Dodgers show up to level World Series

Bellinger strikes form to keep team in the hunt for title

The Los Angeles Dodgers, playing with their backs against the wall for the first time all year, sprang back to life with a five-run ninth inning on Saturday to beat the Houston Astros 6-2 and level the World Series at two games apiece.

With Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw set to take the mound for Game Five in Houston, the best team in baseball all season are suddenly back on track in their quest for a first World Series title since 1988.

“It’s now a three-game series, and we’ve got our ace going tomorrow,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

The Dodgers, who breezed through regular season and into World Series, were staring at a potential 3-1 series deficit until Cody Bellinger’s bat came alive when he doubled and scored the tying run in the seventh inning. Bellinger, who had been hitless in his previous 13 plate appearances, then put the Dodgers ahead in the ninth with a run-scoring double as part of a five-run inning that was capped by Joc Pederson’s three-run blast.

“We’re a super resilient team,” said Bellinger, whose Dodgers are now guaranteed to host a Game Six tomorrow.

Tight affair

The game had been a tight affair as both teams got stellar outings from their starting pitchers.

Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood was working on a nohitter when George Springer opened the scoring with a twoout homer in the sixth that ended the pitcher’s night.

“I was glad to keep us in it long enough to where our bats came alive,” said Wood.

Houston’s Charlie Morgan was nearly as impressive as he allowed just three hits in 6-1/3 innings.