Dodgers Even World Series, Defeat Astros, 6-2
The Los Angeles Dodgers have evened things up in the Fall Classic.
The Dodgers defeated the Houston Astros, 6-2, in Game 4 of the 2017 Major League Baseball World Series at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas on Saturday night.
The victory by the Dodgers knots up the best-of-7 game series at 2-2.
Four Los Angeles pitchers combined to throw a two-hitter, coming just one out shy of tossing a one-hitter, which would have been the first in World Series play in 22 years.
Offensively, the Dodgers broke a tied game wide open in the top game of the 9th inning, scoring five times, to secure the win.
For the Astros, it was their first loss in 8 postseason home games.
In a game in which no base runners reached second base through the first five innings, Los Angeles had the first opportunity of the game, in the top half of the 6th inning, putting runners at first and third, with only one out, but came away empty-handed.
Houston made them pay, getting on the scoreboard first, in the bottom half of the frame, when George Springer launched a solo home run to left, giving them a 1-0 lead.
It was the first an only hit Dodgers' starter Alex Wood would allow, being relieved after 5.2 innings of no-hit baseball, the longest in Los Angeles World Series history.
Springer became the first player in World Series history to break up a no-hitter in the 6th inning or later.
The Dodgers tied things in the top half of the 7th inning, when Logan Forsythe delivered a clutch two-out single, scoring Cody Bellinger, to make it 1-1.
Although reliever Houston reliever Will Harris allowed the single, the run was attributed to starter Charlie Morton, who was outstanding, allowing only one run on three hits over 6.2 innings of work.
The scored stayed tied until the top half of the 9th inning, when Los Angeles broke things open, scoring five runs, including a run-scoring single from Bellinger, a sacrifice fly off the bat of Austin Barnes, and a 3-run homer by Joc Pederson, to give them a commanding 6-1 advantage.
Alex Bregman belted a solo homer for the Astros in the bottom half of the 9th inning off of LA closer Kenley Jansen, to make it 6-2, but it was far from enough, as the Dodgers went on to the 4-run triumph.
Bellinger, who entered the game hitless in World Series play, led the way, offensively, for Los Angeles, going 2-for-4, including two doubles, two runs scored, and a run batted in, while Pederson added a three-run homer, as LA outhit Houston, 7-2.
In a losing cause for Houston, the home runs by Springer and Bregman turned out to be their only hits of the game.
Tony Watson recorded the win for the Dodgers, tossing one perfect inning of relief, while Ken Giles suffered the loss for the Astros, allowing 3 runs, without retiring a batter.
Game 5 is scheduled for Sunday evening in Houston, with first pitch slated for 7:09 pm.
Lefthander Clayton Kershaw is expected to get the start for the Dodgers, while the Astros will counter with lefthander Dallas Keuchel.
Those two opposed each other in Game 1, with the Dodgers winning, 3-1, as Kershaw struck out 11 batters.
The series would then shift back to Los Angeles, California, for Game 6 on Tuesday night, and a decisive Game 7, if necessary, on Wednesday night.