You can read a full report from tonight’s game here:
One more thing...
Carlos Correa has just proposed to his girlfriend, Miss Texas USA Daniella Rodriguez, capping an amazing run for the all-star shortstop! Congratulations to the couple...and she said yes!
.@TeamCJCorrea PUTS A RING ON IT! pic.twitter.com/4Fm9gx7xvr
— Cut4 (@Cut4) November 2, 2017
Updated
Over and out
We’ll have more coverage of this epic seven game World Series, but for now, congratulations to the city of Houston and their fans, who have waited since 1962 for this moment.
Thanks to all for following our coverage, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and a very good night.
Post-game
Seager grounded out to Altuve to touch off the celebrations as the bench and bullpen emptied onto the mound.
Now the Astros are stomping all over Dodger Stadium as champs, a moment that would have been impossible to imagine back when Houston were losing over 300 games between 2011 and 2013.
They are champions of baseball for the very first time, a massive boost for a city undergoing extraordinary hardship and repair after suffering through Hurricane Harvey.
Jose Altuve:
I think this is the happiest moment in my life in baseball...I always believed that we could make it...I think we deserve it because every single guy helped us...we did this for them [the fans]...they are the biggest reason why we’re here every single day.
Lance McCullers:
I gutted it out as long as I could, this is crazy...I don’t think you can put into words what this means to the city of Houston...the people of Houston were never far from our minds...they deserve this as much as we do.
Dallas Keuchel:
I think we were in good hands when Charlie [Morton] took over...when he kept getting outs I knew the chances of me getting in were slim...I got to give credit to [pitching coach] Brent Strom, he resurrected my career, I couldn’t have been here without him...this is an outstanding Dodgers team, and it was the two best teams going at it, it was a heavyweight battle and it didn’t disappoint.
George Springer, who tied a World Series record with five home runs is the Most Valuable Player.
This is a dream come true, it’s an honor, but you know what: it’s about the Houston Astros tonight, the city and our fans. We’re coming home a champion Houston!...That patch on our chest truly means a lot to us. I’m so happy to our fans who have endured a lot and we’re coming home champions.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, Final
THE ASTROS HAVE WON THEIR FIRST TITLE IN FRANCHISE HISTORY! IN THEIR 56TH SEASON, HOUSTON ARE FINALLY WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS!
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th
Taylor, a soft ground ball - it’s easy for Altuve who has it and firest to first for the SECOND OUT!
It’s up to Seager now for LA.
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 9th
Just three outs stand between Houston and shiny expensive rings.
Chase Utley is off the bench, looking to get something, anything going, down four runs.
And the vet swings and misses at a pitch low and in. ONE DOWN!
Here’s Taylor...
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, top 9th
Springer lines out to center and we are heading to the bottom of the ninth inning!
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, top 9th
We are into the ninth and so is Charlie Morton, who has pitched three innings giving up a single run. He comes out to hit and strikes out, but he’ll be on the hill trying to put a bow on this thing for the Astros.
Now Maybin strikes out looking on an odd delayed third strike call. Springer is up now, possibly his last at-bat of the year for the possible World Series MVP.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th
Barnes hits one towards the gap in right but Maybin closes in on it to make the catch! Just three outs to go for the Houston Astros!
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th
Forsythe lifts one to right, easy for Springer: two down and four outs to go...
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 8th
Morton is back out, Keuchel is ready to play the role of fire retardant blanket should any flames pop up.
None so far in the eighth: Pederson strikes out. Five more outs for Houston. Here’s Forsythe.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, top 8th
Gonzalez grounds out to third and the Astros are done in the eighth.
Meanwhile, fans have packed out Minute Maid Park in Houston as they watch their team on the big screen try to collect six more Dodger outs.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, top 8th
McCann looks at strike three, two down. Here’s Gonzalez, who is. 2-2 tonight with a walk.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, top 8th
Jansen has been and gone, and here is Alex Wood. He coaxes a line drive to center from Yuli Gurriel for the first out. McCann is next.
Dodgers pen has allowed zero runs tonight, which will lead to many questions if the Astros win. It has NOT been a good series for Dave Roberts, quite the contrary.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th
Ground ball to short, Correa scoops it up and throws to first for the out, and the Dodgers are done in the seventh.
They have six outs left.
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th
Bellinger looks at a third strike and he’s now done that for a third time tonight.
The crowd rustles in a restless way with two outs and Puig at the plate.
Updated
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th
Morton, who has it in him to take this thing all the way home, is even in the count, 2-2 with Turner.
Having said that, Dallas Keuchel is now warming in the pen.
Turner pops out to first. One down.
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 7th
Turner starts it off for the Dodgers in their seventh, as they start to count outs in LA and Houston...
Updated
It's 7th inning stretch time
Out in LA, they’re singing Take me out to the Ballgame for the last time in 2017, and we’ve got Helen Dell to bring you those sweet sounds of spring, summer and fall.
Take it away Heather.
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, top 7th
Correa pops it up to short - Seager is there to make the play - side retired.
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, top 7th
Altuve takes off - the throw is offline - he’s in there with a stolen base!
The count is even 1-1...
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, top 7th
Altuve draws a two-out walk - LA can’t give that run back, or any run for that matter.
Correa is at the plate now, power v power.
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, top 7th
Bregman strikes out. Two down for Altuve.
Updated
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, top 7th
Springer, a flay ball towards the gap in left center - Taylor runs to his right and closes in, making a fine catch, on the move.
So a tough first out for Jansen and the Dodgers and now he has to face Bregman, with Altuve loomingon deck.
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, top 7th
Kenley Jansen, who basically said Houston had no chance tonight, is in to pitch the Astros seventh now, starting with George Springer...
Houston 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 6th
Justin Verlander, who threw over 90 pitches last night is sitting in the Astros bullpen.
Meanwhile, Taylor rips at a two-strike splitter and comes up empty - two down!
Here’s Corey Seager. Can he come through for LA?
NO! It’s a broken bat bouncer, with shards of wood flying towards Morton, rolling towards Correa who has it - he double pumps before firing, in time to get Seager - side retired!
The Astros bend but don’t break in the sixth!
Updated
RUN! Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 6th
Ethier lines a ground ball through the right side of the infield and the Dodgers are on the board!
There’s life in LA and the top of the order to come with one out and two on. Chris Taylor steps to the plate with a massive opportunity to hit the Dodgers back into this ballgame!
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 6th
Morton just misses - the strike zone is definitely smaller tonight than it has been.
Barnes pops up to short - the infield fly rule comes into play and so it’s one out for Andre Ethier, who will hit for Clayton Kershaw, who leaves after four shutout innings in relief.
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 6th
The crowd are standing as Barnes fouls it off to the right side, he’s in the hole 0-2. LA are 0-9 with runners in scoring position...
Updated
Astros 5-1 Dodgers, bottom 6th
Full count to Forsythe: fouled away.
McCann to the mound, again.
One more time, from the stretch, Morton just misses away - it’s ball four and the Dodgers have two more runners they can leave on base, on base...unless Barnes can somehow change this fruitless cycle for LA.
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 6th
Joc Pederson facing new Astros pitcher Charlie Morton, and he starts it off with little looper to center field, a lead-off hit for LA.
Now Morton, who was superb in his last start, faces Logan Forsythe with the crowd stirring somewhat in LA.
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 6th
Maybin pops out, inning over. The Dodgers win that little game of chess as the Astros burn two pinch hitters before bringing on a new pitcher. That’s all they’ve got tonight.
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 6th
Gurriel grounds out moving Correa to second. Then McCann grounds deep into the shft, on the right field grass - a long run for Forsythe who tracks it down and makes a tough throw on the run to get McCann! Great play by Forsythe to get an important out.
Correa to third and now they walk Gonzalez to get to a pinch hitter and that’s going to be Gattis who will hit for Reddick.
Robers is going to walk Gattis to reach the pitcher spot and it’ll be Cameron Maybin hitting after back-to-back intentional walks.
This is a MASSIVE at-bat.
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 6th
Correa rolls a seeing-eye-single off the outstretched glove of shortstop Corey Seager, and that’s the second hit surrendered by Kershaw tonight. Gurriel is next.
Updated
That at-bat might just have been the series. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2017
Hunter is obviously trying to help out the Dodgers here.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
Line drive, right into the glove of another Cuban!
Gurriel’s catch means the Dodgers strand two more precious runners - that’s eight total tonight.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
Devenski’s second pitch to Puig is one the Cuban can handle but he fouls it off. Puig is disgusted.
So it’s 0-2 now to the Wild Horse and Devenski delivers a ball in the dirt.
Another pitch down Broadway, Puig fouls it off again, and is frustrated again.
He’s been close, can he finally connect?
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
Bellinger grounds to second, Altuve has it, pivots and throws to Correa at second base for the second out. It’s a 4-6 force play that puts runners at the corners with two outs and Puig coming up.
Hinch is back out, this time to pull Liriano who has been and gone after a third of an inning. Here comes Devenski who we last saw in Game 5 where he gave up three runs...
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
Two of Bellinger’s 16 World Series strikeouts have come tonight. Batting from the left side, he works the count 2-1...
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
It’s 2-2 to Turner and his long red, thick beard. Seager is looked back to first by Peacock before McCann comes out for a chat with his hurler.
Turner turns on a pitch, deep down the line but foul...
Peacock again, from the stretch, delivers and Turner knocks a ball off the glove of Bregman. The ball heads into the outfield and it’s a one-out base hit that Correa may have had had Bregman not taken a stab at it.
Regardless, it’s first and second with one away, Bellinger coming to the plate and AJ Hinch out for Houston.
Peacock out, Francisco Liriano in. The 34-year-old Dominican retired a batter in Game 6, his first appearance since Game 5 of the ALCS.
LA absolutely have to make something happen...how is that for analysis?
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
Peacock has been a calming presence for the most part, pitching two innings of hit-free baseball.
Now the count is full to Seager - and the pitch from Peacock is inside, ball four.
Here comes Turner who will try to get out of this at-bat without being hit.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 5th
First pitch by Peacock is skied to left by Taylor: that’s routine for Gonzalez for an easy first out.
Now it’s Seager at the plate: he has one of LA’s three base hits tonight.
Updated
John Maclean in Glasgow asks:
“If Astros hold on, is the “Win” given to McCullers Jnr, who pitched like a chimpanzee throwing his faeces at tourists passing his cage at the zoo?”
Negative: a starting pitcher must throw five full innings to get the win. The official scorer makes the call on who gets the “w” if the starter leaves the game with his team ahead and they go on to win without having surrendered their initial lead.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 5th
Now Bregman whiffs at Uncle Charlie: four strikeouts for Kershaw, who looks like he could have, and potentially should have, started this game for LA.
Now Jose Altuve is up, and pops harmlessly into foul ground on the right side - easy for Bellinger, side retired.
Taylor, Seager and Turner coming up for LA, who need to break some ground into this Houston lead soon...
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 5th
Springer is down after chasing a breaking ball - a rare dull moment for the Astros center fielder.
Bregman is next.
@LengelDavid who's your money on to close for Houston?
— James Dann (@jamesadann) November 2, 2017
I like Morton, I think he’s the only one I’d remotely trust at the moment.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 4th
Kershaw’s at-bat means he’ll come out for his third inning. At the plate he works a 2-2 count, and sees seven pitches before chasing a pitch in the dirt for strike three. That does it for the Dodgers in their fourth.
Springer is up first for Houston as we head to the fifth.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 4th
Peacock gets ahead 0-2 with Forsythe at the plate. The Dodger second baseman takes a ball before bouncing to third: Bregman fields it on the move and fires a bullet to first base for the first out of the inning.
Here is Barnes for LA: he pops on the left side of the infield - it’s easy for Bregman who makes the catch, two down.
That will bring Kershaw to the plate, which is one of the better moves made by Roberts in this series.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 4th
Ball gets away from Barnes and Gonzalez takes off for second and reaches. It’s a slider in the dirt and a wild pitch for Kershaw.
Reddick hits a 2-2 pitch to short off the end of his bat, a tricky play for Seager who comes up with it and makes the play to first for the out.
Two down for Brad Peacock who stays in to hit after Dodgers pitching coach Rick Honeycutt meets with Kershaw.
Peacock pops out to center and that’s the inning.
Kershaw is due up for the Dodgers in the bottom of the fourth - will Dave Roberts keep him in this ballgame?
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 4th
Brian McCann is no match for Kershaw, who has his second strikeout.
Now Marwin Gonzalez hits a ball to third, past a diving Turner, backed up in the hole by Seager who fires to first, not in time.
Nice play by Seager but no chance to get the runner, so it’s one on and one out for Reddick.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd
Swing, miss, strike three!
The Dodgers can’t bring home their baserunners once more - six have been left on by LA in just the first three innings!
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd
McCann is out now to chat with Peacock who has gotten an earful this inning.
Pederson stares in and takes a fastball inside. It’s 2-2 in a pivotal at-bat.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd
The Dodgers have had their chances and haven’t taken them.
How about Pederson? He’s down in the count 1-2 after a nasty fastball low and away.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd
Puig hits a reasonably deep fly ball to center field - Springer is under it and makes the catch. The Wild Horse slams his bat down in disgust as Seager tags up and moves to third.
So runners at the corners, two outs and Joc Pederson is up.
Brent Strom is back out for another chat this inning, discussing how to handle the Dodger outfielder in a big spot.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd
Bellinger looks lost at the plate as he faces a barrage of curveballs.
Now it’s 2-2, and the rookie strikes out again! It’s the 16th time of this series!
Here comes Astros manager AJ Hinch and he has his hook: McCullers out, Peacock in, as opportunity knocks for LA.
Peacock will face Yasiel Puig.
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 3rd
Can LA eat into this Houston lead? Well, Seager is off to a good start...sort of.
He lines a McCullers fastball into the gap in center field - Seager turns the corner and falls down, racing back to first and diving...safe!
So disaster averted narrowly and, well, wait a minute...
Turner is up and he is hit again! That is the fourth batter to be hit, the second time Turner is dinged! He looks a bit banged up after taking it on the shoulder.
Turner shakes it off while Brent Strom, Houston’s pitching coach, comes out for a chat with McCullers.
Peacock warms up for Houston and a lot of action here in the bottom of the third.
Now it’s Cody Bellinger stepping in to try and bring baserunners home for LA...
Updated
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 3rd
Well, if you were to say before the game that Kershaw in early is bad for LA because it’s a panic sort of move, I’d say you’d be right.
LA would have liked to have him in to protect a lead and take them to a title. Instead he’s in to prevent this game from spiraling away.
So far so good: it’s a three up three down inning for the ace.
Gurriel strikes out looking, Correa pops out to right and Altuve swings and misses for the second K of the inning.
Updated
Yu Darvish
He was horrible. What else can you say? Here’s the lopsided line.
1.2IP 3H 5R 4ER 1BB 0K 1HR
Well, at least one of the runs wasn’t earned.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 2nd
Taylor lines to shortstop, a rope, right at Correa who has it! He tosses to Altuve and second, and that ends the threat!
It’s a bang-bang double play to retire the side! Wow!
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 2nd
Hernandez is grazed on the jersey for McCullers’ third hit batter in just over an inning pitched.
That makes it first and second with one down for Chris Taylor, who has had a heck of a season and playoffs.
A big swing puts LA back in this game.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, bottom 2nd
Barnes bounces to third, Bregman dives to his left and has it - he gets up, fires to first and gets Barnes! What a play by the young Astros third baseman who has literally done it all in this series with an exclamation point on defense!
Forsythe moves up to second and Kike Hernandez replaces Morrow in the pitchers spot.
Could Kershaw be in next? He’s warming up.
Hernandez is up in the count 2-0.
Updated
Springer Dingers
George has five home runs, and FOX TV in the US says that ties Reggie Jackson and Chase Utley in 1977 and 2009 respectively.
Meanwhile, Logan Forsythe starts the Dodgers second inning with a base hit through the hole on the left side.
Austin Barnes is next for LA.
Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 2nd
Alex Bregman strikes out: a costly inning for LA is over.
Someone called “Greywolf” writes:
“gahhhh!why the hell Roberts even started Darvish is completely beyond me.
thanks for this blog, btw -- MLB’s Gameday has been buggy as hell this Series.”
It’s on us. Enjoy!
George Springer, World Series MVP. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2017
I think it should be Houston shill Dave Roberts.
HOME RUN! Astros 5-0 Dodgers, top 2nd
The crowd stands on a full count - Darvish delivers and Springer hits a line drive into the stands in left-center field!
It’s a nightmare start for LA and Dave Roberts who makes two bad decisions this inning - not bringing the infield in, and not going out and getting Darvish who clearly didn’t have it.
Now the Dodger skipper is out to get Darvish, a batter too late.
RUN! Astros 3-0 Dodgers, top 2nd
A slowly hit ground ball to second - McCann takes off from third base! Forsythe doesn’t think he has a play at the plate and takes the out at first. Houston have another run!
Why didn’t Dave Roberts have the infield in with an AL pitcher at the plate? It’s a reasonable question.
Here comes locked in George Springer to try and extend the lead further with two outs.
Updated
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, top 2nd
Reddick bounces to second but because McCann is a turtle, he can’t break for home. The Astros right fielder is out at first and now AL pitcher McCullers is at the plate - FOX TV in the US says the hurler can actually hit.
Can LA wiggle out of this threat unscathed?
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, top 2nd
Now Gonzalez launches one to the wall in right field and if anyone else besides McCann is running the bases it’s 3-0. Instead it is second and third with nobody out as it gets eerily quiet at Chavez Ravine.
Reddick is next for Houston, and Brandon Morrow is up in the LA bullpen, already.
100% TRUTH
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2017
Honestly: Neither team loses tonight. This World Series ends with one team winning only because the rules state that it has to.
...says the neutral.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, top 2nd
Ball four! Brian McCann draws a walk to start the Houston second. That’s 32 pitches, not that pitch count matters that much in a G7, but Darvish is not in form, at least early.
Ball one to the next batter, Marwin Gonzalez, brings out catcher Austin barnes for a chat with his hurler.
How long until the bullpen gets up for LA?
Updated
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st
Pederson lines a sharp ground ball on the right side of the infield but it’s right at Altuve, who gathers it, throws it to first and that’s the third out of the inning.
It’s a missed opportunity for Los Angeles who leave the bases loaded.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st
Puig shows patience, laying off the junk and now it’s 3-1.
Pitch, and Puig is hit!
That’s the second hit batter this inning and the bases are loaded for Joc Pederson!
Two strikeouts, two HBP: a wild start for McCullers.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st
McCullers bounces a curve in the dirt and the starter pounds his glove in frustration.
On the next pitch he gets the rookie to miss, and now he is ahead 1-2 in the count.
More curveballs and more strikeouts - Bellinger chases and he’s the second strikeout victim this inning!
Will the Dodgers strand two? Or will Yasiel Puig deliver?
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st
Turner is hit, it looks to be on his hand. The Dodgers fans boo, but now they’ve got two on and one out for slugger Cody Bellinger: that sounds like a reason to cheer to me.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st
McCullers spins one low and inside and Seager chases for strike three. One down for the 24-year-old hurler and Justin Turner heads into the batters box.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, bottom 1st
Chris Taylor, a rocket into the gap in right field: it’s going to the wall!
And just like Houston in their half, the Dodgers start off with a lead-off double!
FOX TV in the US tell us that Taylor has reached base 27 times this post-season: that’s a lot.
Here is Corey Seager to try and eat into the early Houston lead.
I think it would genuinely be a great thing for Houston to win this after everything this city has been through. I remember Boston in 2013.
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2017
There is that factor. Having said that, I did NOT root for the Yankees in 2001. I don’t know if that’s a reasonable comparison or not, but there you have it.
My word, this is a @Mets-like opening to #WorldSeries2017 Game 7 for @Dodgers. Oh dear. @LengelDavid
— Steve Busfield (@Busfield) November 2, 2017
A Mets like-opening would likely involve every player on the field being hurt on a ground ball to short, but I get what you’re saying.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, top 1st
Gurriel skies to right field, easy for Yasiel Puig and the side is retired.
Houston have taken the crowd out of it in their first trip to the plate, and that is exactly how the visitors would’ve drawn it up.
Here come LA to try and answer.
Astros 2-0 Dodgers, top 1st
So Houston have put pressure on the home team straight away. Can Carlos Correa turn the screws even more?
The Houston shortstop hits a bouncer to first - Bellinger has it, tosses to Darvish and that is out no2.
Here comes the Cuban, Yuli Gurriel, a local public enemy, who gets an earful from the crowd at Dodger Stadium again.
RUNS! Astros 2-0 Dodgers, top 1st
Bregman is on after a throwing error by the first baseman Bellinger and Springer races home to score the first run of the game!
Bregman moves over to second base on the miscue.
Now Bregman is off and running, stealing third - aggressive Astros here early.
A little ground ball by Altuve is enough to bring home Bregman and just like that, Houston are up 2-0 early!
Astros 0-0 Dodgers, top 1st
Springer gets started with an extra base hit - it’s a stand up double as Houston wastes no time!
First pitch
Yu Darvish puts on his glove, George Spring steps in, and he looks at ball one - we are off in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series!
Ceremonial first pitches
Don Newcombe, Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey and Rick Monday. That is Dodger Blue royalty.
First pitch just moments away now.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
On his team huddling in the dugout moments ago.
It was lead by Chase Utley right there. It was him telling them, we’re prepared for this moment. We’re the best team out there, playing 27 outs, doing what we’ve been doing all year.
Astros manager AJ Hinch
Game 7, all bets are off on how to use your guys, when to use your guys...
...it’s a lot to ask a starting pitcher who pitched 90 plus pitches yesterday. This is Game 7, this is Justin Verlander. Who knows.
Updated
Predictions
I had Los Angeles in seven games. Here is proof:
LA in 7! And thank you!
— David Lengel (@LengelDavid) October 24, 2017
No reason to change now, and I suspect Tony R feels the same way.
Here’s Hunter, who sticks sentiment rather than offering a prediction, which makes sense if you’ve been reading him.
I'm rooting for Houston. Not the Astros, necessarily, although I like them. But I'm just rooting for Houston in general. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) November 2, 2017
Roger Kirkby says:
“Tonight is gonna be everything a game seven is, tight at the start, when they play the National anthem, and a roller coaster from then on. Boring, it won’t be. Dodgers to win in eleven is my prediction. Get ready to watch two great teams dook it up. Been a great series, now one of them gets the icing from the cake. Spoons at the ready guys.”
National Anthem
The LAPD quartet are singing the national anthem. Classy outfit. 7.5/10.
Here is how a similar foursome sounded in Houston.
Lineups
Here is the starting IX for the AL champs Houston Astros:
1) George Springer, CF
2) Alex Bregman, 3B
3) Jose Altuve, 2B
4) Carlos Correa, SS
5) Yuli Gurriel, 1B
6) Brian McCann, C
7) Marwin Gonzalez, LF
8) Josh Reddick, RF
9) Lance McCullers, RHP
And the starters for the NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers
1) Chris Taylor, LF
2) Corey Seager, SS
3) Justin Turner, 3B
4) Cody Bellinger, 1B
5) Yasiel Puig, RF
6) Joc Pederson, LF
7) Logan Forsythe, 2B
8) Austin Barnes, C
9) Yu Darvish, RHP
As they say, buckle up. We’re expecting considerable turbulence on this flight.
Astros Starter Lance McCullers
An interesting guy...
Lance McCullers warming up for Game 7, right after Game 6 on Tuesday night. Keith Hernandez, Big Papi completely baffled with everyone else. pic.twitter.com/x6eGJNywzn
— David Lengel (@LengelDavid) November 1, 2017
Why was the Game 7 starter, Lance McCullers on the field last night playing long toss after Game 6? The only thing odder would have been for him to do it at 3AM in the Dodger Stadium parking lot. A-Rod, broadcasting on FOX TV in the US, says he has seen it before: I am calling BS.
The question must be asked, did McCullers go to bed last night?
I’m guessing no.
What did he do last time out?He certainly wasn’t horrible:
5.1IP 4H 3R 3ER 4BB 3K 0HR
That’s right, McCullers gave up no home runs in Game 3, and in this series, that makes him quite the unique specimen. He’s a former first round pick who will break out soon, you could do a lot worse than have him on the hill if you’re a Houston fan.
That is, if he did sleep last night.
Dodgers starter Yu Darvish
LA starting pitcher Yu Darvish, rocked in Game 3, has been seen many times by the Astros, a division rival of his former club the Texas Rangers.
That scares me as a Dodger fan.
Overall, Darvish has faced Houston in 14 regular season games in his career: only the Angels and A’s have seen more of him. He’s been pretty good overall, albeit, mostly against Astros teams not nearly as good as this edition, allowing a .603 OPS.
However, that’s in stark contrast to the way he was hit in Game 3:
1.2IP 6H 4R 4ER 1BB 0K 1HR
What unnerves me as a Houston fan is that Darvish is a quality arm who was was surely embarrassed his last time out: he’s obviously looking for revenge tonight.
Clayton Kershaw
I can go 27 innings. Whatever they need.
Will the Dodgers’ modern-day Sandy Koufax play a factor tonight? He’s available and ready, for just about anything. Don’t think he isn’t thinking just a little bit about what Madison Bumgarner did for rivals San Francisco back in 2014’s Game 7 against Kansas City: five innings on two days rest for a WS winning save.
Big mouth strikes again
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen has spent his pre-game time talking smack, providing bulletin board material for the Astros.
Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen thinks the #Astros have "no chance" tonight in Game 7. Correa and Verlander...laughing that nonsense off. pic.twitter.com/LlLC6OcOqb
— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) November 1, 2017
By the way, do they still have bulletin boards? Perhaps it’s a white board, or some type of pixelated screen.
Let it ride!
Or not.
It seems one of the only people who has had a clue about this World Series has decided that he no longer believes he knows anything about this World Series.
CONFIRMED by my most trusted source - Perfect World Series “Let It Ride” bettor NOT expected to bet Game 7 ... Walking away w/his winnings!
— RJ Bell (@RJinVegas) November 1, 2017
That walk-away is $14m, which is my bar tab at the club, but an OK to decent haul.
Updated
Hola!
...and welcome to our live coverage of Game 7 of the World Series.
By now the only thing I can say for sure is that this epochal Fall Classic won’t end in penalty kicks, and that by tonight, somewhere on this small planet, they’ll be a bonfire incinerating a vast amounts of Dodgers or Astros World Series Champion swag.
Last night I started counting outs in the fifth inning, with Houston Ace Justin Verlander owning the LA lineup and the Astros seemingly on autopilot, flying towards their very first title. That was just one of many mistakes baseball fans have made over and over and over in trying to figure out how this thing is gonna go.
In Game 7, let’s try and not fall into the trap. Let’s breathe collectively and let this one just play out. Let’s keep years of baseball instincts in our pockets and allow the beautiful finality of this 2017 season unravel before us. Let’s learn our lesson, that being whatever we think about tonight, as fellow blogger Hunter Felt said 24 hours ago, we’re going to be very wrong.
Having said all that, we are human and we probably can’t help ourselves, so feel free to tweet your erroneous predictions to @lengeldavid or send them via email to david.lengel.freelance@guardian.co.uk.
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Tom Dart on a brilliant series so far:
Game 7 (* if necessary).
Of course it’s necessary. The greatest sporting events do not come with caveats, and it feels right that a World Series as evenly-matched yet helter-skelter as this one should end with the built-in drama of a title-decider at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday.
This series already had everything else: a record number of home runs, sinewy fielding, some solid pitching, much more shaky pitching, and two teams swapping the lead so frequently that only the reckless dare make predictions. All of which makes it captivating for neutrals and sweet agony for partisans.
Take Tuesday’s Game 6, which got us here. It came two days after an absurd 13-12 extra-innings victory for the Houston Astros over the Los Angeles Dodgers that was even better than the 7-6 extra-innings Astros win in Game 2. In comparison, Tuesday’s was a conventional baseball game – which in the context of this series, made it weird. It will be remembered in future years not for its aesthetic or entertainment value but as utilitarian: a necessary bridge so we could cross to the promised land of a Game 7, where a winner-takes-all, one-off finale has a special piquancy in a sport with 162 regular season games.
You can read the full story here:
