Game 3 didn’t really go as the Dodgers would have liked, but the Astros probably enjoyed kicking off their three-game stretch in Texas with a win to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Astros chase Yu Darvish early and take 2-1 World Series lead with Game 3 win
They remain undefeated at home this postseason.
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
It was an auspicious start for Houston, as they chased Yu Darvish after only 1 2⁄3 innings thanks to a four-run second inning. If you missed that catastrophe for the Dodgers, this about sums it up.
Yuli Gurriel hit a solo home run to start things off and put the Astros on the board. Then Josh Reddick doubled, followed by an Evan Gattis walk and a Marwin Gonzalez single that brought Reddick all the way home. The only reason Gattis didn’t make it to third was because of his tiny lead off the base and where the throw was coming from.
Then Brian McCann singled to allow Gattis to score — his first hit of the series — and move Gonzalez to third. On a sac-fly to center Gonzalez scored too, mostly thanks to a shoddy throw to home by Chris Taylor. Jose Altuve added to things by getting McCann to third with a double.
After Darvish exited, Kenta Maeda came in for L.A. to pitch 2 2⁄3 innings, getting them to the bottom of the fifth inning. That helped the rest of the Dodgers’ bullpen staff as far as innings they had to bear in Game 3, but means that Maeda almost certainly not be available for Game 4. He allowed only one hit and one walk.
The Dodgers got one run back in the top of the third inning, when Corey Seager grounded into a double play that allowed Joc Pederson to score.
The Astros got that run right back when Tony Watson made a sloppy throw on an Evan Gattis single that sent him to second base and meant Josh Reddick got to go home. Watson pitched an inning, allowing two hits, one run, and struck out one batter.
The Dodgers made things close again in the sixth inning, when Yasiel Puig grounded out by Corey Seager scored. Just after that, Justin Turner scored from third on a Brad Peacock wild pitch. That was as close as they’d get though.
Peacock pitched 3 2⁄3 innings in relief for the save, tied for the longest save in World Series history since the save stat began to be tracked in 1969. He allowed no hits, no runs, struck out four, and walked only one. It was his first career save, which is — as he himself said postgame — was “awesome.”
Dave Roberts went through most of the guys on his bench, with only Charlie Culberson left when all was said and done. Brandon Morrow, Tony Cingrani, and Ross Stripling each pitched out of the bullpen — the first two put away two outs each while Stripling went 1 1⁄3 innings — without allowing a run.
Every player on the Astros got on base, whether by hit or walk, but they stranded 11, including three when George Springer hit a long fly ball to center that could have been a grand slam but was instead an out.
They got the win though, which is all that matters in the end. They are still undefeated at home in this postseason, and will try to widen their 2-1 series lead with another win at Minute Maid park on Saturday night.
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