Dodgers-Astros World Series G4: In Real Life

Dodgers-Astros World Series G4: In Real Life

October 28th, 2017

The Dodgers defeated the Astros, 6-2, on Saturday night to win Game 4 of the World Series presented by YouTube TV in Houston. The best-of-seven Series is now tied at 2-2.
• World Series Gm 5: Tonight, 8 p.m. ET on FOX
MLB.com was on the scene at Minute Maid Park.
11:15 p.m. ET: Dodgers surge ahead in 9th behind Bellinger, Pederson
was 0-for-13 in the World Series before doubling and scoring in the seventh. Now, he's 2-for-his-last-2.
After singled and walked to open the ninth against Astros closer , Bellinger doubled to center field, giving the Dodgers a 2-1 lead. It was part of a five-run rally against Giles, who faced three batters and did not record an out, and Joe Musgrove, who coughed up 's three-run homer to make it a 6-1 Los Angeles advantage.
More than that, it formed a redemptive narrative for Bellinger, the National League's shoo-in Rookie of the Year. If Bellinger's offensive struggles are in the past, things may be looking up for the Dodgers.

10:29 p.m. ET: Logan's run! Dodgers strike back in 7th
A deflating sixth inning could have lingered for a Dodgers team that has not shown much ability to hit with runners in scoring position this Series. Instead, Los Angeles immediately rebounded, when singled home Cody Bellinger to tie the game at 1-1 in the seventh.
Bellinger had been 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts in the World Series when he doubled off the left-center-field wall with one out in the seventh. Astros manager A.J. Hinch came to the mound and, following a brief discussion with Charlie Morton, decided to lift his starter from the game for Will Harris.
The decision backfired two batters later when Forsythe laced his RBI single into center field, plating Bellinger with ease.

10:10 p.m. ET: Springer's dinger ends no-no, KOs Wood
There was little traffic on the bases during the first five innings at Minute Maid Park. That changed in the sixth, when the Astros cut down a run at the plate and scored one of their own.
In the top of the inning, fired home to retire , who was attempting to score on a Chris Taylor ground ball to the right side. Catcher applied the tag with plenty of time to spare, saving Charlie Morton what would have been his first run of the game.
Minutes later, crushed a solo home run for the first hit and run off Alex Wood, giving the Astros a 1-0 lead. It was the last pitch Wood would throw. Manager Dave Roberts exited the dugout almost immediately, replacing his starting pitcher with .

9:43 p.m. ET: Who will strike first? Starters lights-out through 5
Officially, there's a pitchers' duel brewing at Minute Maid Park. Charlie Morton faced the minimum through five innings on 50 pitches, retiring 14 straight following Chris Taylor's leadoff hit. The last 11 of those batters did not get the ball out of the infield. Morton has struck out seven.
Perhaps it's easier to put it this way: Morton is dominating.
In some ways, Dodgers starter Alex Wood hasn't looked quite so dominant, walking a pair and allowing more hard contact. (Through five innings, five of the game's six hardest-hit balls have come off Wood.) But the Dodgers left-hander hasn't allowed a hit or a run. It's a scoreless game heading to the sixth.
Keep your eyes glued on what just may be a classic in the making.

9:13 p.m. ET: Wood, Morton dueling early
If the Dodgers were concerned about Alex Wood heading into Game 4 -- he couldn't get past the fifth in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, his only previous postseason start -- the left-hander has eased their minds with three hitless innings. Wood has walked two, but faced just one batter over the minimum.
The Dodgers have needed it considering the mastery of Charlie Morton, who has retired eight straight since Chris Taylor led off the game with a single. It's scoreless in Houston after three innings.

8:20 p.m. ET: It's game time!
Once again, the Astros offered plenty of pomp and circumstance before Game 4. Seven-year-old Hailey Dawson, whose goal is to throw out a ceremonial first pitch with her 3D-printed robotic right hand at all 30 Major League ballparks, performed the honors at Minute Maid Park.
Then Charlie Morton took the mound, looking to guide the Astros to a 3-1 Series lead. He allowed a leadoff hit to Chris Taylor, whom catcher Brian McCann erased trying to steal second base to end the inning.
That brought the Astros to bat amidst a sea of orange. It's loud. It's electric. It's a critical Game 4 in Houston.

8 p.m. ET: Trae takes it all in 
Houston hip hop artist Trae Tha Truth performed at a pregame festival outside Minute Maid Park and took in the atmosphere on the field prior to Game 4. 

Photo: trae

7:55 p.m. ET: Jensen, Kimbrel honored for air-tight efforts
In a perfect pregame pick-me-up for the Dodgers, closer and Red Sox closer were presented Saturday with the highest honor for relievers. Kimbrel received the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award, while Jansen took home his second consecutive Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award. More >

MLB chief baseball officer Joe Torre attended the presentation, using the time first to catch up with former manager Jim Leyland, left, then with Rivera.
Photo: Torre-1280
7:32 p.m. ET: L.A. swarms the cage
Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner has 14 RBIs on 14 hits this postseason, and looked every bit the confident, red-bearded wonder that he is while taking pregame hacks during BP. Teammates Austin Barnes and Joc Pederson shared similar focus during their final Game 4 tuneups.

6:58 p.m. ET: Getting into the swing of things
While it's a safe bet that Dodgers Game 4 starter Alex Wood won't be tossing fat strikes across the heart of the plate, the Astros still looked sharp during this afternoon's BP in a quest to move to an unprecedented 8-0 at home during the postseason.

6:12 p.m. ET: Around the park
Astros infielders Alex Bregman and hugged it out during pregame warmups. On the other side, Dodgers right fielder -- and his blue mohawk -- were zoned in and all business during BP.
Photo: Bregman-Altuve-1280
Photo: Puig2-1280
Props to the staff at Minute Maid Park for scrumptious-looking eats during the Series. Guests of the Honda Club Level were treated to a baked potato station as part of their pregame munchies.
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The crowd started early at the Astros' merch store, with a line out the door and down the concourse more than two hours before first pitch.
Photo: TeamStore-1280
6:07 p.m. ET: Smiles for miles
Tonight's first-pitch honoree has quite the inspirational story, and a snazzy, World Series-themed hand to complement it.

• Cubs' Rizzo enjoys time at Play Ball event

5:27 p.m. ET: Is this guy just good at everything?
ALCS MVP , who pitched six innings during the Astros' World Series Game 2 win, went deep during BP. Verlander is earmarked for a Game 6 start should the Series get that far.

5:06 p.m. ET: Dodgers stay the course
Los Angeles revealed its Game 4 lineup, and, like the Astros, decided to stay with the same order as in Game 3. Lefty Alex Wood will get the start tonight, with first pitch just more than three hours away.

4:52 p.m. ET: Elsewhere in baseball ...
At 6-foot-5, the Big Hurt could make anyone feel small. A photo op with 4-foot-9 gymnast Simone Biles before boarding a flight to Houston though? Magic.

looks like he'd be fun to hang with, doesn't he? The Marlins star recently took his antics to the dance floor in a How-I-Spent-My-Offseason video worthy of awards.

4:39 p.m. ET: Houston, we have a lineup
The Astros decided not to fix what wasn't broken, unveiling a Game 4 lineup that mirrored Game 3, with the exception of starting pitcher Charlie Morton. More >

4:23 p.m. ET: The Commish speaks
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced on Saturday that Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel was suspended for five games to start the 2018 regular season following Gurriel's inappropriate actions during Friday night's Game 3. More >

3:50 p.m. ET: Keeping perspective, raising awareness
Former Commissioner Bud Selig drove MLB's initial involvement in the Stand Up To Cancer movement, which is still going strong years later. Fans in the ballpark for Game 4 will be provided with "I STAND UP FOR ____" placards at their seats, pre-filled or with the capability to personalize the name of a loved one.
Photo: stand up to cancer 1280
After the bottom of the fifth inning on Saturday night at Minute Maid Park, Major League Baseball, Stand Up To Cancer and MasterCard will conduct a traditional in-game moment, with players, umpires, coaches and a sellout crowd all pausing to hold up placards with the names of loved ones affected by cancer. The powerful moment will be aired live on FOX.  More >
2:51 p.m. ET: The roof, the roof, the roof is ... wait, what?
The Astros are so hot at home it apparently caused an alarm to go off. OK, that's probably not the real reason, but Minute Maid Park was briefly evacuated early this afternoon when the sirens sounded.
Photo: FireMMP-1280
2:03 p.m. ET: No off-days
One day after winning the Roberto Clemente Award for his community involvement and charity work, Cubs star was back on the grind, taking the field at a Play Ball event at the Astros' MLB Urban Youth Academy. Rizzo, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, Houston police chief Art Acevedo and fast-pitch softball star Jennie Finch were among the many attendees.

Photo: HOUPlayBall-1280
1:22 p.m. ET: Maid to succeed?
Houston has put together some pretty impressive postseason numbers at Minute Maid Park, and it's easy to see why the Astros are flying high after taking a 2-1 lead in the Series.

Still, every fan knows that in baseball, nothing is guaranteed:

1:12 p.m. ET: Pod squad
They're back! MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince and Richard Justice have plenty to talk about after the Astros pulled ahead in the World Series with a Game 3 win Friday. Check out the Morning Lineup podcast to hear the guys break down Friday's managerial pitching decisions, discuss the Astros' dominance at Minute Maid Park and offer other insights. More >
• LISTEN NOW: Morning Lineup podcast, Game 3 recap
Photo: podcast