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Dodgers seize momentum as World Series becomes best-of-three

It was the first time the Astros had lost a postseason game at Minute Maid Park this month. In fact, L.A.’s late rally represented the first time Houston had even trailed at home.
Oct 28, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers  Joc Pederson hits a three-run home run against the Houston Astros in the 9th inning in game four of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

So the World Series is now a best-of-three affair, starting Sunday night with what could be an historic one-on-one between Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel. Two mound stars and two evenly-matched teams who seem destined for a seventh and deciding game.

Think further ahead and consider THAT eventuality: the Dodgers’ season could come down to Yu Darvish, who’d take the ball for the biggest assignment of his career. Just days after a nationally-televised anxiety attack in Game 3, is Darvish ready to re-write his October legacy?

OK, let’s rewind. Even after a 6-2 loss in Game 4, the Astros still like their chances Sunday, if only because they know the Minute Maid crowd will have their backs. If Keuchel prevails, Houston will have two chances to win one game and finish off a brilliant run through October.

The Dodgers’ response?

Kershaw, the west coast terminator.


"I like where we’re at," manager Dave Roberts said, before adding, "we’ve got our ace going so I know in our clubhouse we feel good."

There’s no hyperbole in Roberts’ words, considering Kershaw is coming off a seven-inning, one-run, 11-strikeout masterpiece against Keuchel in Game 1. There’s no one else the Dodgers trust more at this series turning point.

This is the 45th time the Fall Classic has been tied after four games. The winner of Game 5 has gone on to become world champions 66% of the time. And as much as the Astros are banking on a home-field advantage, it’s just as significant that the sold-out ballpark, loud as it was Saturday, was no match for Alex Wood, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, or L.A.’s five-run ninth inning, or Cody Bellinger’s break-out night.

It was the first time the Astros had lost a postseason game at Minute Maid Park this month. In fact, L.A.’s late rally represented the first time Houston had even trailed at home. The Red Sox, Yankees and Dodgers had all previously fallen victim to this city’s surreal ride. We’ll see if the spell is indeed over.

The question can best be answered in the game’s two distinct narratives. Bellinger first: He’d been a hot mess, just 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts, including four punch-outs in Game 3. Bellinger, only 22, had had a similar trajectory as another big-market rookie — Aaron Judge, who struggled in his first postseason until Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros, jump-starting a Yankees comeback from a 4-0 deficit by slugging a massive home run off Lance McCullers Jr.

Bellinger had paid attention to Judge’s turnaround, learning an important lesson about re-directing the jitters.

"I watched (Judge) and we were identical, striking out a lot, swinging at a lot of off-speed (pitches) that we don't normally swing at," Bellinger said. "And I think that's the pressure of the postseason sometimes."

So he showed up for batting practice Saturday afternoon with a new strategy, launching a steady stream of line drives to the opposite field. Bellinger felt calmer, more in-sync almost immediately.

"I was always told these really good hitters hit the ball the other way in BP and I had never done it," he said. "I wanted to try it."

The results took down the Astros in the seventh inning, when he launched Charlie Morton’s hanging curveball into the left-center gap, tying the game at 1-1. And Bellinger was again at the center of the Dodgers’ rally in the ninth, blistering a two-run double off closer Ken Giles to the opposite field that gave L.A. a 3-1 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.


Bellinger smiled as he spoke of baseball as "a beautiful game" that offers redemption every 24 hours. That’s no small rebirth for the Dodgers. If he’s right, watch out, Keuchel could be in trouble tonight. The kid hit 39 home runs this year and has regained not just his bat-speed, but his confidence, too.

But the end of Bellinger’s slump was part of the Dodgers’ larger assault on the Astros' bullpen, which has to concern manager A.J. Hinch. Giles entered the game in the ninth, score tied at 1-1, and promptly caved. He immediately allowed Corey Seager a single before walking Justin Turner and was just as ineffective against Bellinger, serving up that decisive two-run double.

Hinch could be questioned for using his closer in a tie game, but then again, who else can he rely on in a high-leverage situation? Scratch Joe Musgrove off the list: he served up a three-run homer to Joc Pederson that put the game out of reach and may have re-written the calculus for the entire World Series. We’re about to find out Sunday night.

Now it’s an open-ended question as to whether Hinch will turn to Giles in the ninth inning Sunday, or at any point the rest of the way. If the Astros go down, it will only be because of the frailty of their relief corps.

One thing is certain: with Kershaw waiting for the ball, the Dodgers are feeling almost bulletproof. They’ve guaranteed the Series will return to Chavez Ravine, where (they hope) it can be wrapped in six games.

Unless, of course, both teams run the table to Game 7 where Darvish will have his shot at forgiveness. Either way, this is about to get interesting. Now we have a World Series.

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