Springer’s best not enough in Game 1
Slugger reaches base four times, including home run that set World Series record, but Astros fall just short
MLB Productions’ highlight film of the 2017 World Series includes a clip of George Springer sitting on the turf at Dodger Stadium, singing in tune, if not tunefully, “I believe I can hit, I believe I can hit.”
Belief eventually paid off for Springer, who after striking out four times in Game 1 had a threehit game in the Astros’ Game 2 win and wrapped up the series with home runs in the final four games to win MVP honors.
Springer extended that streak by homering in a fifth consecutive World Series game Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park, breaking a World Series record that he shared with Reggie Jackson and Lou Gehrig.
So while the Astros lost Game 1 at home, as they did to the Dodgers in 2017 on the road, Springer with two hits, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs, may be rounding back to form as he did after his mournful singalong two years ago.
With six homers in eight World Series games, obviously, he believes he can hit.
“Yes,” he said. “And I still like that song. It’s a good song.”
In addition to his seventh-inning home run Tuesday night, Springer scored the Astros’ first run on Yuli Gurriel’s first-inning double, and his drive to the Astros’ bullpen wall in the eighth inning scored Kyle Tucker to pull the Astros within a run.
“I told them in the dugout we need to play in the World Series more often, because he hits homers every single time it feels like,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
“He’s off to a really good start. His first game in the last World
Series maybe not so much, but he’s picking up right where he left off (in 2017).”
The record home run pace doesn’t mean much to Springer, although he appreciates the gravity of being mentioned in the same breath as Jackson and Gehrig.
“I’d rather win,” he said. “It’s an honor. Those are two of the most historic names in our game. But there’s no doubt about it, I’d rather win.”
He delivered consistently in Game 1, leading off with a walk against Nationals ace Max Scherzer, moving up two bases on a Jose Altuve single and a Scherzer wild pitch and scoring on Gurriel’s
double.
Springer struck out for the third out in the second, drew a two-out walk in the fourth and then deposited a 2-1 pitch from Nationals reliever Tanner Rainey 428 feet to center field for a home run to lead off the seventh inning.
His eighth-inning double to the bullpen wall got the Astros within a run, but that was it for an offense that continues to struggle with runners in scoring position during the playoffs.
“I hit it good, but not good enough,” Springer said. “There was a guy on second, and I was able to drive him in, That was big, to get the bat into Jose’s and (Michael Brantley’s) hands. I’m happy about it.”
He’s not happy with the loss, but he said his experience in 2017 taught him the mindset necessary to make it through the pressure-packed World Series grind.
“This is the World Series. You have to enjoy it,” he said. “The biggest difference for me is that I understand that now.
“I didn’t have the best start in Game 1 back then, but at the end of the day, they were just outs. It’s great to hit the ball well, but at the end of the day, I would rather win. I’ll go 0-for-4 if I have to, and if we win, I’m good.”
For that to happen against a Nationals lineup that has won seven in a row, the rest of the Astros’ lineup will have to approach his Game 1 production in support of ace Justin Verlander in Game 2.
“He’s one of the best pitchers in the world and has been unbelievable all year,” Springer said. “I have the utmost faith in all of our guys. We never quit, up and down this lineup, our bullpen, our starters, and that’s what it’s all about at this time of year.
“You fight until the last pitch, and then you head into tomorrow.”