Los Angeles Evens Up The World Series With Their Win In Game 4
The World Series is now tied with Los Angeles evening things up on Saturday in Houston.
Young sluggers Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson, one slumping this Series and the other slumping this season, found redemption Saturday night, keying a late-innings barrage that gave the Dodgers a 6-2 comeback win over the Astros and deadlocked the best-of-seven World Series at two games each. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Bellinger, 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts in the first 3 1/2 games, laced a pair of doubles, the second one in a five-run ninth inning giving the Dodgers the lead. Pederson, a Minor Leaguer in parts of August and September and left off the National League Division Series roster, tomahawked a high Joe Musgrove fastball for a three-run homer to blow open a game that began as a pitchers' duel between Los Angeles' Alex Wood, who had a no-hitter through 5 2/3 innings, and Houston's Charlie Morton, who didn't allow a run until Bellinger's first double in the seventh inning. Wood's was the longest no-hit bid in Dodgers postseason history, and L.A.'s staff allowed only two hits, both homers. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
The Dodgers can take control of the Series in Game 5 on Sunday, when they will send ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound with a chance to take a 3-2 Series lead heading into Game 6 on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The Astros will counter with fellow lefty Dallas Keuchel in a pivotal matchup. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"I can't wait," Houston third baseman Alex Bregman said. "I know everyone in here wishes the game was right now. We want to go back out there and play and -- I don't know if redeem ourselves is the right word -- but we want to go back out there and play right now. This is the World Series. This is going to be a dogfight." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Ken Giles, who has allowed a run in six of seven postseason outings this year, started the ninth inning of a tied game and allowed a single to Corey Seager and a walk to Justin Turner before Bellinger put the Dodgers ahead with the RBI double -- marking the first time the Astros had trailed at home in the postseason in 71 innings. It also was Houston's first loss in eight games at Minute Maid Park this postseason. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"They play real well here," said Pederson. "To show we can come in here and play our baseball is important to all of us in here, and it will be a big game tomorrow." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Pederson's long homer to right off Musgrove four batters later pushed the lead to 6-1. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"The Pederson pitch is right where I wanted it -- fastball up out of the zone," said Musgrove. "He just beat me to it. That's baseball. You get away with plenty of fastballs down the middle that guys foul off. You throw one up out of the zone where you want, and they beat you. I'd be more upset if I threw it down the middle, and he hit it out." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
The only two hits the Astros managed were homers -- by George Springer in the sixth and Bregman in the ninth. Pederson, who spent time in the Minor Leagues fighting out of an offensive slump, was serving as designated hitter for the second consecutive game. He pretty much went crazy rounding the bases. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"I was just trying to do my best Big Papi impression," he joked, referring to former Red Sox great David Ortiz. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Teams that have won Game 4 to tie any World Series have gone on to win the Series 24 of 44 times, including three of the past four in that scenario (2014 Giants, '13 Red Sox, '03 Marlins). "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"They're two pretty good teams," Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. "I don't think that's overstating anything, so it probably doesn't surprise a ton of people that's it 2-2. How the games have gone, where we've won or where they've won can always be debated. These are big games. Every game feels like a Game 5 or a Game 6." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Wood, lacking command pitching for only the second time in 32 days but making big pitches, held the Astros without a hit through 5 2/3 innings. But with Brandon Morrow warming up in the bullpen, manager Dave Roberts let Wood face Springer for the third time in the game and he blasted a homer to left to give Houston a 1-0 lead and ignite the crowd. Springer became the first player to break up a World Series no-hit bid with a homer in the sixth inning or later. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"Woody set the tone for us and was just outstanding tonight," said Roberts. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Morton gave up a leadoff single to Chris Taylor, who was thrown out trying to steal to end the first, and then retired the next 14 batters he faced, pumping the ball down down in the zone consistently. He was pulled after giving up a one-out double in the seventh to Bellinger, who scored the tying run on a Logan Forsythe single off Will Harris. Forsythe is erasing a tough regular season by going 8-for-26 in the postseason with four RBIs and eight runs scored. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"When we had two guys on against Giles in the ninth, I felt we had a chance," said Forsythe, reflecting the Dodgers' pre-Series notion that if they keep games close early, they have an edge in the bullpen matchups. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Los Angeles' bullpen, despite the unavailability of Kenta Maeda and Yu Darvish's 1 2/3-inning start in Game 3, retired nine consecutive batters after Springer's home run, with Morrow (who has pitched in all four games) retiring all four batters he faced and Tony Watson getting his three men. Kenley Jansen, presented the Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year Award before the game, allowed a two-out homer to Bregman in the bottom of the ninth. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
He hit only .224 during the regular season, but Forsythe made his acquisition worthwhile by delivering a two-out RBI single to tie the score at 1 in the seventh inning, cashing in Bellinger's first double and answering the home run by Springer. Forsythe was playing against right-hander Morton in part because of Forsythe's defense at second base, and in greater part because left-handed-hitting platoon-mate Chase Utley is 0-for-14 in the postseason. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
The votes were long ago in for the NL Rookie of the Year Award, which Bellinger will probably win in a landslide, but nothing he did this season meant more than his go-ahead double in the ninth inning that chased Giles. Bellinger said an adjustment he made in batting practice paid off. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
"I hit every ball in BP today to the left side of the infield," Bellinger said. "I've never done that before in my life. Usually I try to lift. I needed to make an adjustment and saw some results today. I'm pulling off everything. Usually in BP I just try to lift, have fun in BP. But today I tried to make an adjustment. I needed to make an adjustment, and so I decided I'm hitting every ball to left field today. I had two balls to left field today in the game and I saw some results, so let's see." "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
I just need one break and I feelhttp://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/ it's going to come tomorrow. I'm going to get back on track." -- Giles "according to
"It's a beautiful game: I can come out the next day and help the team to win after a bad day like that." -- Bellinger, who struck out four times in Game 3 "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Game 4 was the first game in World Series history that both starting pitchers allowed four or fewer baserunners. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
The combined 15 homers hit in this year's World Series, including eight in Game 2, breaks the previous record of 14 homers through four games (2002 Giants vs. Angels). "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
The Astros unsuccessfully challenged a call in the first inning, claiming a pitch thrown by Wood clipped Springer's shoe and should have resulted in a hit-by-pitch. The replay was inconclusive and the call would stand. "according to http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/259973212/dodgers-tie-world-series-with-rally-in-9th/
Los Angeles and Houston will play game five at Minute Maid Park Sunday.
Left-hander Clayton Kershaw who has a record of 18-4 with a 2.31 earn run average will be on the mound for Los Angeles. Kershaw was incredibly efficient in a Game 1 World Series win , needing just 83 pitches to rack up 11 strikeouts in seven innings of one run ball. The lefty is 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in four starts this postseason with 27 K's 24 1/3 frames. He will oppose left-hander Dallas Keuchel of Houston. He has a record of 14-5 with a 2.90 earn run average. Keuchel six hits, three runs, including two homers , over 6 2/3 innings in a Game 1 loss to the Dodgers. Keuchel is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in four playoff starts overall in 2017. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-astros/2017/10/29/526515#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526515
First pitch is set for 8:00pm. The game will be televised on Fox. "according to https://www.mlb.com/gameday/dodgers-vs-astros/2017/10/29/526515#game_state=preview,game_tab=,game=526515