MLB

Astros Stun Dodgers With Dramatic Comeback Victory in Game 2 of the World Series

George Springer hit the game-winning home run in the top of the 11th inning and the Houston Astros came-from-behind in dramatic fashion to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-6, in a wild Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday.

We have ourselves a series.

George Springer hit the game-winning home run in the top of the 11th inning and the Houston Astros came-from-behind in dramatic fashion to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 7-6, in a wild Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

It took eight home runs, four lead changes, and three ties in order for the insanity to end and the Astros to even the best-of-seven series with the Dodgers.

Before Springer became the hero for Houston, three other players held the honor for the Astros over the course of the final few innings.

Houston trailed 3-1 entering the eighth inning, but got within a run when Carlos Correa snapped the MLB record 28-inning scoreless streak by the Dodgers bullpen, with an RBI single to bring the Astros within a run. 

Marwin Gonzalez did the impossible for the Astros when he hit the game-tying home run off Kenley Jansen in the top of the ninth. It was the first blown save of the L.A. closer's postseason career. 

"I'm human," a dejected Jansen said after the game. "The only flat pitch I threw on the entire night was to Marwin and he hit it out. You have to give him credit, he got me."

Gonzalez's homer was the first game-tying home run in the ninth inning or later by a road team in the World Series since Boston's Dwight Evans went deep in Game 3 of the 1975 World Series.

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Entering the game, the Dodgers were 98-0 on the season when leading after the eighth inning. They were the only team in MLB without such a loss.

"I'll take Kenley any day of the week with a one-run lead going into the ninth," said Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts following the loss. "He's been virtually unhitabble. Gonzalez put a good swing on an 0-2 pitch. Tip your hat to him."

Josh Fields entered the game in the top of the tenth, but he was pounded like a wave-beaten rock, as he surrendered back-to-back home runs to Altuve and Correa to start the inning, and then a double to Yuli Guriel, before leaving the game without recording an out.

Altuve and Correa became the first duo to hit back-to-back home runs in extra innings of a World Series game in baseball history, and just the second to do it in the postseason.

"That's incredible game on so many levels, so many ranges of emotion," said Astros' manager A.J. Hinch. "If you like October baseball, if you like any kind of baseball, that's one of the most incredbible games you'll ever be a part of."

The Astros thought they were three outs away from splitting the two games in Los Angeles, but the Dodgers had other ideas as Yasiel Puig led off the bottom of the 10th inning with a home run off Houston closer, Ken Giles.

After a two-out walk to Logan Forsythe, NLCS hero, Kiké Hernandez, tied the game with an RBI single to right field that tied the game at 5-5.

Hernandez's single was the first hit of the game for the Dodgers that was not a home run.

Earlier in the game, the Dodgers thought that déjà vu would give them a 2-0 lead in the World Series as the Dodgers hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to break a 1-1 tie for the second game in a row.

It may have been a different day, but it was the same script for the Boys in Blue as Corey Seager broke the 1-1 tie with a dramatic sixth inning home run.

On Tuesday, it was Chris Taylor who worked a two-out walk against Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel in the bottom of the sixth inning to make way for Justin Turner who hit the game-winning two-run home run.

On Wednesday, it was once again Taylor who worked a two-out walk against Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander in the bottom of the sixth inning to make way for the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.

"If I don't give up that two-out walk, and then the subsequent home run, I probably hit for myself and stay in the game," said Verlander. "But when you need offense, especially in the National League, I kind of expected that."

Instead of Turner, it was reigning National League Rookie of the Year Winner, Corey Seager, who took Verlander deep for the go-ahead two-run home run.

At 23-years-old, Seager became the second youngest player in Dodgers' history to hit a home run in the World Series, with only Peter Reiser in 1941, as the youngest at 22 years, and six months.

"Adrenaline takes over and it was really exciting," Seager said of his home run.

The Astros got on the board first as Josh Reddick greeted former A's and Dodger teammate Rich Hill with a leadoff single in the third inning.

After a sacrifice bunt by Verlander moved Reddick to second, he scored two plays later on an RBI single to center field by Alex Bregman that bounced off the cap of Dodgers' center fielder Chris Taylor.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, the ball bounced directly to Joc Pederson in left field and Houston was held to only one run in the inning.

In a season of unlikely heroes, it was forgotten outfielder Joc Pederson that rose to the moment against Verlander on Wednesday.

After struggling in the second half of the regular season, Pederson was sent down to the minors in August, and did not make the NLDS postseason roster.

However, after the back injury to Corey Seager before the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs, Pederson was placed on the roster for the second round so that Chris Taylor could play shortstop against right-handed starters.

Pederson had success in Game 3 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field, and remained on the World Series roster over veteran Curtis Granderson.

The move worked as Pederson sent an 88 MPH slider off Verlander into the seats in right-center for the Dodgers first hit and run of the game.

Verlander did not allow a hit through the first 4 and 1/3 innings before the blast by Pederson.

"This was an instant classic, and to be able to be part of it is pretty special."

The home runs by Pederson and Seager was the third time Verlander had allowed multiple homers in a World Series game in his career. Tied with former Dodger Don Drysdale for the most such games all-time.

Entering the game, Dodgers Game 2 starter Rich Hill, had a great track record against Houston as he was 3-1 with a 2.68 ERA in six starts against the Astros in his career.

Hill did not factor in the decision on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts in four short innings.

Kenta Maeda became the fifth Japanese-born pitcher in baseball history to appear in the World Series when he entered the game for Hill in relief in the fifth inning.

Brandon McCarthy made the first postseason appearance in his 12-year career, but it did not go as well as he may have hoped as he quickly gave up the game-winning, two-run homer to Springer.

Ironically, McCarthy (0-1), was on the 2005 White Sox team that swept the Houston Astros to win the World Series, but on Wednesday, he took the loss in his first ever playoff appearance.

Charlie Culberson made it interesting with a pinch-hit home run in the bottom of the 11th to set the World Series record with eight home runs in a single game.

It was the first loss at home for the Dodgers in the postseason, and just the second win on the road by the Astros.

"These guys, they can do a lot of things, and they fight to the last out," said Roberts. "They play 27 outs. That's the same thing we do. It was one of those games that we just ran out of outs."

The victory also gave Houston their first ever World Series win in franchise history.

"We're not here if Marwin Gonzalez doesn't hit it a home run to centerfield agains the best closer in baseball," said Hinch. "I'm just glad we got to the last out and got the win."

In the 113-year history of the World Series, when the series is tied at 1-1, the winner of Game 3 has gone on to win the championship 64 percent of the time.

Aces in the Crowd: 

Among the celebrities in attendance for Game 2 of the 2017 World Series were Brad Paisley, Mila Kunis, Ashton Kutcher, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, George Lopez, Mark Wahlberg, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Biel, Jason Bateman, Pat Sajak, Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Tiger Woods, Oscar de la Hoya, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Giancarlo Stanton, Michael Bisping, Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Danny Trejo, Michael Peña, Motley Crue, Gerrit Cole and Joey Gallo. 

Up Next:

The Series shifts to Houston for Game 3 as Yu Darvish starts opposite Lance McCullers on Friday, Oct. 27 at 5:10PM PST.

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