Houston Astros: Four things to recall about Game 5 of the 17 World Series

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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 29: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros reacts after a run during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Thing #3: The untimely comeback

Innings 7-9

Top of the 7th

Brad Peacock comes into pitch the seventh inning. He gives up a leadoff single to Justin Turner, who is hitting in the three spot for the Dodgers. Next up is Kike Hernandez, who became the tenth player in postseason history with three homers in a game alongside Altuve.

Surprisingly, Roberts chooses to have Hernandez bunt. This backfires as the ball his bunted to Peacock, who throws to Bregman, getting a hobbled Turner out at third. It appears a threat has been dealt with. Then, Bellinger comes up and drives one to center. Springer, being the athlete he is, goes for it.

He misses and the ball goes to center. Hernandez scores and the Dodgers are up 8-7. All of the sudden, a few goat horns start to appear on Springer’s head. The Astros lose the game and the series, he will be the goat and not in a good way. The weight of the world is on his shoulders. Ghosts of unfortunate men like Bill Buckner, Dennis Eckersley, Curt Flood, and Lonnie Smith hang around him. But, he’ll lead off the bottom of the seventh.

Bottom of the 7th

The Dodgers decide to put in Brandon Morrow, who’s pitched almost every day in the postseason. So he’s either tired or the Astros know what he brings. Springer is first to face him. Perhaps in a rage of anger and determination to atone for the ball in center, Springer swings at the first pitch.

The ball lands on the train tracks and explodes. Maybe it was the pyrotechnics that caused the explosion. But the crowd is back in and momentum changes. Bregman singles on the next pitch before Altuve drives him in with a double.

Houston has their first lead at 9-8. Then it’s Correa’s turn. He hits a high pitch that barely connects with the ball. It’s a routine pop-up… that goes over the fence for a home run. It’s bedlam as Correa celebrates. The train blows its horn as the crowd cheers. The roof is ready to come off. There’s a man who decides to streak in American boxers before caught by security. Houston leads 11-8 and Morrow is done after six pitches.

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8th Inning

Peacock returns, but he leaves two runners on base as he gets pulled for Will Harris. The first pitch to Seager is a double that cuts the lead to 11-9. Next up is Turner, who hits a line drive to right. But Taylor, who’s on third, doesn’t go home when instructed too. The crowd noise is too loud for him to hear. The Astros get out of the inning up two before Brian McCann makes it a 12-9 game with a solo blast. Now the Astros are ready to celebrate. But for some reason, the script is to be flipped.

9th Inning

Astros fans have seen this before. They’re outs away from celebrating only to let the other team come back. It happened in 1980, 1986, 2005, and 2015. Could it happen again? Chris Devenski pitches the ninth. With one out and a runner on, he gives up a two-run homer to Yasiel Puig, which angers one Astros fan to throw the ball back. Now it’s 12-11 and the fans are tense even as a Dodger is on third with two outs and Taylor up. Devo works the count to 2-2. He’s one strike away from victory and a 3-2 series lead. It’s in the Astros’ hands. Only it wouldn’t be.

The nightmare is back and now, the Astros are becoming haunted again. It appears that the Dodgers will come back and win the game and the series. This will ruin the Astros dream season and destroy one of the most magical sports moments ever. Not even the Astros can get a run in the 9th. So pretty soon, the haunted will become the hauntee and vice versa. The Dodgers should win this game in the 10th.

But maybe, there is one more plot twist.

HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 30: Derek Fisher #21 of the Houston Astros slides in to home plate scoring the game winning run during the tenth inning against Austin Barnes #15 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2017 in Houston, Texas. The Astros defeated the Dodgers 13-12. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Thing #4: Losing Control & Epilogue

10th Inning

Joe Musgrove comes in to pitch the tenth and he holds down the Dodgers. He retires Turner on a fly out to left. Then Andre Ethier singles past the shift to reach first. Bellinger flies out to center field for out number. Then a force out ends the Dodger threat as the game goes to the bottom of the 10th.

The question becomes how long can this go on? Can fans take it anymore? The suffering, exhaustion, frustration, and any feeling of intensity is being surrounded by feelings of what took place two months prior. It feels like all the events of August 25th with Hurricane Harvey to October 28th, 2017 came together in one night. Flashbacks of everyone’s lives go by and the game is at a crossroads.

Bottom of the 10th Inning

The Astros move to the plate going up against Kenley Jensen. Houston had gotten to Jensen in

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Game 2. But that seemed like ages ago. Jensen, who held the Astros scoreless in the ninth records two outs. He then faces McCann, who nearly wins the game with a homer. The count is 2-2 and the Dodgers are ready for the 11th inning when a mistake happens. McCann gets hit in the wrist on a Jensen cutter. Now the runner is at first.

Jensen loses control as he walks Springer. Runners are now at first and second with two outs. Hinch brings in pinch runner Derek Fisher to run for McCann. With speed at second, the Astros have Bregman up. The game must end now or the opportunity is lost forever. It takes one pitch to determine the fate of the series right there. One pitch to determine where the game goes for now.

Conclusion

Game five was supposed to be a showing of the two heavyweight fighters in 2017. Game five was supposed to be a pitcher’s duel between two Cy Young award winners in a game to determine who would get control. It was was supposed to be Clayton Kershaw‘s night to fulfill his legacy and end his playoff demons forever.

The blunder of Springer’s mistimed dive was expected to be the turning point of the series. Astros playoff futility would forever haunt the franchise after seeing an inspirational season turn into dust. Jensen was expected to bring the Astros to an all-time low.

The elements of surprise were not supposed to happen, especially in a sporting event where time concerns and juiced balls overtake the league. The World Series was not supposed to be turned upside down.

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But in spite of all the twisters, conspiracies, nightmares, and dreams, five hours and seventeen minutes after it started, October 29, 2017, the night of Game 5 of the World Series between the Astros and the Dodgers became the night of the greatest game ever played.

The rest is history as the best franchise game ever played happened three nights later.

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