Wow. I mean, I’m still taking the 2016 World Series as the best in recent memory for obvious, total homer reasons, but this year’s installment between the Astros and Dodgers has been ridiculous. If there were a battle between the two series for supremacy, let’s just say 2017 pulled within a run in the top of the 7th.
Just a few days after they battled into extra innings and hit a record five homers when they got there, the two teams put together an even crazier and more dramatic game last night. How many times did it seem like one of the teams was pulling away? How many times did the other team tie things back up?
Ultimately, the Astros walked things off 13-12 in the 10th inning on an Alex Bregman single:
What were you doing at 23? @ABREG_1 is doing THIS. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/FS3u4XxTJw
— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2017
The Astros now lead the series 3-2 as it heads back to Los Angeles.
The highlights are a must-must-must watch if you didn’t catch the game:
The Astros twice trailed by three runs, and twice overcame it. Then the Dodgers trailed by three runs in the 9th inning, and tied it. Then the Astros walked it off.
And in between, the teams combined for 25 runs on 28 hits and 11 walks, the teams used 14 pitchers, and hit 7 homers. The homers that came off of Clayton Kershaw gave him eight for the postseason, which is a record. I know, I know, Playoff Kershaw, but man oh man. For the best pitcher on the planet to hold that record … I can’t think of a better “yeah, the balls are juiced” factoid than that.
The Astros were down 4-0 in the 4th inning to Kershaw. That’s not a game you’re supposed to win. Heck, even without considering the context of who was on the mound, the Astros’ win expectancy dropped to as low as 10.8% in that 4th inning. What a performance by the Astros’ offense. I mean, Dodgers, too, obviously, since they were right there at the end. My head is still spinning a bit.
After Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel departed, the two teams’ bullpens did their best, but they’re all clearly worn down at this point. Stinks for them, but all the more fun for us.
In any case, objectively, that was an incredible game, especially as a swing game in the World Series. The series resumes on Tuesday, Halloween night, in Los Angeles. Rich Hill goes for the Dodgers, and the Astros get to throw postseason ace Justin Verlander, with a chance to win the whole thing.
In conclusion, this was freaking awesome:
Carlos Correa leaping out of the dugout to tell the runner to slide on the Astros' walk-off is what's up. pic.twitter.com/jf4kiT45MK
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) October 30, 2017