Valdez, Yordon help Astros win World Series

HOUSTON — Yordon Alvarez sent a ball to the moon. He unleashed madness in Space City, which is now celebrating its team’s second title in World Series history.

Alvarez hit a monumental home run to change the scoreboard and the Houston Astros won their second title in six seasons, defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 in Game 6 on Saturday.

Cuban’s shot across center field opened the door for Dusty Baker to win the Fall Classic for the first time in his career as manager.

“It felt like the stadium was moving,” Alvarez described.

The ball traveled 450 feet from home plate in the sixth inning. It was Cuban’s first home run since the first two games of this postseason.

The ball disappeared into the stands raised 40 feet above the ground. The Astros’ Dominican starting pitcher, Framber Valdez, saw the scene and began jumping wildly in the dugout, while a large portion of the 42,948 fans also waved orange scarves.

The celebration had begun. The last time a team won the World Series at home was in 2013 with the Boston Red Sox.

Baker, 73, finally won a World Series title in his 25th season as a manager. It was his third season with the Astros, and after the sign-stealing scandal, manager A.J. He was hired to regain credibility after losing the jobs of Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow.

The win came 20 years after Baker fell within five outs of a title with the San Francisco Giants.

“What’s next? I said if I win one title I want to win two,” said the driver.

That undisclosed fraud made Houston the most hated team in the majors.

Baker claimed, and was the oldest manager to win a championship. He has lost the World Series twice, including last year against the Atlanta Braves.

“What happened here before, it’s not going to go away completely,” Baker said of the scandal. “But we’ve turned the page and hope to continue this.”

Coaches and physical trainers approached Baker after Nick Castellanos hit a game-ending fly ball. They jumped around him and shouted, “Fluff!” They chanted.

Rookie shortstop Jeremy Pena was named World Series MVP after another key hit that preceded Alvarez’s home run.

The 25-year-old Dominican also won the Gold Glove and the Most Valuable Player award of the championship series. According to data from OptaSTATS, he is the first winner to win all three of those awards in his career, and he did so in his first season.

After starter Zach Wheeler left the mound, Alvarez made it 1-0 on the scoreboard with his three-run homer.

Puerto Rican Christian Vasquez added an RBI single in the same sixth inning to make it 4-1.

Valdez earned his second win of the series. He spent a few minutes in the dugout after throwing his 93rd and final pitch in six innings that included nine strikeouts.

But left-hander Kyle Schwarber gave up a solo home run in the top of the sixth to leave behind 1-0.

Hitting his third home run in the past four games, Schwarber circled the bases, waving as if imitating the fans’ movement with their towels.

But by the time Schwarber hit in the eighth, the NL home run leader had no choice but to get a ball in a desperate attempt to rouse the numb Philadelphia Thunder.

His bunt was fouled on two strikes, leading to a strikeout and a third out.

For the Phillies, Dominican Jean Segura is 3-0. Panama player Edmundo Sosa 2-0.

For the Astros, Venezuelan Jose Altuve scored a run to make it 4-1. Dominican Jeremy Pena scored a run to make it 4-2. Cuban Alvarez drove in a single to make it 4-1 and drove in 3 runs. Puerto Ricans Vasquez 3-1 RBI, Martin Maldonado 2-0.