Realmuto also drove in two runs in the second inning. Kyle Tucker hit two home runs in his first two at bats and the Astros were up 5-0 after three innings.
On the first pitch in second, Tucker hit a long ball beyond right field. That solo strike gave the Astros a 1-0 lead. He came back on the charge in the third, where his three-point hit put the Astros into a 5-0 lead.
The Phillies recovered in the fourth. A single from Nick Castellanos allowed Rhys Hoskins to cross home plate, Bryce Harper to reach second base and the Phillies to score their first run. Alec Bohm then hit a hard double in the left field corner that pushed Harper and Castellanos home.
The Phillies picked up where they left off in fifth. Realmuto slammed a two-run double, Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber scored on the streak.
The Astros came close to scoring in their turn at bat in the tenth. However, with two outs, Aledmys Diaz was unable to take advantage of runners on second and third.
Justin Verlander, who started the game for the Astros, stepped down after five innings. He allowed six hits and five runs. The 39-year-old Verlander also struck out five batters.
Phillies starter Aaron Nola allowed six hits and five runs in four and a third innings.
Ahead of the game, players’ union director Tony Clark said years of inattention on Major League Baseball’s part contributed to the World Series being played without any American-born black players for the first times since 1950.
The Astros have won 19 more games than the Phillies in the regular season and are favorites. The Texas club is participating in the World Series for a second consecutive year. He is taking part in the fall classic for the fourth time in six years.
The Phillies are trying to win their first World Series since 2008. Game 2 of the series is Saturday, still in Houston.
