-0-

“Dodgers-So Close-Yet So Far”

-0-

I thought this World Series would go seven full games. Said that on Monday, before the opener, and still believe it now.

But what could have been a Dodgers 2-0 lead, disappeared just like that, as the Houston Astros sleeping bats awoke.

When they were done, they powered home runs all over Dodgers Stadium, shellshocked the LA bullpen, stunned the Dodgers dugout, and silenced the noisy fans wearing Dodgers Blue.

Houston, which hit (.273) this year on the road, teed off on any and all of the LA relievers, with bombs in the 9th-10th and 11th innings, getting home field advantage as they head back to Minute Maid Park.

The Astros have had heroes all year long. All showed up when they needed them the most last night. Jose Altuve, George Springer, Carlos Correa.

And there will be questions now asked of manager Dave Roberts? Were you manging on gut feelings, or on baseball matchup metrics?

Why would you double switch and pull your 39-home run hitting first baseman Cody Bellinger, out of the game?

And why did you burn up your bullpen so early?

Rich Hill, the starter, pulled after just 4-innings. The use of 8-reliefers in all, starting with Kenta Maeda. The decision to yank Brandon Morrow when he was cruising. And asking Kenley Jansen to go get 6-tough outs against their power laden Houston bunch of hitters.

When it was over, the bullpen let LA down, and then Josh Fields, and Brandon McCarthy had to pitch at the end, and that was their pitches flying over the fence in extra innings.

LA could have been on a plane heading to Houston with a 2-0 game lead. Now they have let the Astros back into this series.

Luckily Yu Darvish gets to start game three come Friday, and he won’t get intimidated pitching at Minute Maid Park, because he pitched lots of American League games while with the Texas Rangers.

Two really explosive teams. What looked like a pitchers duel, with LA leading, became home run derby with the Astros winning.

It was heart-stopping, it was a roller coaster ride of emotions.

The Dodgers so close to taking control of this, and now it seems so far away with the next three in the Lone Star state.

-0-0-0-0-

Please follow and like us: