The Houston Astros have the Dodgers right where they want them Thursday: on a plane heading to Houston with the World Series tied at a game apiece.
The Dodgers are likely to be shaking their heads the whole flight. Six outs away from a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven playoff, and with baseball’s best closer on the mound, the Dodgers let it get away in Game 2 Wednesday night on homers by Marwin Gonzalez, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and George Springer in the final three innings, allowing the Astros to escape with a 7-6 win in 11 innings.
The win was the first World Series victory in the 55-year history of the Astros franchise.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has until Friday, when the Series resumes at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, to figure out a way to rebound from a crushing defeat and ignite an offense that has scored eight of its nine runs against the Astros on homers.
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Adding to both the difficulty and the urgency for Roberts is that the Dodgers will have to do it in Houston, where the Astros have six wins without a loss in the postseason this year. With the next three games there, the Astros have a chance to end the Dodgers’ season before the weekend is over.
“All year long we’ve done a nice job of recovering, turning the page, whether it’s a big win or a tough loss,” Roberts said after the toughest loss of the Dodgers’ season.
“Whether we’re going up 2-0 and tied 1-1 going into Houston, I don’t think that’s going to change our mindset. We’ve got a very resilient group, a lot of guys that have been around.”
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The Astros said Wednesday’s outcome changed their mindset.
“The ability to win this game tonight, I mean you can’t quantify how much that means,” said Houston starter Justin Verlander, who gave up three runs — on two home runs — in six innings.
“We play so well at home. For everything to being going right for the Dodgers, late in their bullpen, and for us to come back and win this game?
“That’s a game-changer. That’s huge.”
Added Springer, whose two-run homer in the 11th proved to be the knockout punch: “For us to come into a tough place to play and play a very, very good team and split is absolutely huge. For us to be going home to our environment, to our crowd, is huge to have it tied at 1-1.”
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That might be an understatement.
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Astros center fielder George Springer celebrates his two-run home run against the Dodgers in the 11th inning of Game 2.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times )
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A Dodger fan watches Houston win Game 2 of the 2017 World Series 7-6 in the 11th inning to even the series at a game apiece at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans at Dodger Stadium react as Houston wins a Game 2 thriller, 7-6, in 11 innings.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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George Springer exults after his 11th-inning home run.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Disappointed Dodgers fans.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig strikes out to end the game.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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A happy Houston Astros fan at Dodger Stadium.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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George Springer and Cameron Maybin celebrate after a two-run homer by Springer off Dodgers reliever Brandon McCarthy in the 11th inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fan Ethan Czypinski, 7, of San Dimas wears his baseball glove under his World Series hat while watching a tense Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Kenley Jansen turns toward the outfield after giving up a game-tying homer to Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth inning.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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The throw to Astros catcher Brian McCann is too late as Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe scores in the 10th inning on a single by Enrique Hernandez to tie the Game 2 score at 5-5.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Yasiel Puig sits with his head in his hands after not being able to catch what turned into a ground-rule double off the bat of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the seventh inning.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig throws his glove in anger after not being able to catch a ground-rule double by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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A fan watches Houston take a 7-6 victory in 11 innings on Wednesday night.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers reliever Brandon McCarthy paces behind the mound as Astros center fielder George Springer circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the 11th inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers left fielder Charlie Culberson celebrates as he circles the bases after hitting a home run in the 11th inning to cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 7-6.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fans wave souvenir towels as they cheer on the Dodgers from the top deck section during Game 2 of the 2017 World Series.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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With his glove ready in the left field pavilion, a Dodgers fan cheers on the Dodgers while watching Game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe scores the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning after a hit by Enrique Hernandez.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Taylor can’t get to a home run by Houston’s Marwin Gonzalez during the ninth inning of Game 2.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Fan Angel Rodriguez of East Los Angeles wears his Dodgers pride on his face while watching Houston win 7-6 in the 11th inning to even the series.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Astros shortstop Carlos Correa greets teammate Marwin Gonzalez after he hit a solo home run off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning to tie the score, 3-3, and force extra innings.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Corey Seager reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against Astros pitcher Justin Verlander.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodger fans cheer in the left field pavilion as Corey Seager hits a two-run homer in the sixth inning for a 3-1 Dodgers lead in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series against the Astros at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodger fans cheer in the left field pavilion as Corey Seager hits a two-run homer in the sixth for a 3-1 Dodgers lead in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Andrew Vialpando, center, cheers with other Dodgers fans while watching the World Series at The Short Stop in Echo Park.
(Michael Owen Baker / For The Times)
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Corey Seager lets out a yell as he hits a two-run home run against Houston starting pitcher Justin Verlander in the sixth inning.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson celebrates after hitting a solo home run, which broke up Justin Verlander’s no-hit bid and tied the score, 1-1.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson connects for a solo home run against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Taylor is tagged out by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the fourth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodger starter Rich Hill watches as Justin Turner throws to first base after fielding Justin Verlander’s sacrifice bunt in the third inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Rich Hill delivers a pitch during the first inning of Game 2. Hill would work four innings, giving up one run on three hits, all in the third inning, while striking out seven.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes catches a foul ball hit by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the first inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig catches a fly ball hit by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa with his tongue out during the first inning of Game 2.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes falls the ground after catching a foul ball hit by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the first inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Actor Jason Bateman yells at Astros shortstop Carlos Correa during the first inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Fernando Valenzuela, Vin Scully and Steve Yeager walk off the field after the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The crowd cheers after honoring Vietnam veterans while country music star Brad Paisley sang the national anthem before Game 2.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers legends Vin Scully, left, and Fernando Valenzuela throw out the first pitch before the start of Game 2.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig sports a new dye job before the start of Game 2.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers ace Clayotn Kershaw meets with country singer Brad Paisley before the start of Game 2.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, share a light moment before the start of Game 2.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez, right, shares a light moment with hitting coach Turner Ward before the start of Game 2.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fan Wendy Perez, of Los Angeles, holds up 7-month-old son Ezra Perez, her “lucky charm,” in the upper level before watching the Dodgers play the Astros in Game 2.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A Corey Seager fan watches an Astros pitcher work out in the bullpen before Game 2.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Mike Eliason, dressed in a Justin Turner wig, high-fives Dodgers fans before Game 2.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fan Robbie Tabares, 6, of Whittier takes in the view of his first World Series from the upper deck.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers fans take photos before watching the Dodgers play the Astros in Game 2.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers season-ticket holder Gilbert Romero sports his Dodgers sombrero and beads in upper deck before the start of Game 2.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
In Houston, the Astros have a 1.17 earned-run average, are holding opponents to a .182 batting average and are striking out 10.8 batters per nine innings during the playoffs. The staff ERA is 6.30 on the road, where opponents are hitting more than 80 points higher.
In the American League Championship Series, Houston was swept — and outscored, 19-5 — by New York in three games at Yankee Stadium. Ending that road slump Wednesday swings some momentum to the Astros.
“Getting home is always nice,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “It’s going to be loud in front of our home crowd, that we’ve played tremendously well in front of.
”We’re all a little more comfortable in our routine, the backdrop, being in our own clubhouse.”
Kevin Baxter writes about soccer and hockey for the Los Angeles Times. He has covered seven World Cups, five Olympic Games, six World Series and a Super Bowl and has contributed to three Pulitzer Prize-winning series at The Times and Miami Herald. An essay he wrote in fifth grade was voted best in the class. He has a cool dog.
