It was a credit to the Phillies that a 5-0 Astros lead after five innings of Game 2 of the World Series did not feel like finality. And it was a credit to the Astros that, for the second straight night, they had put together a 5-0 lead against a Phillies ace.

This time, though, the Astros made their early advantage stand, and now we have an even Series to show for it.

In a 5-2 victory Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, the Astros attacked Zack Wheeler and then put their lead in the more-than-capable left hand of Framber Valdez, whose terrific 6 1/3 innings made sure those rare runs off Philadelphia’s finest arm were not for naught. Though the game was not without late-inning drama -- including Kyle Schwarber just barely missing a two-run homer not once but twice in the eighth inning -- it was a game that belonged to the home club.

Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto hit a tiebreaking home run in the top of the 10th inning, leading to a stunning 6-5 victory against the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night.

The Phillies scored six straight runs after trailing 5-0 early in the game.

Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman delivered big hits and the Houston Astros advanced to the World Series again, finishing a four-game sweep of New York in the AL Championship Series with a 6-5 victory Sunday night aided by another defensive gaffe from the Yankees.

Taking advantage of a costly error by second baseman Gleyber Torres to produce the go-ahead rally in the seventh inning, the Astros won their second consecutive pennant and fourth in six years.

Welcome to the World Series, Bryce Harper.

The superstar slugger the Philadelphia Phillies brought in three years ago to turn around a franchise stuck in mediocrity delivered one of the biggest home runs in franchise history to send the Phillies to their first World Series since 2009.

Harper's two-run rocket shot of a home run to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Phillies a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres, ensuring the face of the franchise will be heading to his first Fall Classic.

Rhys Hoskins homered twice, Kyle Schwarber hit a solo shot into shrubbery and Bryce Harper doubled to put the Philadelphia Phillies ahead for good in a wild 10-6 win over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night for a 3-1 lead in the NL Championship Series.

The New York Yankees clubhouse went silent. During the regular season -- win or loss -- New York always played music over the speakers after games.

But that pattern died Saturday after the Yankees lost 5-0 in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, putting them in a 3-0 deficit to the Houston Astros, facing a sweep and elimination on Sunday.

Kyle Schwarber led off with his latest scintillating home run, Jean Segura atoned for a run-scoring error with a go-ahead single and the Phillies edged the San Diego Padres 4-2, giving them a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven matchup.

Game 4 is Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.

Alex Bregman, Framber Valdez and the Houston Astros are off to a perfect start this postseason.

Taking the formula that won them 106 games in the regular season — strong pitching and hitting home runs — the Astros kept rolling against the New York Yankees.

Bregman connected for an early three-run homer, Valdez threw seven strong innings and the Astros edged the Yankees 3-2 Thursday night to take a 2-0 lead in the AL Championship Series.

When Justin Verlander was laboring and needed 45 pitches to get through two innings, Astros manager Dusty Baker was worried he'd have to go to his bullpen early.

Instead, the veteran ace buckled down and found a groove, striking out 11 in six strong innings to lead Houston over the New York Yankees 4-2 in their AL Championship Series opener Wednesday night.

"This guy, he has mental toughness," Baker said. "When he's down and out and it looks like you got him in trouble, this guy, he can dial it up."

The scrappy San Diego Padres, largely rebuilt at the trade deadline, are finding their identity at just the right time.

In danger of heading to Philadelphia down 0-2 in the NL Championship Series, the Padres produced another huge rally in front of their rowdy fans to put some punch into the all-wild card matchup.

Brandon Drury hit a go-ahead, two-run single during a five-run outburst in the fifth inning and San Diego stunned Aaron Nola and the Phillies 8-5 on Wednesday to tie the NLCS at one game apiece.