Houston Astros: Four things to recall about Game 5 of the 17 World Series
Thing #1: The pre-cursor to an instant classic
Pre-Cursor
The 2017 World Series was expected to be a potential for an epic classic. Two 100+ win teams who were the best all season long going head-to-head against each other. One team was searching for their first ever title in 56 seasons while inspiring a community through a national tragedy.
The other was looking to end a title drought of 29 years while posting an incredible stretch run in the summer months. The Dodgers were the favorites according to oddsmakers while the Houston Astros were the sentimental favorites. It was a battle of the best offense vs. the best pitching staff. This was going to be a war of a series.
Games 1-4
Through four games, expectations were being met. You had a pitching duel in Game 1, which ended with a 3-1 triumph for the Dodgers thanks to eleven strikeouts from Kershaw. Then there was the incredible Game 2 that started as the same story as the previous game before an Houston Astros home run derby exploded. Game 3 was all-Houston in front of Minute Maid Park despite some controversy that made national news. Just when it looked like the Houston Astros had momentum for Game 4, the Dodgers stormed away with a 6-2 victory ended Houston’s undefeated record at home in the postseason.
At Stake?
So now, Game 5 arrives with the series tied at two apiece. When people think of most great baseball games, they usually set the standards as an elimination game where either A) one team is one win away while the other is facing elimination or B) its Game 7. Sometimes, however, Game 5 is just as critical as Game 6 or Game 7. In my opinion, the stakes are bigger being tied 2-2 than being up or down 3-1. 2-2 means the winner of Game 5 will have two chances to win the title in the next two games. 3-1 means that one team has three chances to win while the other team has their backs against the wall and must win three-in-a-row.
Given that Games 6 and 7 were to be played in Los Angeles, this was the most important game to date for both sides. A Dodgers win gave them home-field advantage and a chance to win one while Houston had to win two tough games in LA.
Innings 1-3
It was expected to be another pitching duel between Keuchel and Kershaw. Keuchel was great at home looking to bounce back while Kershaw was in the lead for World Series MVP and sought to erase past playoff demons. The final score was expected to either be 1-0 or 3-2 at least. Instead, things went wrong from the start.
1st Inning
Keuchel gives up a leadoff single to Chris Taylor, who had homered off Keuchel’s first World Series pitch four games prior. After striking out Corey Seager, #60 walked the next two hitters to load the bases. With two outs, Keuchel faced off against former Arkansas teammate Logan Forsythe who singles in to drive in a run. Yet a second run comes in to make it 2-0. The reason was that Marwin Gonzalez, who had made critical outfield assists in the postseason, bobbled the ball while trying to field it.
Then Keuchel faces Yasiel Puig. As he pitches, Forsythe tries to steal second. Keuchel sees this and throws to Yuli Gurriel. Gurriel’s throw to Altuve is slightly off. Altuve catches the ball off-balanced but is unable to tag Forsythe. A run scores and it’s 3-0 Dodgers in the first inning. If you take away the two mistakes made by the defense, the Dodgers most likely lead 1-0, which Houston can overcome. But down 3-0 with Kershaw going against you seems like a Paul Bunyan-type task. Kershaw retires the Houston Astros in order in the bottom of the first. Dodgers lead 3-0.
2nd-3rd Innings
Keuchel settles down as he would retire all six hitters in the next two innings. But Houston continues to struggle with Kershaw through three innings. The only blemish was a single by Evan Gattis, who would later be erased on a double play. It’s still 3-0 Dodgers in a game that appears to be normal to some. But normalcy was about to turn into sanity real soon.