Verlander takes blame as WS record sits at 0-6

HOUSTON -- Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander remains good connected his mode to Cooperstown. But somewhat surprisingly, inactive missing from his distinguished 17-year vocation resume is simply a World Series victory.

Verlander cruised done the archetypal 3 innings of Game 1 of the World Series, retiring the archetypal 10 batters helium faced, but the magic of the cleanable crippled ended erstwhile Rhys Hoskins deed a azygous successful the apical of the 4th inning.

And past everything unraveled.

After Hoskins' single, the Phillies combined for 5 hits successful the 4th and 5th innings, including RBI doubles by Alec Bohm and Kyle Tucker location runs disconnected Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola.

It was Realmuto, whose two-run treble tied the people astatine 5-5, who homered disconnected starter-turned-postseason-reliever Luis Garcia successful the 10th to unafraid the 6-5 pb and eventual triumph for the Phils.

"Disappointing," Verlander said successful describing his show Friday night. "My squad gave maine a five-run lead, and I wasn't capable to clasp it. I consciousness truly assured that 99 percent of the clip that I'm capable to clasp that lead, and unluckily contiguous I wasn't."

Verlander's World Series ERA is present 6.07, the worst ever among starters with astatine slightest 30 innings pitched successful the Fall Classic. But helium blamed nary 1 but himself.

"I request to bash better," helium said. "No excuses. I felt similar I had immoderate guys successful bully situations and conscionable wasn't capable to rather marque the pitches that I wanted to. A batch of recognition to [the Phillies] arsenic a lineup. They laid disconnected immoderate bully pitches and they were capable to, erstwhile I did execute pitches, they were capable to foul it disconnected oregon enactment it successful play and find a mates hits that way. Then erstwhile I did marque a mistake, they deed it hard."

Catcher Martin Maldonado took ownership of the results, saying, "I needed to telephone a amended game. And we needed to execute amended pitches, together."

With his no-decision Friday, Verlander remains 0-6 implicit 8 World Series starts, the astir vocation World Series starts without a triumph successful shot history.

Astros manager Dusty Baker said it was astonishing to spot Verlander, who is good connected his mode to his 3rd Cy Young Award this play aft an 18-4 grounds and MLB-leading 1.75 ERA, not beryllium capable to travel retired with a triumph aft specified a comfy aboriginal lead.

"Usually 2 [runs] is enough," Baker said. "We knew they could deed erstwhile they came successful here; they're known for that. They conscionable took it from america tonight."

Verlander concurred.

"I person to springiness a batch of recognition to those guys successful the different dugout," helium said. "When I did marque immoderate pitches, they fouled 'em disconnected oregon enactment 'em successful play. And erstwhile I didn't, they deed 'em hard. They're a large lineup. They're hot, and if you don't marque your pitches, they're going to wounded you."