PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Cristian Javier carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, Cam Smith homered in the ninth, and the Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. Houston improved to 75-72. Philadelphia fell to 82-65. The game drew 37,100 and lasted 2 hours, 30 minutes. Houston finished with eight hits, while Philadelphia had three.

Javier was making his first start at Citizens Bank Park since he helped combine for a no-hitter in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series at the same ballpark. He again looked comfortable in Philadelphia for much of the afternoon. The right-hander kept the Phillies without a hit until the fifth inning and finished six innings with three hits allowed, one earned run and five strikeouts. He did not get the decision, but his effort kept Houston close while Philadelphia ace Zack Wheeler was matching him pitch for pitch. Houston manager Joe Espada had recalled Javier’s previous outing at the ballpark before the game and hoped for a similar performance. Javier delivered the best start of his season on the same mound that produced his most memorable career outing.

Wheeler threw seven innings and allowed five hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts. Houston opened the scoring in the second inning after Christian Walker singled with one out. Cam Smith struck out for the second out, and Taylor Trammell followed with a line-drive double to right field that scored Walker. Trammell finished with one hit and one RBI. The Astros had a chance for more but Christian Vázquez grounded out to end the inning. Wheeler then settled in and retired the side in order in the third, with Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez striking out and Isaac Paredes grounding out. Wheeler also struck out the side in the sixth, fanning Peña, Alvarez and Paredes in succession.

Philadelphia pulled even in the fifth. Luis Arraez singled to left, and Alec Bohm doubled to right to put runners on second and third. Bryson Stott then reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Arraez to score while Bohm was cut down at third. Brandon Marsh followed by grounding into a double play, ending the inning. The Phillies grounded into two double plays in the game, with the first coming in the opening inning when Bryce Harper hit into a double play after Kyle Schwarber walked. Philadelphia’s offense otherwise struggled against Javier and the Houston bullpen. Justin Crawford singled in the sixth for the Phillies’ third hit, but Marchán, Schwarber and Turner all struck out to strand him.

After Javier departed, Houston’s bullpen took control. Bennett Sousa pitched a scoreless seventh. Bryan Abreu struck out three in a scoreless eighth and earned the win, improving to 6-3. Josh Hader struck out one in a perfect ninth for his 25th save. Philadelphia’s Jose Alvarado worked a scoreless eighth despite allowing two hits and an intentional walk. He escaped when Isaac Paredes lined into a double play and Daulton Varsho popped out in foul territory. The Phillies’ bullpen could not keep the tie intact in the ninth, however, as Duran entered and surrendered Smith’s decisive homer.

Houston threatened in the eighth when Jeremy Peña singled and advanced to second on a throwing error by Trea Turner. Alvarez was intentionally walked, but Paredes lined into a double play. Jose Altuve then doubled to left to put runners on second and third, but Varsho popped out. Altuve finished 2-for-4. The missed chance did not hurt Houston because Smith came through in the ninth. Altuve also singled on a bunt in the seventh and moved to third on a pair of groundouts before Wheeler escaped by striking out Yainer Diaz with runners on base.

With the score tied in the ninth, Walker grounded out before Smith drove a solo home run to center field against Jhoan Duran. The home run was Smith’s 20th of the season and gave Houston a 2-1 lead. Smith finished 2-for-3 with one home run and one RBI. Duran took the loss and fell to 2-6. In the bottom of the ninth, Hader struck out Edmundo Sosa before Schwarber and Turner grounded out to end the game. The save was Hader’s 25th of the season. Abreu earned the win after striking out the side in the eighth, and Sousa bridged the gap from Javier to the late-inning duo.

The victory gave Houston the rubber match of the three-game series. The Astros won Tuesday’s opener 6-5 and lost Wednesday’s middle game 11-7. Houston will continue its road trip Friday at Tampa Bay. Philadelphia will begin a series Friday at Atlanta. The Phillies managed only three hits, with Arraez scoring their lone run. Bohm doubled and Justin Crawford singled for Philadelphia’s other hits. Houston’s pitchers limited the Phillies while the Astros finished with eight hits of their own. Paredes, Altuve and Smith each contributed to Houston’s attack, and Trammell supplied the early RBI. The Astros also turned key double plays behind Javier, including the first-inning twin killing and another in the fifth that helped minimize the Phillies’ rally. Houston pitchers combined for 20 strikes, 50 balls and 20 balls in play, while Philadelphia pitchers combined for 17 strikes, 31 balls and 17 balls in play. Houston retired the final nine Philadelphia batters in order after Crawford’s sixth-inning single. The Astros finished with eight hits, including doubles by Trammell and Altuve and Smith’s home run.

Interstat’s game simulator projected Houston to win 6-5 before the game. Interstat’s ELO system gave Philadelphia a 60.5 percent probability to win. The Phillies were installed as pregame favorites with a spread of -1.5. The over/under line was 8.5, and the teams combined for three runs.