the biggest thing for us is getting the win today."
"I think, like Bregman said, we've not finished the job yet," said catcher Christian Vazquez, who called the no-hitter behind the plate. "But this is very, very special for us. And when we get old we're going to remember this."
"I promise you every single person in the dugout just wanted one thing today and that was to win," Bregman concluded, noting that he didn't even think of the possibility of a no-hitter until the final out had been secured.
For the Astros, a win was a win. For the Phillies, a loss was a loss.
The World Series is now tied 2-2 with Game 5 set for Thursday night in Philadelphia.