World Series Game Three---Live Thread

[EasyAce]

A popup to shallow right, a grounder to the right field line and Altuve making the play on the
shift, long fly to right center that Springer has a couple of feet from the fence. The Dodgers
go in order.

No score, middle of the first, the Astros coming up to hit . . .

[EasyAce]

George Springer's leadoff double wasted on two ground outs and a fly out,
no score after one . . .

[EasyAce]

The Dodgers get a two-out single and a stolen base but that's all they get.
No score, middle of the second . . .

[EasyAce]

This one's hit deep to left, way back, going, going, it is gonnnnnnnnnnnnne, goodbye. Yuli Gurriel hits
a leadoff home run into the Crawford Boxes and the Astros take the early 1-0 lead to lead off the bottom
of the second . . .

[EasyAce]

A double to left, a walk, and a base hit off the wall for a long single sends home a run
and it's 2-0, Astros, with nobody out still in the bottom of the second . . .

[EasyAce]

Brian McCann lines an RBI single to right, it's 3-0, Astros, bottom of the second, still nobody
out, Darvish has no command tonight, the Dodger bullpen is starting to scramble . . .

[EasyAce]

A sacrifice fly makes it 4-0 Astros and chases Darvish out and Kenta Maeda in, Maeda gets the
inning-ending fly out but the Astros lead after two, 4-0 . . .

[EasyAce]

Game Two: Dodger manager Dave Roberts hooked Rich Hill in the fourth when Hill began losing
his command---and got roasted for it because of what eventually happened in the ninth.

Tonight: Roberts leaves Yu Darvish in to surrender four runs and didn't get his bullpen scrambling
until the second run was in on a night Darvish clearly didn't have his best stuff.

Hell if you do, hell if you don't, sometimes . . .

[EasyAce]

The long bottom of the second may have affect Lance McCullers, Jr.---he's just walked the bases loaded
with nobody out in the top of the third . . .

[EasyAce]

Joc Pederson dials Area Code 3-6-1 and a run comes home. Justin Turner grounds out to shortstop.
The Dodgers waste the bases loaded and nobody out. 4-1, Astros, middle three . . .

[EasyAce]

Kenta Maeda shakes off a two-out walk, fights Marwin Gonzalez into an inning-ending
ground out to first base, still 4-1, Astros after three . . .

[EasyAce]

With one out, Yasiel Puig shoots one under Alex Bregman's glove at third, it goes down the line
and hits the short wall; Puig thinks Bregman has the ball and hits the brakes past first, then
guns it for second but Carlos Correa grabbed the ball off the short wall, threw to second, Puig
sliding in head first gets tagged out by almost a hair. Then a fly out to right, side retired, still
4-1, Astros, middle four . . .

[EasyAce]

Leadoff base hit (Brian McCann), two swinging strikeouts (George Springer, Alex Bregman),
 and a force out at second, and the Astros are gone. They lead it 4-1 after four . . .

[EasyAce]

Joc Pederson a one-out double, but after a ground out Astro George Springer dives to catch
a line drive that had RBI hit on it, and it's still 4-1, Astros, middle five.

[EasyAce]

Dodger reliever Tony Watson with two out in the bottom of the fifth . . . Evan Gattis,
grounds one to the third base side of the mount, Watson has it and he throws wild past
first into right. Reddick on his horse and down the line, Puig late to retrieve the ball,
thinking the play would be made, his throw home strong but Reddick beats the throw,
it's 5-1, Astros, the play is ruled an infield hit for Gattis and an error on Watson on
the throw allowing the run. Marwin Gonzalez strikes out for the side. 5-1, Astros after
five.

[EasyAce]

The Dodgers open the top of the sixth with a walk (Corey Seager) and a double (Justin Turner)
for second and third, and with one out Lance McCullers, Jr. is coming out of the game and Brad
Peacock is coming in for the Astros . . .

[EasyAce]

Yasiel Puig drives in a run to score Seager, Turner to third, 5-2, Astros, two out in the bottom of
the third . . .

[EasyAce]

Turner scores on a wild pitch with Chase Utley pinch hitting, 5-3, Astros . . .

[EasyAce]

Dodger lefthander Tony Watson stays in to pitch to Brian McCann and retire him on a leadoff
popup in the bottom of the sixth, the Dodgers bringing in Brandon Morrow . . .

[EasyAce]

The Astros strand two as Brandon Morrow shakes off a one-out throwing error and a walk to strike
out Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa back to back . . . still 5-3, Astros, after six . . .

[EasyAce]

Yuli Gurriel leads off the bottom of the seventh with a double off the left field wall, Brandon Morrow
coming out of the game and Tony Cingrani the lefthander coming in to pitch for the Dodgers . . .

[EasyAce]

I'm just going to share my game notes for the bottom of the seventh so far:

Yasmani Grandal catching for the Dodgers. Andre Ethier in left field. Stripling (R)
and Cingrani (L) warming up for the Dodgers. Yuli Gurriel---first pitch swinging
and it's a drive to left, off the wall on the fly, he slides into second with a leadoff
double. Tony Cingrani pitching for the Dodgers. Josh Reddick---ball one high; he
fouls one off; he bunts and pops it up toward first, Bellinger racing in, diving, gets
it right before it hits the grass, one away. Evan Gattis---handed an intentional
walk. Marwin Gonzalez---looks at strike one; popped it up . . . right side, Utley
on the grass, calls everyone off, two away.  Brian McCann---swinging strike one;
ball one misses inside; grounds one to first, Bellinger gets a great jump and lunge
but it's off Bellinger's glove, the bases are loaded, it's ruled an infield hit. Ross
Stripling pitching for the Dodgers with George Springer coming up . . .

[EasyAce]

Springer gives it a ride but Chris Taylor runs back and catches it with his back almost
against the wall and the Astros strand the bases loaded. 5-3, Astros after seven . . .

[Bigun]

Springer gives it a ride but Chris Taylor runs back and catches it with his back almost
against the wall and the Astros strand the bases loaded. 5-3, Astros after seven . . .

I'm watching.  Appreciate your commentary.

[EasyAce]

Brad Peacock fights Cody Bellinger back to strike him out for the side, three up,
three down for the Dodgers, 5-3 Astros, middle eight . . .

[EasyAce]

Ross Stripling shakes off a two-out base hit to retire the side, 5-3 Astros after eight . . .

[EasyAce]

Yasmani Grandal gave it a fight but he flies out to right, and the Astros win Game Three on a
virtuoso relief turn from Brad Peacock. It's the first time the Astros have won a World Series
game at home. 5-3, Astros your final from Minute Maid and a 2-1 World Series lead . . .

[Bigun]

And AJ is now managing the pitching staff with his gut instead of the stat sheet!

And I LOVE it!

[EasyAce]

No matter how many guys he had throwing in the pen the rest of the way, from the moment
Peacock came into the game Hinch might as well have had the Minute Maid Park PA system
purr, "The following program is brought to you in living colour on B-R-A-D" . . .

[EasyAce]

And AJ is now managing the pitching staff with his gut instead of the stat sheet!

The stat sheet has its uses, and it's a fool who doesn't use those uses.

But notice two things:

a) Hinch was willing to trust his vision and Dave Roberts---who should have seen Darvish
had nothing after not having pitched since Game Three of the NLCS---wasn't. Why else
would Roberts let Darvish get pounded for four runs in the second on a night when he
clearly didn't have even his C+ game?

b) The two most important games of the Astros' season---Game Seven of the ALCS, and
now Game Three---were saved by starting pitchers. No matter how many men he
warmed up along the way, Hinch still doesn't really trust his actual bullpen. Not even Ken
Giles.

And, it begs a question:

c) For Game Four, where does Hinch turn if the Dodgers get frisky against Charlie Morton?
He won't go to Peacock after tonight's three and two thirds. And he doesn't trust most of
the rest of his pen. Game Four should prove to be a very interesting chess match . . .

[SZonian]

Thanks @EasyAce , I appreciate your play by play...well done!  Let's go 'Stros!

[EasyAce]

Yuli Gurriel got a little stupid after hitting the home run . . .

[Bigun]

The stat sheet has its uses, and it's a fool who doesn't use those uses.

But notice two things:

a) Hinch was willing to trust his vision and Dave Roberts---who should have seen Darvish
had nothing after not having pitched since Game Three of the NLCS---wasn't. Why else
would Roberts let Darvish get pounded for four runs in the second on a night when he
clearly didn't have even his C+ game?

b) The two most important games of the Astros' season---Game Seven of the ALCS, and
now Game Three---were saved by starting pitchers. No matter how many men he
warmed up along the way, Hinch still doesn't really trust his actual bullpen. Not even Ken
Giles.

And, it begs a question:

c) For Game Four, where does Hinch turn if the Dodgers get frisky against Charlie Morton?
He won't go to Peacock after tonight's three and two thirds. And he doesn't trust most of
the rest of his pen. Game Four should prove to be a very interesting chess match . . .

I think he still has a few ex starters in the BP that are just itching for a go in the series!

Liriano, Clippard, and Joe Muscrove come to mind.

[EasyAce]

I think he still has a few ex starters in the BP that are just itching for a go in the series!

Liriano, Clippard, and Joe Muscrove come to mind.

Tyler Clippard isn't even on the Astros' postseason roster. That's what a 6.00+ ERA
as an Astro got him.

The Dodgers should probably pray to see Liriano and Musgrove, neither of whom
has been pitching particularly well in this postseason. I noticed both Liriano and
Musgrove were warmed up for a spell or two Friday night, and if Hinch brought either
one of them in they would have measured him for a necktie party with Peacock pitching
as well as he pitched. If the Dodgers really want a feast, they should be praying to
see Musgrove, who had a 4.77 ERA on the season and is home run prone--he gave
up 18 on the season. Liriano had a 5.66 ERA on the season.

[DCPatriot]

Tyler Clippard isn't even on the Astros' postseason roster. That's what a 6.00+ ERA
as an Astro got him.

The Dodgers should probably pray to see Liriano and Musgrove, neither of whom
has been pitching particularly well in this postseason. I noticed both Liriano and
Musgrove were warmed up for a spell or two Friday night, and if Hinch brought either
one of them in they would have measured him for a necktie party with Peacock pitching
as well as he pitched. If the Dodgers really want a feast, they should be praying to
see Musgrove, who had a 4.77 ERA on the season and is home run prone--he gave
up 18 on the season. Liriano had a 5.66 ERA on the season.

Strange....he was definitely a fan favorite in D.C. during his stint with the NATS.

IMO, too many don't realize that what's going on between the ears...life... can adversely affect your timing/concentration.

He rode lightening in Washington for a stint.   Sad to read that he couldn't even make a postseason roster.