HOUSTON ASTROS 7
LOS ANGELES DODGERS 6 in 11
LOS ANGELES, CA– George Springer hit a two-run home run, his second of the playoffs and first since the ALDS, in the top of the 11th inning for the Astros, giving them the lead for good. Justin Verlander tossed six innings for the Astros, allowing three runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five.
Springer’s home run was the last of eight home runs hit between the Astros and Dodgers, setting the World Series game record and coming three short of the MLB single game record.
The Astros benefited from four late-game home runs. The first came in the top of the ninth inning, trailing 3-2 with Marwin Gonzalez stepping to the plate. With none out, Gonzalez fell behind 0-2 in the count, but struck the third pitch of the at bat 398 feet into centerfield to tie the game and snap Kenley Jansen‘s 12 playoff game save streak.
In the 10th inning, Jose Altuve (413 feet to center) and Carlos Correa (427 feet to center) hit back-to-back home runs to reclaim the lead. But the Dodgers tied the game in the bottom half, forcing the 11th inning in which Springer would club the winning blow.
The Dodgers had home runs from Joc Pederson, Corey Seager (two-run), Yasiel Puig and Charlie Culberson. The four home runs accounted for all but one of the Dodgers’ five total hits in the game. Rich Hill started on the mound for the Dodgers, tossing four innings and giving up one run on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
The win marked the Astros’ first World Series win in franchise history as they were swept out of their only other appearance, the 2005 World Series, by the Chicago White Sox. Game three will be played Friday at 8:09 p.m. in Houston. The expected starters are Yu Darvish for the Dodgers and Lance McCullers Jr. for the Astros.
Leave a Reply