Final thoughts
You know what? We’re going to need tomorrow’s day off after all that. Game 6 is on Tuesday and the Houston Astros can close things out against the Los Angeles Dodgers (not that they will make it easy). Thanks for following along with this long, crazy Game 5 with us at the Guardian, especially everyone who contributed! Ciao!
The Houston Astros have taken a 3-2 lead in the World Series! You can read Tom Dart’s full report from Houston here:
Updated
Bregman singles in the winning run! Dodgers 12-13 Astros, FINAL
Bregman hits a single off the first pitch and pinch-runner Derek Fisher makes it home to score the winning run!
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 10th
Jansen throws three straight balls to George Springer, before he looks at strike one. And the next pitch is a bit high. Springer takes first. Hinch comes in to take out McCann for a pinch-runner at second.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 10th
McCann hits a long, long ball that looks like it’s going to be a home run but… it’s foul. It’s foul. It’s a cruel tease. McCann gets hit by the next pitch. He takes his base, even though it looks like his wrist is hurt.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 10th
Gonzalez strikes out on a freaking breaking ball in the dirt because he’s a jerk that wants this game to go on forever.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 10th
@HunterFelt genius managing from AJ Hinch. Give up the tying to run to ensure Jansen has to pitch and lose the game.
— Richie (@richiemetsoh) October 30, 2017
Well, Jansen is going to be doing some more pitching here than the Dodgers would like, so there’s at least that. He gets Gattis to ground out to Forsythe.
Updated
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Top 10th
Forsythe grounds out to short and the Astros have a chance to end this thing now in the bottom of the tenth. Yes, I’m aware that my language regarding this game has gone from “win” to “end.”
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Top 10th
Ethier hits a single against the shift. Here comes Cody Bellinger who hits a long flyball that briefly gives the Astros a scare but Springer makes the catch.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Top 10th
Joe Musgrove is pitching for Houston. Meanwhile, Gonzalez is at first, Maybin is at center, and Springer is in left. Turner hits a rocket to Reddick for the first out.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 9th
Cameron Maybin is pinch-running for Gurriel. Jansen’s first pitch to Reddick is a ball. Reddick then swings and misses at pitch 2. On pitch 3, he flies out to Ethier and we have extra innings because of course we do.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 9th
Gurriel ALMOST hits one out to win the game, but it just stays in the park as a double. Josh Reddick will have a chance to end this in regulation,
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 9th
Correa fouls out to Bellinger who nearly has to get into the seats but makes the play.
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Bottom 9th
Hey it’s Kenley Jansen. I really didn’t think I would see him tonight. He gets Altuve to flyout for the first out.
This classic tweet is happening IRL people:
JOE BUCK: Welcome to the top of the 47th
— Justin Klugh (@justin_klugh) October 28, 2015
[Sun rises]
[Sun keeps getting bigger]
BUCK: yes
[World engulfed by flames]
BUCK: oh god yes
Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Top 9th
Seager flies out to center to end the inning BUT WE WILL HAVE MORE BASEBALL and nobody in the stadium is happy about this but the Dodgers.
Taylor hits a RBI single, Dodgers 12-12 Astros, Top 9th
Chris Taylor fouls off Devenski’s first pitch. 0-1. Devenski throws a high fastball. 1-1. Devenski throws a pitch that Miller doesn’t call a strike which befuddles McCann. 2-1. Devenski’s next pitch is right down the middle for a strike. 2-2. Everyone in Minute Maid Park rises and Taylor hits a single and TIES THE GAME!
IT HAS HAPPENED.
Dodgers 11-12 Astros, Top 9th
Barnes is in second after the double. In comes Joc Pederson. Pederson takes the first two pitches for strikes. 0-2. Pederson grounds out to first. Just getting him for the second out. Barnes makes it to third.
Dodgers 11-12 Astros, Top 9th
Oh god could this actually happen?
Barnes is up for the Dodgers. He takes a ball, then fouls off a fastball. 1-1. He swings and misses at the next pitch. 1-2. He fouls off the next pitch. Still 1-2. He then hits a base hit, Springer thinks he has a play but he slides into second safe.
Puig hits a home run! Dodgers 11-12 Astros, Top 9th
Puig takes a strike and then fouls the next pitch off. Devenski throws a change up outside. 1-2. On 1-2… PUIG HITS IT OUT AND IT’S A ONE RUN GAME!
Dodgers 9-12 Astros, Top 9th
Devenski dishes out two called-strikes to Forsythe. He fouls off pitch three. And Forsythe swings and misses for the first out of the inning. The Astros are two away.
Dodgers 9-12 Astros, Top 9th
It’s been the longest nine inning game in World Series history and even Dodgers fans have to be like “let’s just make this quick” at this point. Devenski is back at the mound, he’s gonna face Bellinger to start the ninth. Devenski’s first three pitches to Bellinger are balls because of course they are. After a called strike, Devenski throws one more ball outside and Bellinger takes his walk.
Dodgers 9-12 Astros, Bottom 8th
Bregman hits into a double play. Thank god. We all need sleep.
Dodgers 9-12 Astros, Bottom 8th
Ross Stripling is now in to pitch for LA. He’s facing Springer who works a full count before coming up with a base hit. I think he’s been having an okay game at the plate.
McCann hits a home run! Dodgers 9-12 Astros, Bottom 8th
And Brian McCann hits a home run off of Cingrani. Yeah it’s juiced.
Dodgers 9-11 Astros, Bottom 8th
Tony Cingrani pitches to Gonzalez who lines out to Ethier who is now in left for the Dodgers. Pederson’s in center. Taylor’s at second.
Email from Anne Taylor Davis
Subject: Home runs… enough ok
I’m with you Hunter, can the teams get back to a normal game and move right along.
At first, last night, it was exciting, tonight, one homer after another is becoming a bore.
Are all the balls juiced?
There’s been a lot of speculation about the state of baseballs and certainly that’s not going to decrease after Game 5.
Dodgers 9-11 Astros, Top 8th
Andre Ethier is pinch-hitting, hence the pitching change. Chris Devenski is in and he gets Ethier to ground out to end the inning, leaving the tying runs on second and third. Well then.
Dodgers 9-11 Astros, Top 8th
Turner lines out directly to right and that’s going to do it for Harris, who faced just two batters.
I mean, at this point you're almost surprised if there isn't a game-tying three run home run, right? @HunterFelt
— David Lengel (@LengelDavid) October 30, 2017
Seager doubls in a run! Dodgers 9-11 Astros, Top 8th
Will Harris is in to pitch to Seager who swings at his first pitch and he hits a run-scoring double because of course he does.
Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Top 8th
Peacock’s pitch hits Taylor. With Taylor on base, A.J. Hinch is going to take Peacock out. Guess what: THE TYING RUN IS AT THE PLATE.
Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Top 8th
Joc Pederson almost hits one out, to deep left instead it hits off the scoreboard and Pederson is in with a double.
Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Top 8th
Brad Peacock is out for another inning. I’m gonna be honest: I’m perfectly okay with the rest of this game just settling down and just playing out like a normal game, perhaps at a reasonably brisk pace? Barnes works a full count. And this time around, it’s Peacock getting annoyed that Bill Miller ISN’T calling close pitches strikes.
Well he gets his wish on a borderline strike four call for out number one.
Updated
Email from Simon McGrother.
Subject: Bill Miller
In the Ump’s defense, if he was calling all the balls as balls it would be 37-37 and we’d still be in the 4th. He’s just mercy-ruling anything close.
Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Bottom 7th
Gattis hits a fly to Puig. A very painful 7th ends for the Dodgers.
Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Bottom 7th
And Reddick strikes out. This has to make it sting more for Dodgers fans. “Oh now the outs seem easy.”
Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Bottom 7th
Tony Cingrani is in to face Yuli Gurriel. He gets him to strike out. There’s an out!
Dave Roberts removes Morrow. Finally. It’s pretty fair to say that putting him into yet another game is looking like the biggest mistake of the series should there not be another huge turnaround here.
Correa home run! Dodgers 8-11 Astros, Bottom 7th
Morrow throws a wild pitch that moves Altuve to third, not that it ends up mattering as Correa ends up hitting home run that would have scored him regardless.
Altuve doubles in a run! Dodgers 8-9 Astros, Bottom 7th
Altuve hits a ball that Pederson has no chance with. Bregman scores! Altuve makes it to second.
Dodgers 8-8 Astros, Bottom 7th
Bregman with a base hit. The Dodgers may have gone to the Morrow run one too many times.
Springer hits a home run! Dodgers 8-8 Astros, Bottom 7th
Brandon Morrow comes out to face Springer who OF COURSE immediately HITS A HOME RUN TO RE-TIE THE GAME!
Seventh Inning Stretch
Dodgers 8-7 Astros, Top 7th
Forsythe strikes out looking and he has some words for Bill Miller, as does literally everybody with any sort of interest in baseball right now. Puig flies out for left and that leaves Bellinger stranded at third.
Bellinger triples in a run! Dodgers 8-7 Astros, Top 7th
Wait, what? Bellinger hits a ball and Springer makes a dive for it and it ends up getting away from him. Hernandez scores from first and Bellinger is in with a triple.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Top 7th
Hernandez shows bunt, takes a ball. Shows bunt again, it gets called a strike. He’s not super-happy at that call. He pulls the bat back again, taking another ball. 2-1. Hernandez bunts… and he hits it right to Peacock who throws out Turner at third. That’s oof. That’s exactly the worst possible thing to do there.
Moral: Never bunt, hit dingers.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Top 7th
Maybe Brad Peacock will be this game’s Brad Peacock? He threw 50+ pitches two days ago, but here he is again. Let’s see how long he goes this time around. He will start with Justin Turner, who hits a leadoff double after working a full count.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Bottom 6th
McCann makes good contact but it ends up just being a ground out in the end. It’s still tied-up after six innings. Who knows where we’re going from here.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Bottom 6th
Hey it’s Tony Watson again. He feels like an old friend by now. He’s here to pitch to Marwin Gonzalez, with one out and one on base. He gets Gonzalez to hit a fly ball that Puig manages to corral.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Bottom 6th
Gattis works a full count before taking a pitch outside and that will do it for Maeda. Gattis takes first and Dave Roberts takes out his pitcher.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Bottom 6th
Let’s see what the heck the bottom of this inning has in store for us. First up: Maeda makes quick work of Josh Reddick, striking him out on four pitches.
Any chance Mueller could indict Miller?
— Dave Hodge - TSN (@TSNDaveHodge) October 30, 2017
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Top 6th
McHugh gets Seager 1-2 and he gets the crowd on his side, cheering for a strike three. That, of course, means McHugh throws a ball. Seager fouls off the next pitch. Still 2-2. The crowd gets loud again. McHugh bounces the next pitch, McCann smothers it. 3-2. Seager fouls off the next pitch. Still 3-2. McHugh throws a ball that only Bill Miller would call a strike and, unfortunately for Seager, Miller’s definition is the only one that counts.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Top 6th
Taylor flies out to right for the second out of the inning.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Top 6th
Joc Pederson is in to replace Culberson, with Keuchel out of the game. Pederson works a full count. And one pitch later, he works a walk.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Top 6th
McHugh is still in the game. I’m not entirely sure that would be my choice but such is the Houston bullpen right now. He strikes out Barnes on four pitches, so I suppose that’s a decent start.
Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Bottom 5th
Correa hits an infield single after getting jammed, and reaches second after Forsythe throws it away. Luckily for him, Gurriel grounds out to end the inning so there’s no further damage. BUT the Astros have tied the game yet again!
Altuve hits a home run! Dodgers 7-7 Astros, Bottom 5th
Kenta Maeda is in to face Altuve with two on and two out. This? This is dramatic. Altuve swiiiiings and misses at Maeda’s first pitch. He wanted to tie-up this game instantly. He takes the next pitch for a ball. Maeda’s next pitch is outside as well. 2-1 count on Altuve. He swings and can’t hit a slider he could have done some serious damage with. Instead it’s 2-2. Maeda’s pitch is down and away. Full count. Altuve hits one long but very foul. Still a full count.
And he hits one high and THIS ONE STAYS FAIR! HE HAS TIED IT!
Dodgers 7-4 Astros, Bottom 5th
Alex Bregman is up next and we’re entering “when is Kershaw’s last hitter” territory. He gets ahead of Bregman 1-2, he fouls off the next two pitches before Kershaw throws a slider that’s off the plate. Bregman fouls off another pitch, that’s the seventh of the at-bat.
Bregman just fouls off a curve that catches a bit of the plate. That might be the best pitch he’ll see here. Kershaw’s 9th pitch is outside. 3-2. And Bregman takes ball four and that will do it for Kershaw. He’s not gonna get out of the 5th.
Dodgers 7-4 Astros, Bottom 5th
George Springer thinks he’s drawn a walk, and he probably has, but you know, Bill Miller. Instead it’s a full count. Springer is fouling off pitches before walking on what was probably ball 5.
Dodgers 7-4 Astros, Bottom 5th
Kershaw is back out. He almost walks Gonzalez, who gets rung up on a “Bill Miller Strike” and then flies out. He then gets McCann to strike out.
Dodgers 7-4 Astros, Top 5th
Yasiel Puig strikes out. Again with an umpire assist probably. He’s not happy, but his team has to be after they immediately regained the lead and then some.
Dodgers 7-4 Astros, Top 5th
McHugh gets Forsythe to fly out to right. So good for that, I guess. So much for having a Brad Peacock outing.
Bellinger with a home run! Dodgers 7-4 Astros, Top 5th
And Bellinger takes a 2-2 pitch and hits it out to right field for a three-run home run that silences the ballpark.
Dodgers 4-4 Astros, Top 5th
Ball one to Hernandez, who then fouls the next two pitches off. Meanwhile, there’s action in Houston’s bullpen.
Somehow, McHugh gets a call three strike on Hernandez on a pitch that isn’t really a third strike. Houston will take it.
Dodgers 4-4 Astros, Top 5th
McHugh throws two balls to Turner, that’s not super great. Turner fouls off the next pitch. Then on 2-1, McHugh bounces one. This is now officially nerve-wracking for Houston.
The next pitch is a ball and that’s two Dodgers on base and nobody is out.
Dodgers 4-4 Astros, Top 5th
Collin McHugh is here pitching for the Astros. I’m just gonna go ahead and make a “Collin McWHO?” joke here before he goes and pulls a Brad Peacock here, as I assume he will do considering how this series has gone so far.
And he walks Seager. Probably not the best start.
Dodgers 4-4 Astros, Bottom 4th
Gattis flies out to end the inning but some how, some way, the Astros managed to tie this game up. This World Series is now officially chaotic neutral.
Dodgers 4-4 Astros, Bottom 4th
Josh Reddick pops up for the second out. Fans here are still trying to adjust to what just happened here.
Gurriel home run! Dodgers 4-4 Astros, Bottom 4th
Gurriel hits the first pitch that Kershaw throws at him right out of the building for a game-tying home run! What just happened here?
Correa doubles in a run! Dodgers 4-1 Astros, Bottom 4th
Here’s Carlos Correa and there’s no question of what he wants to do here, he swings wildly at the first pitch.
And on the next pitch, his swing connects! Springer scores! Altuve makes it to third! Correa makes it to second safe!
Dodgers 4-0 Astros, Bottom 4th
Jose Altuve, possibly the MVP of the American League (as the crowd reminds us), has not been having a great World Series so far. Springer keeps trying to get a jump as far as stealing second…
Oh hey, Altuve manages a single and it’s runners on first and second for the Astros. Houston have a genuine chance here.
Dodgers 4-0 Astros, Bottom 4th
And Kershaw falls behind Bregman 3-1. And Minute Maid Park gets just ridiculously loud. And Bregman fouls a ball off his foot. Okay that was a tad anticlimactic. It’s 3-2. The crowd gets loud again and Bregman fouls off a pretty good slider.
And Bregman hits a fly to Hernandez in left. That’s the first out of the inning.
Dodgers 4-0 Astros, Bottom 4th
Kershaw falls behind Springer 3-1. No wait, 4-1. Wait, 4-1 isn’t a thing, that means Springer’s on-board with a walk. This sparks some life here in Houston.
Dodgers 4-0 Astros, Top 4th
Luke Gregerson is now pitching for the Astros. Also, Luke Gregerson is on the Astros roster. He’s facing Taylor with runners on first and second with two out in the inning.
Let’s make that runners on the corner, Barnes steals third during Taylor’s at-bat. On 3-2, however, Taylor can’t check his swing and that’s the end of the inning. But the Dodgers add another run and get into the Houston bullpen.
@HunterFelt thoughts on the strike zone inside tonight?
— James Dann (@jamesadann) October 30, 2017
It’s been ridiculously wide. I guess the thing you can say about it is that it’s been the same zone on both side. So it’s not horribly unfair.
Dodgers 4-0 Astros, Top 4th
Up comes Charlie Culberson. This could be Keuchel’s last hitter here. Keuchel falls behind Culberson 2-0, but works his way back to get him in a full count. The Houston crowd tries to will a third strike, but Culberson hits a ball to Altuve who almost gets him out. But only almost. He reaches on an infield single and that’ll be all for Dallas Keuchel.
Barnes singles in a run! Dodgers 4-0 Astros, Top 4th
Barnes takes three straight balls before looking at Keuchel’s first strike. On 3-1, Barnes hits a single that scores Forsythe!
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 4th
And Keuchel is really missing big-time with his pitches now. He throws two straight balls to Puig and probably would have thrown three had not Puig swung and fouled off a ball out of the zone. Keuchel gets a gift call here on the next pitch, a “strike” that angers Puig who swings and misses at a cutter.
Maybe an assist from Bill Miller on that K.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 4th
Forsythe hits a double on a pitch that Keuchel just completely missed his location. Dodgers have another scoring chance.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 4th
Keuchel gets Bellinger to strike out on a pitch that looks pretty outside to Bellinger (and most of us). Umpire Bill Miller has a rather wide strike zone tonight.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 3rd
Marwin Gonzalez is up with a runner on first. He takes the first two pitches, the first is a ball and the second is a questionable strike call that upsets Gonzalez who, takes the next pitch outside before fouling Kershaw’s next offering. 2-2. Gonzalez fouls off the next pitch. He then grounds out into a double-play that wipes the bases clean.
McCann then grounds out and just like that the Astros are gone again.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 3rd
Fuggedaboutit. #Kershaw @HunterFelt
— David Lengel (@LengelDavid) October 30, 2017
Kershaw sure looked untouchable in the bottom of the 2nd. He faces Evan Gattis to start the 3rd and, oh wow, he falls behind 3-1! Gattis is taking all the way, and he looks at a strike. He hits a long single and the Astros have their first baserunner.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 3rd
Hernandez is back out there. He decides to lay off Keuchel for the first four pitches. He probably should have made it five, as he grounds out back to him on a 3-1 pitch.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 3rd
Seager grounds out to first. Turner pops up to second. Maybe Keuchel has calmed down a bit?
Email from J.R. in Illinois:
Hey Hunter,
Well, this game is over. What should we talk about now?
Okay, maybe that’s a wee bit presumptuous. Anyway, the mere presence of the Bushes used to be enough to root against Houston (as it was in 2005 when the glorious Chicago White Sox absolutely demolished the Astros) but for some reason the Bushes don’t seem all that bad now.
As Dodgers fans will tell you, a Kershaw start is never over until you get through the 7th inning.
I honestly would, right now, take either of the Bushes as president again. In fact, I would take literally anybody else in Minute Maid Park right now over the person currently in charge.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 2nd
And Josh Reddick comes up, the first left-handed hitter to face Kershaw. He hits a routine fly and that was ruthlessly efficient work from Clayton in the second.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 2nd
Here’s Yuli Gurriel, who’s having a very memorable series (let’s put it that way). He works a full count off of Kershaw, which is good, but then fouls out. Not good.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 2nd
Kershaw is back out there to face Carlos Correa who - oh he’s already grounded out on two pitches.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 2nd
Chris Taylor can’t connect on a Keuchel slider. Keuchel talks with McCann about what they want. His next pitch is a slider that Taylor takes. Probably not what they wanted. The next pitch is a change that Taylor swings and can’t hit. After taking one more ball, Taylor grounds out to third and that’s a 1-2-3 inning for Dallas Keuchel, and man did he need one.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 2nd
Charlie Culberson grounds out to Correa at short. Two down.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 2nd
Keuchel is out for his second inning. He has to hope that this one goes a little bit better for him. He faces Austin Barnes and promptly throw two straight balls, that’s not encouraging. Barnes fouls off the next pitch. Keuchel throws another ball. 3-1. Barnes fouls the next off. Full count. He makes contact, but it’s just a fly to right. Houston will be okay with that.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 1st
Two down. Here’s Jose Altuve who looks at two straight off-speed pitches for strikes. Down 0-2, he takes a pitch before swinging and missing at a slider. And the Astros are out just like that.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 1st
Alex Bregman is up next, he gets Kershaw to throw a few more pitches than Springer before hitting a fairly deep flyball out.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Bottom 1st
So, Clayton Kershaw already has a three-run lead. He’s coming off the best postseason start of his career. He is possibly the best pitcher on the planet.
He first faces George Springer who looks at a strike before grounding out to third.
Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 1st
Puig grounds out to the catcher, but the Astros are already in a major hole.
Hernandez scores on an error! Dodgers 3-0 Astros, Top 1st
That might be all Kershaw needs, if he has his A game. Meanwhile Houston still needs to get out of the inning. Runners are on the corners, Puig is at the plate. On 2-2, Yuliel Gurriel makes a bad throw to Altuve on a steal attempt. Hernandez scores on the error. Forsythe makes it to second safe, but the Astros challenge the play.
To no avail. Forsythe is safe, the run counts.
Forsythe singles in two runs! Dodgers 2-0 Astros, Top 1st
Logan Forsythe is up next. He takes a strike and then, hits a base hit! Two runs score! The Dodgers strike first!
Dodgers 0-0 Astros, Top 1st
Cody Bellinger is up next, theoretically out of his epic slump to start the series. He swings at Keuchel’s first pitch. 0-1. He takes the next one, 1-1. The next pitch is a called strike. 1-2. The fans in Houston cheer. On 1-2, Bellinger swings at a slider away. Two down. Keuchel can get out of this with one more out.
Dodgers 0-0 Astros, Top 1st
Keuchel falls behind Hernandez 2-0. Not ideal. Less ideal: he falls behind 3-0 on the next pitch. And, yep, he walks Hernandez on four balls to load the bases. There’s still only one out.
Dodgers 0-0 Astros, Top 1st
Justin Turner’s up next. Turner takes the first two pitches, the first for a strike and the second for a ball. 1-1. And Turner takes again. 2-1. And once again. 3-1. Gonna say the Dodgers are being patient against Keuchel.
Well it to works this time as Turner watches ball four. That’s two on and just one out for the Dodgers.
Dodgers 0-0 Astros, Top 1st
Corey Seager works a full count, getting the benefit of the doubt on two straight check-swing calls. He doesn’t get a good call the third time around as Seager takes strike three for the first out of the game.
Dodgers 0-0 Astros, Top 1st
And Chris Taylor hits a single, so we’re starting things off with a hit once again tonight.
First pitch!
Dodgers 0-0 Astros, Top 1st
Dallas Keuchel throws a strike at the knees to Chris Taylor, and we’re off!
Both President Bushes are in the ballpark today. So if you’re an Astros fan who is huge into wars with Iraq it’s like Christmas tonight at the stadium
A.J. Hinch probably won’t go to Ken Giles if a save situation pops up in Game 5 reports literally everybody who has watched Giles pitch this postseason.
Good ratings battle tonight w/ #NFL Lions and Steelers v MLB Dodgers v Astros with this World Series picking up steam & eyes. @HunterFelt
— David Lengel (@LengelDavid) October 30, 2017
This could be very interesting, especially since the only person more obsessed with ratings than the “is baseball dying or is it on the rebound” crowd is that guy who remains in charge of the United States’ nuclear arsenal.
Predictions
I suppose I should give my predictions for today and, since this might be my last opportunity, for the rest of the series. I see the Dodgers winning tonight. Kershaw gives up less than three runs, the Dodgers take advantage of the sudden uncertainty in the Astros bullpen (I’m predicting no Brad Peacock heroics tonight). Then the Astros tie it up in Game 6 but that ends up setting things up for the Dodgers win the whole thing in a dramatic Game 7. That sounds about right. (Warning: Nothing in this series has gone right since Game 2 went sideways.)
Your thoughts? You can tweet them to @HunterFelt or email them to Hunter.Felt.Freelance@theguardian.com.
Will it be vintage Clayton Kershaw? Or a night that haunts him forever and ever: can't see much of a middle ground. @HunterFelt #LADvsHOU
— David Lengel (@LengelDavid) October 29, 2017
As someone who just has cringed every time Kershaw has faltered late in his postseason starts I really, really, really don’t want to see him fall apart tonight. I hope it’s something closer to his 11 strikeout performance in Game 1.
Houston Astros starters
1. George Springer, CF
2. Alex Bregman, 3B
3. Jose Altuve, 2B
4. Carlos Correa, SS
5. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
6. Josh Reddick, RF
7. Evan Gattis, DH
8. Marwin Gonzalez, LF
9. Brian McCann, C
Los Angeles Dodgers starters
1. Chris Taylor,CF
2. Corey Seager,SS
3. Justin Turner, DH
4. Enrique Hernandez, LF
5. Corey Bellinger, 1B
6. Logan Forsythe, 3B
7. Yasiel Puig, RF
8. Austin Barnes,C
9. Charlie Culberson, 2B
Okay by this point in our coverage it’s obvious that I don’t know where this World Series is going. I do know that it is going back to Los Angeles for a Game 6 after the L.A. Dodgers managed to tie the series up 2-2 with a 5 run nine inning that shocked the Houston Astros.
So Game 5 will not be the finale. It should be a great pitching matchup with LA throwing out Clayton Kershaw, maybe the best pitcher in the game, and the Astros starting Dallas Keuchel, who is also pretty good. Of course, what should happen and what has happened haven’t quite matched up over the course of the last few games.
So, let’s just enjoy whatever happens in this, the fifth game of what’s looking like an epic World Series. Join in the conversation, if you’d like, either via email (send those to hunter.felt.freelance@theguardian.com) or Twitter (send them @HunterFelt). It’s the LA Dodgers an the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park one last time before the 2017 World Series comes to a conclusion, one way or another, on the West Coast. This game is set to start at 8:20pm EST, but we’ll be back before then.
Hunter will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how Game 4 unfolded:
After brilliant performances from both starting pitchers, a ninth-inning meltdown by the Houston Astros bullpen allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers to claim a 6-2 win that levels the World Series at two games apiece.
With ace Clayton Kershaw set to start here on Sunday against Dallas Keuchel in Game 5, the Dodgers will like their chances of taking a series lead back to Los Angeles.
“I like where we’re at,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I know that in our clubhouse we feel good.”
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