Dodgers force a Game 7 in LA with Game 6 win over the Astros

Justin Verlander pitched well, and the Astros lost. Rich Hill pitched ... fine, and the Dodgers won. Sometimes that’s just how it goes. The Dodgers forced their first-ever Game 7 at home with a 3-1 win, and will get a chance to win the World Series, and it was mostly because their bullpen actually held up this time.

Rich Hill let up only one run off of four hits in 4 ²⁄₃ innings, a home run off George Springer in the third inning that momentarily put the Astros up 1-0, and struck out five batters.

He was replaced in the fifth inning with the bases loaded by Brandon Morrow, who has pitched in every World Series game so far and got out of the jam. He stayed in for three outs, followed by Tony Watson for one out, and then Kenta Maeda for the next three.

Kenley Jansen took over for Maeda in the eighth inning for a six-out save, even after Dave Roberts was quoted before the game saying he would only be available for three outs this game after he’d pitched so much recently.

Verlander, meanwhile, allowed two runs off three hits in six innings on the mound, and looked lights out for most of his time out there. Chris Taylor started things in the bottom of the sixth by doubling to bring Austin Barnes in, and then Corey Seager hit a sac-fly to bring Chase Utley home.

Joe Musgrove pitched after him, allowing the Dodgers’ third and final run off of a Joc Pederson home run.

Luke Gregerson and Francisco Liriano both pitched out of the bullpen and allowed only one run between them, which seems shocking even typing it now. That leaves the Astros’ usual bullpen suspects for Game 7, which might not be better options than Liriano, but they’ve certainly had more reps in this series.

This Game 7 will be the first time the Dodgers have ever hosted one of those in the World Series, and it all comes down to this. Either the Astros win their first World Series ever or the Dodgers get one for the first time since 1988.

Either way, it will be special.