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The Astros have secured their second World Series title.

The last time the Houston Astros won the MLB World Series was in 2017, a victory that was tainted by a massive cheating scandal. Since then, the Astros have not come within spitting distance of the championship game until this year, when they faced off against the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2022 title. Ultimately, the last game was clinched with a blowout score of 4-1, leaving the Astros as the 2022 World Series champs.

At their post-game party, the Astros lorded their new title over those who have spent the past 5 years doubting them. “We don’t really give a s— what they say,” said relief pitcher Ryan Pressly. “We won. We’re the best. Ain’t nothing they can say about it now.”

“We got beat up over it, and rightfully so,” Astros owner Jim Crane said. “We tried to work our way through it and kept our head down. I told the guys, ‘This is gonna be with us for a while. The only way we can fix it is we gotta beat everybody.’ That’s what we focused on.”

The Houston Astros are 2022 World Champions! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/E0K9WNmKCH

— Houston Astros (@astros) November 6, 2022

For the Astros’ manager, Dusty Baker, the victory was very personal, as he’s been trying to recreate the thrill of a World Series victory since his time on the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.

“I tried not to dwell on it,” Baker said, “but I tried to have faith and perseverance in knowing that with the right team and the right personnel and right everything that this is going to happen. Had this happened years ago, I might not even be here. So maybe it wasn’t supposed to happen so that I could hopefully influence a few young men’s lives and their families and a number of different people in the country through showing what perseverance and character can do for you in the long run.”