WORLD SERIES GAME 2
Astros-Dodgers preview: Verlander tries to even the series
Oct 18, 2017, 6:05 am
The Astros and Dodgers play Game 2 of the World Series today. Here is a preview of the game. Check back during the game for inning by inning updates:
When: 7:09 p.m.
Where: Dodger Stadium.
TV: Fox Sports.
Streaming: Fox Sports Go.
Pitching matchup: Justin Verlander vs. Rich Hill.
Series: Dodgers lead 1-0.
The breakdown: The Astros bats struggled on the road again in Game 1, but a lot of that had to do with Clayton Kershaw, who was on his game. The matchup is much more favorable for the Astros tonight. Verlander has struggled in the World Series in the past, but he is on his game right now, and is 9-0 as an Astro. The Astros need this one in a big way; if they go down 0-2, their odds of winning the series are pretty slim. In 54 previous series where a team went down 0-2, they won just 11 times. Hill has been a solid find for the Dodgers, and is much better at Dodger Stadium than he is on the road. He is a curveball pitcher, and the Astros need to be much more patient at the plate. When they have struggled, it has been because they have been free swinging at trying to hit home runs. When they are playing their best, they look for pitches to drive, and if they don't get one, they try to make contact and pass it on to the next guy. They will need to do that tonight to send the series back to Minute Maid 1-1. A victory would be the first in the Series for the franchise; Houston is now 0-5.
Time/Date Site/Result Pitchers
Game 1 Tuesday Dodgers 3, Astros 1 Kershaw (W), Keuchel (L)
Game 2 Today, 7:09 p.m. Dodger Stadium Verlander vs. Hill
Game 3 Fri., 7:09 p.m. Minute Maid Park TBA
Game 4 Sat., 7:09 p.m. Minute Maid Park TBA
Game 5* Sun., 7:16 p.m. Minute Maid Park TBA
Game 6* Oct. 31 , 7:09 p.m. Dodger Stadium TBA
Game 7 * Nov. 1, , 7:09 p.m. Dodger Stadiun TBA
*-if necessary.
All games on Fox
Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.
Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.
The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.
Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.
Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.
Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.
Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.
Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.
Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.
Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.