Quite the finish
Springer’s two-run homer in 11th clutch as Astros even Series at 1-1
LOS ANGELES — George Springer screamed with excitement as he circled the bases after hitting a two-run homer off Brandon Mccarthy in the 11th inning.
Would it be enough? Was this the final plot twist in one of the wildest World Series games in history?
Yes, it was — barely — and for the first time in their 56 season the Houston Astros won a World Series game.
Charlie Culberson hit a two-out homer in the bottom half off winner Chris Devenski, who then struck out Yasiel Puig in a tense nine-pitch at-bat as the Astros outlasted the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in a Hollywood thriller Wednesday night, tying the Series at one game apiece.
“This is an instant classic and to be part of it is pretty special,” Astros starter Justin Verlander said.
On a night of dramatic swings and a World Series-record eight home runs, Marwin Gonzalez stunned the Dodger Stadium crowd with a bases-empty shot off dominant Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen on an 0-2 pitch in the ninth that made it 3-all.
Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa hit consecutive home runs against Josh Fields in the 10th to build a 5-3 Astros lead, with Correa making a big bat flip to celebrate.
But there was more. Much, much more.
“Oh my gosh, it was crazy. A lot of emotions, a lot of feelings,” Correa said. “The ball flies at this ballpark.”
Puig homered off Ken Giles starting the bottom of the 10th and Enrique Hernandez knotted the score 5-5 with a two-out RBI single.
Devenski entered and with Hernandez at second, a wild pickoff throw headed toward center field before it struck second base umpire Laz Diaz. An incredulous Hernandez put both hands on his head, unable to advance, and was stranded when Chris Taylor flied out.
Cameron Maybin, who had entered in the 10th, singled leading off the 11th against Mccarthy, a surprise addition to the Dodgers’ World Series
SERIES
roster who was pitching for the first time since Oct. 1. Maybin stole second and Springer hit a drive to right-center for a 7-5 lead, just the third 11th-inning home run in the Series after shots by Kirby Puckett in 1991 and David Freese in 2011.
Springer, an All-star leadoff hitter, was 0 for 4 with four strikeouts in the Series opener Tuesday.
Devenski retired Corey Seager and Justin Turner on lineouts in the bottom half. Puig checked his swing on a 2-2 pitch — the Astros jumped when first base umpire Gerry Davis signaled no swing — and Puig fouled off two more. Devenski threw his fifth straight changeup, and Puig swung over it as the Astros ran onto the field to celebrate after finally closing out a back-and-forth game that lasted 4 hours, 19 minutes.
“Up, down, up, down, up,” Springer said, describing his emotions over the last few innings. “That’s a heck of a game right there.”
Verlander, wearing an undershirt, entered the dugout in the 11th inning to scream at his teammates that the game was not over.
Correa’s RBI single off Jansen ended a record 28-inning postseason scoreless streak by the Dodgers’ bullpen.
Gonzalez was an unlikely candidate for a tying homer. He had not driven in a run in his 45 plate appearances since Houston’s postseason opener.