Astros outlast Dodgers in crazy Game 2 to even World Series 1-1

The Houston Astros improbably persevered after falling behind and managed to steal a crazy extra-inning victory they desperately needed.

For about seven innings, Game 2 of the 2017 World Series looked like it was following the same script as Game 1. It was a pitchers’ duel punctuated by several home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers looked like they would be heading to Houston with a 2-0 lead thanks to their dominant bullpen.

Then the Houston Astros found a way to tie things up in the ninth off previously untouchable Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. And then things really got crazy.

The end result was an instant classic that featured eight home runs — including five in extra innings — both closers blowing saves, a guy getting arrested in the Houston bullpen, an errant pickoff throw hitting the second base ump, and just about everything else you could possibly want or imagine. And when the dust finally settled and Yasiel Puig struck out swinging to end the game in the bottom of the 11th, the Astros improbably will go home with the World Series knotted 1-1.

While there will be a ton of talking points during the off day, the main one is almost certainly going to be how Dodgers manager Dave Roberts managed his bullpen, which came into the game having been nearly perfect. He chose to pull starter Ken Hill after just four innings despite giving up just a single run.

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Jansen was asked to get six outs to win it, protecting a three-run lead, and he couldn’t get it done. Carlos Correa drove in Alex Bregman with an RBI single in the eighth, and Marwin Gonzalez tied it 3-3 with a solo shot in the ninth. A stunned crowd then watched Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa go back-to-back with their own home runs in the tenth, making things look dire for the home team.

But Houston closer Ken Giles, also trying to get a two-inning save, couldn’t hold that lead either. Puig homered for the Dodgers in the 10th, and Kiké Hernandez was down to his last strike when he knocked in Logan Forsythe.

More homers followed in the 11th. The difference was that George Springer’s blast was a two-run shot while Charlie Culberson’s came with the bases empty, and that made the difference in the 7-6 Houston victory.

While the players, managers and the entire baseball world catches its breath before Game 3 in Houston on Friday, everyone will be able to look back and say they might not ever have seen a World Series game quite like this one.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/FanSided/status/923388929188888576

https://twitter.com/FanSided/status/923408049649238016

Three stars

George Springer, CF, Astros: Remember when people were asking if A.J. Hinch was going to drop his leadoff hitter after going 0-for-4 with four Ks in Game 1? Yeah, forget about that. Springer was on his game all night, going 3-for-5 and providing the final blow with his 11th-inning Springer Dinger.

Marwin Gonzalez, LF, Astros: None of the extra inning craziness would have been possible without Gonzalez going slightly opposite field off Jansen in the top of the ninth. That silenced the crowd and showed the Astros weren’t going quietly like they did the previous night.

Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers: Bouncing back after missing the NLCS due to injury, Seager had an awesome reaction to his sixth-inning longball that, on many nights, would have been enough to give his team a win.

Next game

Thank goodness for a day off, because everyone will need it to come down off the adrenaline rush that was Game 2. Game 3 is set for Friday, Oct. 27 at 8:00 p.m. on Fox.