The 2022 World Series Champions are the Houston Astros who beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 in game 6 of the World Series on November 5th. This is their second World Series win (The first one in 2017 against the Dodgers). This time they won in the heart of Texas becoming the first team to clinch at home since 2013.

The sign-stealing scandal in 2017 that cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs made the Astros the most hated team in baseball. People said the Houston Astros didn’t deserve their 2017 World Series win and gave it to the Dodgers. This year they proved they can win the World Series when Dusty Baker was hired to replace the previous manager and finally won a title after 25 seasons. After Nick Castellanos flew out to end the game, people were chanting his name and holding up signs saying slogans such as “We Love Dusty” and “Win For Dusty”.

The Astros dominated the Phillies in pitching, especially in game 4 when Cristian Javier and Houston’s bullpen threw a combined no-hitter, the second no-hitter in World Series history. In game 6, Kyle Schwaber broke the 0-0 tied game in the top of the 6th inning by hitting a 2-2 count solo home run to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead. Then in the bottom of the 6th, Yordan Alvarez gave the Astros a 3-1 lead by hitting a three-run, 450-foot home run to center field. The Astros then extended the lead to 4-1 in the same inning after Christian Vázquez hit an RBI single to bring in Alex Bregman. Finally, Nick Castellanos hit a pop-up to right field to end the game with the Houston Astros capturing their second World Series Win.

After Houston lost star two-way player Carlos Correa, Jeremy Pena had to fill in for him, and would prove that he was more than worthy to become the successor.

“I never saw it as having to fill shoes,” Peña said after Game 5. “I just had to come in and be myself, play my game.”\ 

After hitting .400, Jeremy Peña won the World Series MVP. Peña is the first-position player rookie to win the World Series MVP and the 3rd rookie overall to win MVP. Peña won the ALCS MVP becoming the 9th player ever to win a World Series MVP and Championship Series MVP. Peña also became the first rookie shortstop to win a gold glove award, getting one of the best rookie seasons in MLB history. 

“I’m just so proud of him,” Alex Bregman said after the clincher. “He’s learned how to deal with failure. It has never stopped him. He’s always been a man on the mission since he got here, just to be himself. LCS MVP, World Series MVP, world champion in his first year. “Pretty special.”

Even though the Phillies tried forcing a game 7 for the world series, they came up short after losing 4-1 in game 6. The Phillies have had a great season with a record of 87-75, and made it all the way up to the World Series. Right fielder Bryce Harper won the NLCS MVP after having a remarkable series with a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning of the Phillies 4-3 win over the Padres in Game 5. 

Even though the least favorite pick won the World Series, it was still a great series and game. Perhaps next year the Phillies can come back and prove they can win the World Series. The World Baseball Classic is coming up in 2023 and many fans are excited.