A Fall Classic: World Series 2017
The Houston Astros won the 2017 World Series beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling 7 games series.
It was a highly anticipated World Series. According to SBNation, this was the 11th time two 100-win teams faced each other in the postseason, but the first since 1977. The Dodgers were favored going into the series because they had the best bullpen in baseball, and they also had the starting pitching to match up vs the Astros.
The first game played out how most would expect. Two former Cy Young winners, Clayton Kershaw vs Dallas Keuchel had a pitching duel. The Dodgers took it 3 to 1 in a pitching duel. Kershaw went 7 innings and had 11 strikeouts and no walks to get the win.
The next game was Rich Hill vs Justin Verlander. This game started with the 2 pitchers dominating, but it was here that the game took a huge turn. With the Dodgers up 3-1 going into the 8th inning, and their 2 best relievers up to help the Dodgers take a 2-0 lead in the series. Then, one of the best games of the World Series games happened. The Astros scored 2 runs in the 8th and 9th inning, sending the game into extra innings. In the top of the 10th, the 2 big stars for the Astros, Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa, showed up hitting back to back home runs. The Dodgers matched it with 2 runs of their own in the bottom of the 10th. In the 11th inning, the MVP of the World Series, George Springer hit a two run home run to win the game and tie the series.
Game 3 was an easy win for the Astros, ending 5 to 3. The Dodgers got in trouble early, with Yu Darvish only going 1.2 innings and allowing 4 runs.
The Dodgers brought out Alex Wood vs Charlie Morton for game 4, making this game another pitching battle. It was a scoreless 5 innings until George Springer hit a solo home run to give the Astros the lead. The Dodgers tied it in the 7th, then scored 5 runs in the 9th to take game 4 with a score 6-2 sending the series back to Los Angeles.
With the Series tied 2-2, both teams put their best pitchers on the mound. The game started with the Dodgers gaining a lead with 4 runs. The Dodgers looked good, Kershaw was pitching well and already had the Astros going into their bullpen. Then Astros scored a run and forced the Dodgers to pull Clayton Kershaw. With 2 runners on base, Yuli Gurriel hit a home run to tie the game. Then Dodgers and Astros matched 3 run home runs from Cody Bellinger and Jose Altuve to tie the game 7-7. Going into the 9th the Dodgers down 12 to 9 scored 3 runs to send the World Series to it's second extra inning game. The Astros' Alex Bregman hit a walk off single home-run to take the game 13 to 12.
The games 6 was Rich Hill vs Justin Verlander. The Game ended 3-1 with a six-out save from Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers sent the series to seven.
The most used phrase for Game 7 was "all hands on deck." This was no normal game, and every pitcher on both teams were ready to go. This was the last game of a great MLB season, but it did not start out how it was expected to. Again Darvish only lasted 1.2 innings and allowed 5 runs. That was all the Astros needed, winning the game 5-1.
This was the Astros' first World Series win in 55 years of the team's existence.