Houston Astros: 2022 World Series Champions

HOUSTON -- The sound had been brewing and building in the throats of orange-clad Astros fans for years. Five years ago, they had watched their beloved ballclub win a World Series from afar. Then they had seen that title turn from outright triumph to contentious talking point, and they had watched two other teams claim and celebrate Series crowns of their own right here in Minute Maid Park.

But when Yordan Alvarez connected on Jose Alvarado’s sinker in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday night, the sound was finally unleashed. It was a mighty roar of celebration, unencumbered by the weight of what has been and in anticipation of what those fans now knew was coming -- a 4-1 Game 6 victory over the Phillies, and a World Series clincher under their own roof.

Prior to the Astros, the last team to clinch the World Series in its home ballpark was the 2013 Red Sox. Since then, each of the last seven World Series played at teams' own parks (excluding neutral-site 2020) have been clinched on the road.

Also of note, the Astros were out-homered by the Phillies in the Series, 8-5. The last team to be outhomered in a World Series and win it was the 2015 Royals (6 HRs to 2).

ISML 2022: Preliminaries Match On

ISML 2022: Preliminaries Match On

ByJo-Ryan Salazar

The Bedlam on Baltic Avenue

5 November 2022

Match Day 3 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Preliminaries is in the books. A number of contestants in the Female and Male Divisions advanced in a number of groups. Advancing from Female Division Group 1 were Violet Evergarden (4844), Yui Hirasawa (3267), Marin Kitagawa (3137), Yui Yuigahama (2480), Yotsuba Nakano (2410), Tokai Teio (2175), Nagisa Furukawa (2036), Utaha  Kasumigaoka (1777) and Tooru (1702).

Elaina finished with the highest amount of votes in Female Division Group 2 (4599). Other qualifiers included Isla (3197), Itsuki Nakano (3085), Saigiri Izumi (3069), Anya Forger (2509), Ai Haibara (2131), Kamui Kanna (2113), Saber (1950) and Rin Tohsaka (1718). 

Rem, another former Saimoe Prime Minister, had the highest votes in Group 3 (4164). Other qualifiers in the group included Mio Akiyama (3021), Kuroko Shirai (2998), Mashiro Shiina (2796), Mitsuha Miyamizu (2614), Tsukasa Yuzaki (2301), Hina Amano (2136), Kaede Azusagawa (2052) and Origami Tobiichi (1699).

Mikoto Misaka easily had the highest amount of votes in Female Division Group 4 (4583). Also advancing were Chisato Nishikigi (3674), Emilia (2572), Asuna Yuuki (2478), Rio Futaba (2182), Ritsu Tainaka (2178), Roxy Migurdia (1870), Megumin (1786) and Takagi (1598).

Hachiman Hikigaya, one of a few ISML Male Division regulars seeking re-election to the Deputy Saimoe Prime Minister's office, had the highest amount of votes in Male Division Group 1 (4249). Others advancing were Joutarou Kuujou (2508), Riku Dola (2049), Yuu Ishigami (2028), Saika Totsuka (1815), Zen'itsu Agatsuma (1663), Rudeus Greyrat (1609), Shinji Ikari (1485) and Yato (1415).

Yuuta Togashi was first in Group 2 with 4203 votes. Others going through were Rimuru Tempest (2534), Conan Edogawa (2510), Kyoujurou Rengoku (2115), Shidou Itsuka (1975), Saitama (1828), Yuuta Okkotsu (1676), Gilgamesh (1494) and Yuuji Itadori (1221). 

Kiyotaka Ayanokouji was first in Group 3 with 3238 votes. Others going through included Subaru Natsuki (2603), Fuutarou Uesugi (2559), Loid Forger (2339), Mochizou Ouji (2095), Kazuma Satou (1651), L Lawliet (1567), Sorata Kanda (1449) and Gintoki Sakata (1388).

In Group 4, Satoru Gojou had 2709 votes to finish first. Others going through include Shinpei Ajiro (2455), Miyuki Shirogane (2325), Ken Kaneki (2131), Naruto Uzumaki (2067), Monkey D. Luffy (1826), Masamune Izumi (1799), Mikaela Hyakuya (1558) and Satoshi (1489).

Match Day 4 of the 2022 International Saimoe League Preliminaries is scheduled for 7 November 2022. Vote for your favorite characters at InternationalSaimoe.com and join the ongoing debate.

Los Angeles Football Club: 2022 MLS Cup Champions

LOS ANGELES – A Hollywood screenwriter couldn’t have dreamed up MLS Cup 2022 any better.

LAFC are top of the league, emerging as first-time champions from Saturday’s epic championship match at Banc of California Stadium, beating the Philadelphia Union in penalty kicks after a 3-3 draw for the ages – and also making the hosts the first team to complete a Cup-Supporters’ Shield double since Toronto FC in 2017.

Gareth Bale’s thunderous 128th-minute equalizing header sent the game into penalty kicks, showing exactly why the Black & Gold signed the superstar forward this summer as he left Real Madrid. That canceled out a possible man-of-the-match performance from Philly center back Jack Elliott, whose first equalizer booked extra frames, and then his go-ahead 124th-minute strike pushed the Union on the verge of victory.

But Bale came up huge with the final whistle nearing, and back-up goalkeeper John McCarthy took the hero’s cape in the PK shootout by saving two Union efforts – from Jose Martinez and Kai Wagner – after Daniel Gazdag missed the Eastern Conference champions’ first attempt. 

LAFC first got scores from Denis Bouanga and Ryan Hollingshead in PKs, then Ilie Sanchez’s game-winner from the spot sealed a 3-0 advantage for the Black & Gold from 12 yards out. From there, celebrations ensued for the Western Conference champions before their 3252 supporters' section – all in a final that pitted the league’s top two teams against each other for the first time since 2003.

But the storyline, among many, might be McCarthy. He was subbed on in the 117th minute after LAFC’s starting goalkeeper, Maxime Crepeau was shown a red card when a Video Review decision reduced the hosts to 10 men. Crepeau also got hurt on the play, suffering a serious-looking leg injury after colliding with Philly forward Cory Burke following an under-hit back-pass; referee Ismail Elfath originally brandished a yellow card that was later upgraded.

All that drama was just during extra time and PKs, as the game reached a new level as it reached each passing period. LAFC midfielder Kellyn Acosta (deflected free kick) and defender Jesus Murillo (corner-kick header) each scored during regulation time, and the Union equalized each time via Gazdag (near-range shot) and Elliott (free-kick header) to make it 2-2.

From there, the Tinseltown effect took over – Elliott’s almost-winner, Bale’s towering header and McCarthy’s PK heroics – to cap an MLS Cup final that can only be called legendary.

Goals

28' - LAFC - Kellyn Acosta 

59' - PHI - Daniel Gazdag 

83' - LAFC - Jesus Murillo 

85' - PHI - Jack Elliott 

120'+4' - PIH - Jack Elliott

120'+8' - LAFC - Gareth Bale 

Next Up

LAFC: End of 2022 season

PHI: End of 2022 season