Astros walk off in extra inning shootout, take 3-2 series lead into LA

The Houston Astros find themselves one win away from capturing their first World Series title in franchise history after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 13-12 in a wild game five on Sunday night.

In the top of the first inning the Dodgers jumped out to an early lead. After Astros starter Dallas Keuchel allowed three of the first four batters to reach base, Logan Forsythe made him pay with a two out single that scored two, putting the Dodgers ahead 2-0. They would add another run when Keuchel had Forsythe picked off before he took off for second base and would eventually slide in safe on a wide throw from first baseman Yuli Gurriel, allowing Enrique Hernandez to score from third.

The Dodgers would add another run in the top of the fourth inning. Austin Barnes hit a two out single to left field off of Keuchel to bring home Forsythe from second and put the Dodgers up 4-0. After allowing another single to the next batter Keuchel’s night was finished. He pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking two.

Dodgers Starter Clayton Kershaw looked to be lights out through his first three innings. However, the Astros bats woke up in the bottom of the fourth inning.

With runners on first and second and one out, Carlos Correa smacked a double down the left field line to score George Springer from second base and close the Dodgers lead to 4-1. The very next batter Gurriel took Kershaw deep off the top of the wall behind the Crawford Boxes in left field at Minute Maid Park to tie the game at four.

The Dodgers would reclaim the lead in the top of the fifth inning. Cody Bellinger became the youngest player to homer in a World Series game since Miguel Cabrera in 2003 with his three run shot to right center off of reliever Colin McHugh to go up 7-4.

After Kershaw walked two straight batters in the bottom of the fifth inning with two outs, manager Dave Roberts decided to pull him. His final line on the night was 4 2/3 innings pitched allowing six runs on four hits while striking out two and walking three.

Jose Altuve would be reliever Kenta Maeda’s first test with two on and two out. After just pulling a home run wide left of the foul pole on the previous pitch, Altuve straightened out a 3-2 fastball and took Maeda deep to center field which would tie the game at seven.

Then in the top of the seventh inning, Bellinger stepped up and hit a soft line drive to center field that center fielder Springer dove for and come up short with, letting the ball roll to the wall. This allowed Hernandez to score from first and Bellinger to end up on third.

However, Springer redeemed himself in the bottom of the seventh. He destroyed a first pitch fastball from reliever Brandon Morrow that wound up over the train tracks in left field to tie the game at eight.

The hit parade continued. Alex Bregman smacked a single to center field on the next pitch off of Morrow and would be hit home by the following batter Altuve on a double to left field, putting the Astros up 9-8. Still with no outs in the seventh, Correa stepped up and hit a towering fly ball to left field that found its way into the Crawford Boxes for a home run, putting the Astros up 11-8.

Then in the top of the eighth, Corey Seager doubled home Joc Pederson to cut the deficit to 11-9.

The Astros would find a way to get the run back in the bottom of the eighth. Veteran Brian McCann pulled a one out solo home run to right field to give the Astros a 12-9 lead going into the ninth inning.

However, the Dodgers showed no sign of backing down against the struggling Astros bullpen. With one on and one out Yasiel Puig hit a home run to left field to make it a 12-11 game. The next batter Barnes doubled to center field and would advance to third on a ground out. With two outs and two strikes Chris Taylor tied the game with a single to center field.

After the Dodgers were sent down in the top of the 10th inning the Astros found life with two outs in the bottom half. McCann was hit by a pitch that was followed by Springer walking. The Astros put Derek Fisher on second to pinch run for McCann in hopes of a base hit to the outfield. Thanks to Bregman, their hopes were answered.

Bregman hit the walk-off base hit to left field off of Kenley Jansen to give the Astros the win 13-12 in yet another instant classic featured in this years World Series.

The Astros became the first in World Series history to have five different players hit a home run in a single game, according to ESPN. The Dodgers and Astros have also combined to set the record for most home runs in a World Series with 22 through five games, surpassing the previous record of 21 by the Angels and Giants in 2002, a series that lasted a full seven games.

Game six will feature a rematch of game two when Justin Verlander of the Astros will take the bump to try to deliver the Astros their first ever world title as he faces Rich Hill of the Dodgers. Justin Verlander has pitched 19 2/3 innings in series-clinching games over his career while posting a 3-0 record and allowing one run in such games, according to baseball reference.

Game six will be played on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Game time is set at 8:20 p.m. and can be seen on FOX.