LOS ANGELES, CA– George Springer hit a two-run home run, and the Houston Astros went on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1 in the deciding game of the 2017 World Series. The victory clinched the organization’s first World Series title in their 56-year franchise history. Lance McCullers Jr., Brad Peacock, Francisco Liriano, Chris Devenski and Charlie Morton combined to hold the Dodgers to one run on six hits and two walks with nine strikeouts.
Springer’s home run tied the record for most home runs in a single World Series with five (Reggie Jackson in 1977 and Chase Utley in 2009) and gave him the record for most home runs in the World Series from the lead-off spot. He was named World Series MVP.
Brandon Morrow, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen and Alex Wood kept the Astros scoreless with two hits and three walks allowed, while striking out nine strikeouts. Morrow’s appearance gave him an appearance in all seven games of the series, becoming the second pitcher in World Series history to do so (Darold Knowles in 1973).
The starting pitchers, McCullers Jr. (2.1 innings) and Yu Darvish (1.2 innings), each were pulled before completing three innings, making the game the first game seven in which both starting pitchers failed to throw three innings in World Series history.
The Astros exploded to score all five of their runs in the first two innings. Springer led the game off with a double, setting up Alex Bregman to reach base and advance to second on an error at first base, scoring in the process. Bregman then stole third base and would score on a sacrifice ground out for Jose Altuve. In the second inning, already leading 2-0, Brian McCann worked a walk and Marwin Gonzalez knocked a double into right field, putting runners on second and third. This allowed McCullers Jr. to help himself with a one-out ground out to plate another run. Springer then came up for the second time in the game. He proved a tough out for Darvish, working a full count with the first five pitches. Not wanting to put another runner on, Darvish gave Springer a pitch in the zone and Springer sent it 438 feet into center field for a two-run home run. The Astros cruised from there.
The Astros drought was the second-longest among those who have not won a World Series, one year behind the Texas Rangers, who have yet to win in their 57-year history. The Brewers, Padres and Nationals now slide into the second-place spot at 49 years each.
Leave a Reply