Smith's late HR lifts Astros after Javier gives Phils déjà vu with early no-hit stuff

PHILADELPHIA – It wasn’t a World Series no-hitter, but Cristian Javier certainly looked comfortable on the mound at Citizens Bank Park.

The right-hander carried a no-no into the fifth, though Cam Smith was the hero of the day, drilling a solo home run off Jhoan Duran in the ninth to lift the Astros to a 2-1 victory and a series win over the Phillies.

Javier was making his first career regular-season start in Philadelphia, but he had toed the rubber at Citizens Bank Park once before – during Game 4 of the 2022 World Series.

Javier twirled six no-hit innings in that game, combining with three Astros relievers to throw the third no-no in postseason history, the first by multiple pitchers.

“I remember the last time he pitched here,” manager Joe Espada said before the game. “It would be great if he can go out there and duplicate that.”

Espada wasn’t actually expecting Javier, fresh off his best start in more than a month, to throw a no-hitter against the Phillies’ powerful lineup. But with five players from Philadelphia’s World Series team still there on Thursday, Espada hoped that Javier would use the memory of that memorable night to inspire him.

“I'm thinking about it – and he should,” Espada said. “When you're in an environment where you have had success, it brings the best out of you. I could see Javi going out there with full confidence, throwing the ball well and giving us a chance to win.”

After walking Kyle Schwarber to open the home half of the first inning, Javier moved through the Phillies' lineup like a hot knife through butter, not allowing another baserunner while facing the minimum 12 batters through four innings.

Taylor Trammell staked Javier to a lead with an RBI double against Zack Wheeler in the second, and for a while, it felt like that run might hold up.

The Phillies finally got their first hit against Javier ever at Citizens Bank Park, as Luis Arraez ended the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fifth. Alec Bohm followed with a double, putting Javier in a jam with runners at second and third and nobody out.

Arraez scored on a fielder’s choice by Bryson Stott, but Javier limited the damage there, getting Brandon Marsh to ground into a 3-6-3-6 double play, ending the threat with the score tied 1-1.

Javier held serve with Wheeler through six innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk, only the second time this season he’s thrown that many frames in a start.

Wheeler exited after the seventh, escaping a bases-loaded jam by striking out pinch-hitter Yainer Diaz to end his outing.

Smith broke the tie with one out in the ninth, launching a first-pitch splitter from Jhoan Duran into the center-field seats, his Statcast-projected 421-foot blast giving the Astros a 2-1 lead. Josh Hader remained perfect in save opportunities on the season, picking up his 25th with a scoreless ninth.