Red Sox Break the Dodgers’ Hearts, Javy the Unicorn, and Other Bullets

I’ve been very slowly working my way through ‘The Haunting of Hill House’ on Netflix, not only because I typically have only enough time in the evenings to watch one episode at a time, but also because I’m not sure I’d want to watch multiple episodes in a row anyway. More than just being a scary show – it has its scares, to be sure – it’s such a well done drama, where as much of the creeping terror comes from the setting as from the family story that’s gradually playing out. I still have a few episodes to go, but I highly, highly recommend it to folks who have Netflix. My only word of caution would be that if you’re someone who really lets yourself get fully immersed in your entertainment, this one will be pretty affecting for you.

  • The Dodgers jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the 6th inning last night, and it looked like the World Series was going to be tied 2-2. But the Red Sox took more advantage of a ground down Dodgers bullpen than the reverse, and wound up winning in the 9th:
  • Rich Hill was cruising last night through six innings, having allowed just one hit. Then, when he walked the leadoff man in the 7th, struck out the next batter, and then was pulled. At 91 pitches, given the way the postseason has gone, that seems like a pretty typical pull. The flip side, though, is that Hill was one of only two pitchers who did not pitch in the marathon game the night before. The gassed relievers that came in wound up blowing the game. Maybe Hill should have been extended?
  • … except that Hill had more or less told Roberts the inning before that he was toast. He asked his manager to watch him closely and go batter to batter. So that’s that. Roberts didn’t goof – the bullpen just didn’t get it done.
  • (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

  • Speaking of the bullpen blowing it, how about Ryan Madson? The otherwise very good reliever has had quite a World Series. Despite allowing just one earned run (a homer last night), he has allowed ALL SEVEN of his inherited runners to score. I’ve never seen anything like that.
  • Steve Pearce played the primary part of hero, hitting the game-tying homer off of Kenley Jansen, and then a bases-clearing double in the 9th to put the game away. What an odd trajectory his career has had. Didn’t really have a meaningful season until he was into his 30s, and then bounced around teams rapidly, despite his success, with no one quite believing, apparently, that he could keep doing it. And then he raked for the Blue Jays and Red Sox this year at age 35. His will be a really weird free agent case.
  • It’s a real bummer that the Red Sox came back to win that game, because otherwise this was gonna be some serious lore:
  • That, sir, was not a postseason glove slam. Ted Lilly can teach you how to postseason glove slam.
  • Bonus, and even better than the homer that followed it:
  • https://twitter.com/AaronOrgan/status/1056369233339260935

  • So, the World Series could be over as soon as tonight, which will start the clock ticking on the offseason – check the roadmap here if you’re wondering what happens when.
  • Javy Baez, unicorn:
  • … ok, well, so there are several unicorns by that standard, but it’s still pretty darn cool, and a testament to his uniquely freaky athleticism. Also, Cardinals beefcake Tyler O’Neill? Really?
  • This is awesome and insane:
  • Tables, chairs, robes, tapestries, and books are among the many Deals of the Day at Amazon today.
  • Da Bears play the Jets today, and they’re getting a fashion assist:
  • https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1056557439959658496

    written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

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