Astros edge LA; one win from World Series

The Houston Astros are one win away from a maiden World Series title after a thrilling win over the LA Dodgers.

Alex Bregman, No 2, of the Houston Astros celebrates with teammates after hitting a game-winning single against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the World Series. Picture: Getty Images.

The Houston Astros escaped a thrilling home-run filled clash with a 13-12 extra-innings victory against Los Angeles Dodgers yesterday to be one win away from their maiden World Series title.

After blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning during which they had the Dodgers down to their final strike, Houston closed out one of the wildest games in World Series history when Alex Bregman hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning. It was the second-longest game in World Series history at five hours and 17 minutes

“Back and forth, the two best teams in baseball fighting to the very end and going toe to toe with each other,” Bregman said.

“Everybody was used on both teams, pretty much, every single player. It was special for us to come out on top.”

Each team had their left-handed aces on the mound to start the pivotal fifth game of the best-of-seven series but both the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and Astros’ Dallas Keuchel failed to produce the pitchers’ duel many had expected.

By the time the final out was recorded in a game that had it all and kept the capacity crowd on their feet most of the way, the Dodgers and Astros had combined for a whopping seven home runs, including a trio of three-run blasts. “It’s hard to put into words all the twists and turns in that game, the emotion, doing it at home, in front of our home crowd,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said.

The Astros, who lead the series 3-2, have two chances in Los Angeles to win their first World Series championship since the inception of the franchise 55 years ago.

Game six is scheduled for today in Los Angeles where the Dodgers will send Rich Hill to the mound while the Astros will counter with Justin Verlander.

Reuters