World Series Game 4: Dodgers stun Astros at home to tie series 2-2

The Los Angeles Dodgers took down the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 4 of the 2017 World Series.

The Los Angeles Dodgers stole Game 4 in another instant classic by a score of 6-2. Much like Game 1, Game 4 was largely a pitcher’s clash, until the ninth where the Dodgers exploded for five runs to hand the Astros their first home loss of the 2017 postseason.

To sum up the first half of the game, only one batter got on base — the lead-off hitter. Both pitchers, Charlie Morton and Alex Wood, were duking it out in one of the best pitcher’s duels this postseason. However, when Morton and the Astros found themselves struggling in the sixth, it was Alex Bregman who came up big with a perfect throw to the plate to keep the game scoreless. Later that inning, George Springer came up big with a solo homer to give the Astros the lead and break up Wood’s no-hit bid. To the surprise of many, Wood (5.2IP, 1H, 1ER, 2BB, 3K) was the first to exit the game.

For the first time since Game 2, the Dodgers responded. Los Angeles tied up the game the very next half-inning by virtue of a Logan Forsythe RBI single off Astros reliever Will Harris. But, that was all she wrote for Los Angeles in the seventh.

The two teams’ bullpen’s continued the defensive battle into the ninth when both closers, Ken Giles and Kenley Jansen, came in to close out the game for their respective teams. But, as in Game 2, Giles struggled heavily. It was Cody Bellinger who made Giles pay following a leadoff hit and walk. Bellinger’s double into the gap gave the Dodgers a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth. Austin Barnes later flew out to right, scoring Culberson. The Dodgers weren’t done though. In addition to the two insurance runs, Joc Pederson blasted a three-run homer to right to give the Dodgers a 6-1 lead heading into the last half of the ninth.

On the same night he received an award for being the National League’s best reliever, Jansen embarrassed Houston hitters to cap off a heartbreaking night at Minute Maid Park and earn the save. Although he gave up a solo home run to Alex Bregman, it was too little too late for Houston.

Three Stars

1. Alex Wood: Wood took a no-hitter into his final at-bat before giving up a home run to Springer. All in all, the Dodgers couldn’t have asked for a better outing from Wood in the biggest game of the season.

2. Logan Forsythe: When all hope seemed lost for Los Angeles, enter Forsythe. Forsythe tied the game up for the Dodgers in the seventh whose run proved to be a massive confidence boost and could’ve potentially saved the series for Los Angeles.

3. Cody Bellinger: Bellinger delivered with a massive RBI in the top of the ninth to score the go-ahead runner and eventual game-winning run. He came around to score via Joc Pederson’s three-run homer in the ninth.

Highlights

https://twitter.com/astros/status/924467845966245889

Next: Ranking every World Series winner

Next game

Baseball in the city of Houston concludes for the remainder of the year on Sunday night. Game 5 first pitch will take place at 8:20 p.m. ET from Minute Maid Park. The big Game 4 win switched the momentum once again and the Dodgers will have the chance to take the series lead before heading back home to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the Astros look to give their home fans a memorable farewell before heading to LA to close the series.