Verlander’s gem propels Astros over Yankees
Houston up 2-0 in series heading to Bronx · Puig, Taylor help Dodgers take NLCS oepner from Cubs
Justin Verlander has pitched in three World Series games and six times in an American League Championship Series. He’s a six-time All-Star, a former Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner and has thrown two no-hitters.
He very well someday could be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. If so, his 124-pitch gem against the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon that gave the Houston Astros a commanding two-games-to-none lead in the ALCS will surely be encapsulated in the highlights played at his induction ceremony.
In a 2-1 victory he described as “one of the most satisfying starts” of his 13-year career,” Verlander treated a boisterous 43,000-plus Minute Maid Park crowd to the type of outing rarely seen in this day and age. Bucking the short starts that have defined this postseason, the 34-yearold right-hander went the distance in Game 2 for the Astros’ first complete game in the playoffs in 31 years.
Verlander allowed only the one run and kept a dangerous Yankees lineup off the board over the final four innings. After throwing his final pitch amid a tied game, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa made sure the ace’s effort wasn’t for naught.
In walk-off fashion, Altuve scored from first base on a double by Correa, who lined a full-count fastball from Aroldis Chapman the other way into the right-center field gap. Altuve may have been out at home plate if Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez handled a one-hopper from shortstop Didi Gregorius. Sanchez’s bobble allowed Altuve to slide past him without even a tag.
The 2-0 series lead is the Astros’ first in an LCS, of which they had appeared in only four previously. They flew to New York after the game ahead of Game 3, which is scheduled for Monday evening in the Bronx.
Astros Game 3 starter Charlie Morton has a near-impossible act to follow after the one-two punch of Dallas Keuchel and Verlander dominated the series’ first two games. A day after Keuchel struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings, Verlander struck out 13, the ex-Detroit Tigers ace’s highest total in his 18 career postseason starts.
The double-digit strikeout performance was the seventh of Verlander’s decorated career, two more than any other pitcher in baseball history can claim. He allowed only five hits and one walk and threw an incredible 75 percent of his pitches for strikes Saturday.
He left his teammates in awe.
“That’s a performance for the ages,” Astros center fielder George Springer said.
“That’s what legends are made of,” Keuchel said.
“With what was on the line, that was the best I’ve seen in person,” said Morton, a 10-year vet.
Verlander’s pitch count was at 71 pitches through the fifth inning and only 82 through the sixth. After a 15-pitch seventh, Astros manager A.J. Hinch gauged how Verlander felt. Hinch didn’t even ask after a 12-pitch eighth. He was going to ride his horse. Games like these were why the Astros made the late-night August 31 blockbuster to acquire Verlander from the Tigers.
“I was brought here to help this team win a championship. And I’m aware of that, and I’m going to do everything I possibly can. Today was just one step,” said Verlander. (Houston Chronicle/TNS)
Dodgers 5, Cubs 2
This year’s National League Championship Series is more sequel than rerun – because sequels allow for new characters to take on starring roles.
A year ago, Yasiel Puig watched much of the NLCS between Los Angeles and Chicago from the bench, relegated to a platoon role six weeks after returning from his demotion to Triple-A. Chris Taylor and Charlie Culberson watched it on TV.
In fact, only one player who started alongside Clayton Kershaw in the decisive Game 6 at Wrigley Field last year was on the field with the left-hander for the first pitch of this year’s rematch – third baseman Justin Turner.
So this time around, Puig, Taylor and Culberson played pivotal roles as the Dodgers rallied from two runs down to beat the Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday night at Dodger Stadium.
The trio of Puig, Taylor and Culberson combined for five of the Dodgers’ eight hits (including home runs by Puig and Taylor), drove in four of the five and scored three.
“Losing Corey [Seager] is no fun. He’s one of the best players on our team,” Kershaw said of the back injury that will sideline Seager for the NLCS. “Other guys are going to have to step up. You saw that tonight.”
Kershaw only went five innings in Game 1, giving up a two-run home run to Albert Almora Jr. that put the Cubs in front. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts smelled blood in the water as the Dodgers rallied to tie the score and pinch-hit for his ace.
“To be able to go the bullpen and having the confidence in them was a huge driver,” Roberts said. “But you still have a chance to tack on another run. “I thought it was the right move.” It was. The Cubs didn’t have another hit after Almora’s fourth-inning home run. Their final 18 batters went down in order.
Depleted by their exhausting NLDS Game 5 victory in Washington and a cross-country travel odyssey, the Cubs’ taxed bullpen was no match for the Dodgers.
Taylor remade his swing last winter, in large part, to better deal with major-league velocity. He turned around a fastball from Hector Rondon for a solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Dodgers the lead.
“He’s done it all year for us,” Roberts said. “Just another thing to add to his special season. It’s pretty fun to watch.”
It is the first time the Dodgers have won the opening game of the NLCS since 1985. In five subsequent trips to the LCS before this year, the Dodgers always started out in a hole – including 1988, the last time they won this series and advanced to the World Series.
“To me, at this time of year, it’s a relieved feeling to win that first game,” Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen said after striking out the final four Cubs to seal the victory. “It puts extra pressure on them now.