What a game!

Astros epic Game 2 victory could be one of the most memorable in Houston sports history

Fred Faour
Oct 26, 2017, 2:26 am
Both Alex Bregman an Jose Altuve came up big Wednesday night. Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Mario Elie’s “Kiss of Death.” Billy Hatcher’s home run against the Mets. The Oilers leading 35-3. Stagger Lee. The touchdown that wasn't in Pittsburgh.

Houston sports history is littered with memorable moments, both good and bad. Wednesday’s 7-6 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the World Series ranks right up there.

If the Astros win this series, this will be the game everyone remembers, because it did not go the way anyone thought.

Justin Verlander, unbeaten as an Astro, left the game trailing 3-1. It felt just like Game 1 as the Dodgers’ seemingly unhittable bullpen took over.

But that’s why games played on paper mean nothing.

The Astros scratched out runs against the Dodgers amazing closer, Kenley Jansen, to tie the game.

Houston took a lead in the 10th, only to see Ken Giles give it back trying to work a second inning.

Then George Springer -- the same George Springer everyone wanted to see moved out of the leadoff spot -- came up with the biggest hit of the night in the 11th, and Chris Devenski -- despite giving a run back -- closed it out.

It was simply epic.

This is what sports is all about. Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, Springer, Marwin Gonzalez...Your best players making plays when it counts the most. This is why we go to the park, why we stay up all night; for these moments.

The unhittable Dodgers bullpen? Pounded, much like the unhittable Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel in the prior two series. The Astros bats, so dormant in Game 1 and for most of Game 2, woke up in a big way when it counted most.

The series now shifts to Minute Maid Park, and the Astros could conceivably close things out at home. While that is unlikely to happen, they now have a real shot to win the World Series for the first time in franchise history, all because of an epic, unforgettable night at Dodger Stadium.

The Astros have tied the series at 1-1. On the surface, that does not tell the story. The real story is the Astros won a game that won’t soon be forgotten. And if they go on to win the series, it is one that will stand up as one of the great moments in Houston sports lore.

The Astros have given this storm-ravaged city so many memorable moments. Wednesday they gave us one of the most amazing memories in the history of this city when it comes to sports. At least so far. Do we doubt there will be more?

A lot remains to be done. And in the end, it might not matter. But if they do win it all, this will be a game we never forget.

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Houston's bats have a hot night

Astros clobber Rangers to win series opener

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

After dropping two of three in Seattle, the Astros entered the regular season's final series still waiting to clinch their playoff berth. Luckily their matchup favored them, with four games against the 19-37 Rangers, which they have done well against in recent years. Here are highlights from the opener:

Final Score: Astros 12, Rangers 4.

Record: 29-28, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Cristian Javier (5-2, 3.48 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Lance Lynn (6-3, 3.32 ERA).

Astros put up 10 on Lynn 

Houston had no trouble getting acquainted with the Rangers' new stadium, jumping out to an early lead in the top of the first inning. After a lengthy at-bat against Lance Lynn, Jose Altuve reached on a one-out single, then scored from first on a two-out RBI-triple by Alex Bregman. They'd double their lead in the next at-bat on an error, making it 2-0.

They extended that lead even more in the next inning, getting back-to-back singles to start the inning to set up a big three-run dinger by George Springer to straightaway center-field to make it 5-0. Bregman added two more RBI to his night in the top of the fifth, capitalizing on a leadoff single by Michael Brantley by hitting a two-run homer to make it a 7-0 lead. Altuve would push the total to double-digits in the top of the sixth, lifting a three-run home run of his own to make it a 10- lead.

Javier with a decent start, bullpen closes out the win

Meanwhile, Cristian Javier was doing well on the mound against the Rangers. He allowed just three baserunners through the first five innings, a double in the first, a hit batter in the second, and a single in the fifth. He would falter a bit in the bottom of the sixth, allowing a leadoff single then a two-run homer, then later in the inning a sac fly, making it 10-3 before Houston would turn to their bullpen. Javier's final line: 5.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 HR, 95 TP.

Luis Garcia would get the final out of the sixth then returned for the bottom of the seventh, allowing a leadoff double that would score on a two-out RBI-double, making it a six-run game before Garcia finished the frame. Brooks Raley was the next reliever and notched two strikeouts in a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth.

Josh Reddick gave Houston two more insurance runs, joining the home run barrage with a two-run homer in the top of the inning to make it 12-4 going to the bottom half. Brandon Bielak was given a low-leverage opportunity to throw in the bottom of the ninth. He erased a two-out double for a scoreless inning to wrap up the lopsided win, lowering Houston's magic number to 1.

Up Next: The second game of this four-game set between Houston and Texas will start Friday at 7:05 PM Central at Globe Life Field. The pitching battle will be Kyle Cody (1-1, 1.53 ERA) for the Rangers and Jose Urquidy (1-1, 2.78 ERA) for the Astros.

astros recap astros score astros vs rangers rangers recap mlb mlb recap lance lynn george springer jose altuve alex bregman astros

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