News

Astros flex muscles and rally past Dodgers to square series

Fans cheer before Game 1 of baseball's World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Photo: Associated Press/Matt Slocum


UNDATED (AP) — The Houston Astros climbed out of a two-run hole on Wednesday, then blew a two-run lead in extra innings before knotting the World Series at a game apiece.

George Springer unloaded a two-run homer off Brandon McCarthy in the 11th inning to lift the Astros past the Dodgers, 7-6 in Los Angeles. Cameron Maybin started the rally with a leadoff single and stole second before scoring on Houston’s fourth home run since the ninth inning.

The Astros stormed back from a 3-1 deficit, tying the game on a solo shot by Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth before Josh Fields served up back-to-back homers by Jose Altuve (al-TOO’-vay) and Carlos Correa in the top of the 10th. Yasiel Puig (YAH’-see-ul pweeg) countered with a solo blast leading off the bottom of the 10th, but Houston was one out from a 5-4 win until Enrique Hernandez poked an RBI single to extend the game.

Joc Pederson and Corey Seager also went deep for the Dodgers, who were coming off a 3-1 victory in the opener.

Astros starter Justin Verlander had a no-hitter until Pederson’s solo shot in the fifth inning. Verlander also surrendered Seager’s two-run homer but no other hits in his six innings of work.

Winning pitcher Chris Devenski worked out of the 10th-inning jam but gave up Charlie Culberson’s blast in the 11th before closing out the win, striking out Puig to end it.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch has announced his starting pitchers for the next two games, saying Lance McCullers will pitch Friday and Charlie Morton will take the mound Saturday. The two were outstanding in Game 7 of the AL Championship, combining on a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over the Yankees.

Yu Darvish is slated to start Game 3 for the Dodgers, followed by Alex Wood.

Recent Headlines

18 hours ago in Local Sports, Northwest Sports, Professional, Sports

McKinstry lifts Tigers over Mariners 3-2 in 11 innings in ALDS opener

M's will face Tigers' ace Skubal in Sunday's game 2

3 days ago in Sports

Ravens rule out Lamar Jackson for Sunday’s matchup against the Texans

Lamar Jackson has been ruled out for Baltimore's game against Houston on Sunday after missing a week of practice because of a hamstring injury.

3 days ago in Sports

Schlittler’s playoff gem for Yankees against rival Red Sox prompts Boone to say `A star is born’

Making only his 15th major league start, Cam Schlittler struck out 12 in eight dominant innings Thursday night as the New York Yankees blanked Boston 4-0 to win their AL Wild Card Series in a deciding third game.

3 days ago in Sports

Cubs beat Padres 3-1 to win Wild Card Series, advance to NL Division Series against Brewers

Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an RBI single off a shaky Yu Darvish, and the Chicago Cubs shut down Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres for a clinching 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series on Thursday.

3 days ago in Sports

Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler takes down hometown Cleveland Guardians in Wild Card Series clincher

Playing in the ballpark where he attended many games as a youngster, second-year catcher Dillon Dingler hit a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning to lead the Detroit Tigers to a 6-3 victory over Cleveland in the decisive Game 3 of their AL Wild Card Series.