Classic World Series

November 11, 2017

It was a great World Series. The teams with best records in their respective leagues faced off against each other. Although I predicted the Dodgers to win I was rooting for the Astros to bring some cheer to a city ravaged by Hurricane Harvey. The major reason the Astros prevailed is that their stars (Springer, Bregman, Altuuve and Correa) were far superior to the Dodgers (Seager, Turner, Belllinger and Piug). I don’t think any had a batting average over .200. Despite this, the series went to seven games. Like the Cubs, the Astros went through many losing seasons while building a championship team. White Sox fans should be excited about them emulating these two teams' rebuilding.

Game 1- A classic pitching duel between Keuchel and Kershaw. With the score 1-1 after five innings, Justin Turner hit what turned out to be a winning 2 run homer. It would be the last you hear of Turner for the rest of the series.

Game 2- In another 1-1 game, Dodger manager Dave Roberts reaches into his Joe Maddon playbook and takes out pitcher Rich Hill after 4 innings after allowing only 1 run. The Dodgers were ahead 3-1 which included a 2 run homer from Chris Taylor. All was going well until reliever Brandon Morrow ran into trouble in the 8^th inning. Enter Jansen for a seven out save. He allows a run scoring single and moves on to the ninth inning. A lead-off home run to Gonzalez ties the game. Move on to the 10^th where Dodgers have to use bottom shelf reliever Josh Fields. Altuve and Correa hit back to back home runs for a two run lead. Dodgers respond with two runs, including a Piug homer to tie the game. In the 11^th Astros score two more runs off Brandon McCarthy. Dodgers get a two out home run from Culberson but no more as Astros win 7-6.

Game-3- 1. Yu Darvish, who had been dominant in the post season doesn’t make it past the second inning giving up 4 runs. The Dodgers repeatedly put men on base but couldn’t deliver big hits. They do score 3 runs and lose 5-3.

Game 4 – In another close game, Roberts waits until Wood gives up the tying run in the 6^th inning to go to his bullpen. This time Dodgers score 5 more runs and the bullpen does their job. Dodgers win 6-2.

Game 5 – This was one of the greatest games in World Series history. There were 3 comebacks from 3 run deficits. Aces Keuchel and Kershaw were gone before the 6^th inning. The Dodgers took an early 4-1 lead. This is usually enough for Kershaw but he gave up a 3 run homer to Gurriel to tie the game. In the 5th Cody Bellinger, who broke the record for strikeouts, gave the Dodgers the lead with a 3 run homer. In the bottom of the inning a 3 run homer by Altuve tied the score at seven. In the 7^th inning Springer played a single into a run scoring triple. He led off the bottom with a solo home run. The game is tied at 8. Later that inning against a worn out bullpen, Altuve hits an RBI double and Correa a 2 run homer, 11-8 Astros. The Dodgers get one run in the 8^th as do Dodgers, 12-9. Another 3 run deficit is erased when Dodgers come back behind a 2 run homer by Piug and RBI single from Culberson to tie the game at 12. The Astros win game in the bottom of the 10^th on RBI single from Bregman. Best game I’ve seen since Game 6 of 1975 when pinch hitter Bernie Carbo of Red Sox tied the Reds with 3 run homer forcing extra innings. Classic Carlton Fisk Fisk homer in the 11^th inning to force a game 7.

Game 6- Justin Verlander had been excellent, not losing a game in the post season. He was cruising with a one run lead into the sixth. The Dodgers scored 2 soft runs. There being no DH, he was pinch hit for, and out of the game. The Dodgers scored 1 more and a rested bullpen took over for a 3-1 Dodger victory.

Game 7- Too bad game seven wasn’t a better game. Once again, Darvish couldn’t make it out of the second. When Springer hits a 2 run homer to make it 5-0 it was all over for the Dodgers, who on multiple occasions couldn’t hit with men on base. 5-1 Astros.