11th heaven for Astros
Houston gets even by getting to nine Dodgers pitchers at right time
LOS ANGELES» George Springer circled the bases after hitting a two-run homer off Brandon McCarthy in the 11th inning.
Would it be enough? Was this the f inal plot twist in one of the wildest World Series games ever? Yes, it was — barely — and the Houston Astros won a World Series game for the f irst time in their 56-season history.
Charlie Culberson hit a two-out homer in the bottom half off winner Chris Devenski, who then struck out Yasiel Puig in a ninepitch at-bat. The Astros outlasted the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in a Hollywood thriller Wednesday night to tie the Series at one game apiece.
“Up, down, up, down, up,” Springer told Fox after the game, speaking of the emotion of the contest. “That’s a heck of a game right there.”
On a night of dramatic swings and a World Series-record eight home runs, Marwin Gonzalez stunned the Dodger Stadium crowd with a solo shot off dominant closer Kenley Jansen 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.
But there was more. Much, much more.
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 he was stranded when Chris Taylor flied out.
Cameron Maybin, who had entered in the 10th, singled leading off the 11th against Brandon McCarthy, a surprise addition to the Dodgers’ World Series roster who was pitching for the first time since Oct. 1. Maybin stole second and Springer hit a drive to center for a 7-5 lead, just the third 11thinning home run in the Series after shots by Kirby Puckett in 1991 and David Freese in 2011.
“Just tried to slow it down,” Springer told Fox of his night at the plate. “I’ve been complicating things at the plate. Not trusting myself. Today, just said I’m going to go back to what got my here. Happy to help the team.”
Devenski retired Corey Seager and Justin Turner on lineouts. 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.
“We’re never out of it. We have a lineup that’s really scary when it’s on,” Correa told Fox. “And when we swing at strikes and put great at-bats together, we’re very scary. You saw it tonight.”
After another steamy night in a Santa Ana heat wave, the series shifts to Texas and resumes Friday at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, where the retractable roof has not been open for a game since June 8. Lance McCullers Jr. starts for the Astros and Yu Darvish for the Dodgers, who acquired him from Texas at the July 31 trade deadline.
Houston is 6-0 at home in the postseason but just 1-7 on the road.