Sizzling Kershaw pitches Dodgers to World Series lead

LOS ANGELES -- Seven scorching innings from starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw and home runs from Justin Turner and Chris Taylor lifted the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros in game one of the World Series on Tuesday.

The temperature at first pitch of 103 F (39 C) was a record for a Major League Baseball playoff game, and a fitting cauldron for the opening clash in the best-of-seven series between teams that each won more than 100 regular-season games.

Kershaw set the tone by retiring the first three Astros batters.

Then Dodgers centerfielder Taylor smacked a towering homer off the first pitch thrown by Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel to put Los Angeles up 1-0

It was only the fourth leadoff homer ever recorded in a World Series game one.

Keuchel, the 2015 American League Cy Young award-winner, settled down to retire Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig and the duel between Kershaw and Keuchel was on.

Three-time Cy Young award-winner Kershaw, making his first World series start, had faced just one batter over the minimum through the first three innings when Astros third baseman Alex Bregman broke through with a solo homer to lead off the fourth.

It was about the only hiccup for Kershaw, who surrendered three hits in seven innings with no walks and 11 strikeouts.

That's the most by a pitcher in the World Series since 2001 and was one shy of his own playoff record of 12. He threw 57 of his 83 pitches for strikes.

Keuchel delivered a solid performance himself, but after walking Taylor with two outs in the second he surrendered a two-run home run to Turner -- the walkoff hero of the Dodgers' game-two win over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship series.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch lifted Keuchel with two outs in the seventh, after he gave up a deep single to Corey Seager.

Reliever Brad Peacock ended the danger, but the Astros couldn't make a further dent.

Dodgers relief pitcher Brandon Morrow retired the side in the top of the eighth and closing pitcher Kenley Jansen set down three in the top of the ninth to send the crowd of 54,253 at Dodger Stadium into a frenzy.

The Dodgers will try to build on their 1-0 lead when they host game two on Wednesday.

They are in pursuit of a seventh franchise title, but their first since 1988 -- the last time they reached the championship series.

The Astros are seeking a first World Series title, having been swept in their only prior appearance in 2005.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Astros give Houston boost during Hurricane Harvey recovery

A World Series title would not heal the wounds of a city still coping with the destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey but the Houston Astros' run to the Fall Classic has given the city something to rally around.

The Astros will open the World Series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, almost exactly two months after Hurricane Harvey, the strongest hurricane to hit Texas in more than 50 years, made landfall.

"There's a lot of people that are really hurting right now in this city," said Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander, who was named the most valuable player of the American League Championship Series after a pair of dominant starts.

"And (reaching the World Series) gives the city something to rally around and gives people something to cheer for that otherwise may not have a lot to be hopeful for."


In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, which brought devastating wind and flooding to parts of Houston, the Astros have worn a simple patch on their uniform as a reminder of what the city lost.

The patch sits on the upper left side of their chests and features the word "STRONG" in white block letters between an Astros' logo and a rendering of the state of Texas.

Verlander has already said he would donate $100,000 and his postseason share to the "Hurricane Harvey Patriot Grant Program" that will help those families impacted by Harvey.

The longtime Detroit Tigers pitcher, who joined the Astros days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall in the hopes of chasing an elusive World Series ring, said he has enjoyed being part of a team that for some has provided a boost.

"To be part of that, no matter how big or small it is, whether you're the MVP or whether you are the last pitcher in the bullpen, that's something that you will never forget, and how this city embraces all of that, I'll never forget," said Verlander.

"And I'm so grateful for my time back then. And I think it gives me a different sense of what's going on here and now."

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Gene Cherry)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Baseball: Judge delivers again as Yankees get the verdict

New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge delivered once again with a home run that paved the way for a come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Houston Astros on Tuesday, squaring their best-of-seven American League Championship Series at 2-2.

With the Yankees trailing 4-0 in the seventh inning, the 6-foot-7 slugger sent a towering solo home run more than 400 feet over centerfield.


That one mighty hit from Judge, who hit a three-run homer and made two outstanding catches in Monday's 8-1 win over the Astros, ignited a subdued Yankee Stadium crowd and seemed to give the team belief.

The 25-year-old delivered an encore by tying the game with a double in the eighth before the Yankees went on to take the victory and even the series.

"It's pretty surreal to be honest," Judge told reporters.

"I've been in that situation in my head a thousand times, game on the line, but the dream's not the same as reality, being out there with that crowd and that atmosphere."

The California native has taken New York by storm, breaking the Major League Baseball record for home runs in a season by a rookie (52).

His 33 homers at home also eclipsed Babe Ruth's record for home runs by a Yankee at Yankee Stadium.

Judge is favorite to win the league Rookie of the Year award, and is also rated by some experts as a contender for most valuable player honors.

"I felt Aaron's home run lit a little spark," New York manager Joe Girardi told reporters. "That was a huge at-bat by Aaron to get us in that situation.

"I'm caught up in it (the excitement) like everyone else, anticipating he's gong to do something great because we've seen it so many times this year.

"It was (a) special (atmosphere) again tonight. Every home game has been special. I feel the fans are back."

The series continues with Game 5 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, when Houston will send their number one starter Dallas Keuchel to the mound, while the Yankees will start Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Baseball: Judge gets Yankees back in ALCS in 8-1 rout

Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer and made two outstanding catches in right field as the New York Yankees beat the Houston Astros, 8-1, in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series on Monday.

The Astros lead the series, 2-1, heading into Game 4 on Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.


Judge ensured Houston would not be going for the sweep by producing one of his best games of the postseason. He drew a walk in the third inning off Charlie Morton (0-1) and homered off Will Harris to highlight a five-run fourth.

In between plate appearances, Judge made a leaping catch at the base of the right field wall in the fourth to rob Yuli Gurriel of at least an extra-base hit and possibly a homer.

After homering, Judge raced in to make a diving catch on Cameron Maybin for the first out of the fifth.

Todd Frazier hit a three-run homer, Chase Headley had a run-scoring infield single and Frazier scored on a wild pitch as the Yankees snapped a seven-game losing streak in the ALCS.

CC Sabathia (1-0) allowed three hits in six scoreless innings and improved to 10-0 this season following a New York loss.

Morton allowed seven runs and six hits in 3-2/3 innings.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa were a combined 1-for-8, though Houston scored their lone run on a bases-loaded walk by Alex Bregman in the ninth.

In the second inning, following an infield single by Starlin Castro and a base hit by Aaron Hicks, Frazier hit a 2-2 fastball well into the right field seats.

The Astros threatened with two outs in the third by loading the bases on two walks and a single. Sabathia only needed two pitches to retire Correa on a soft popup.

Judge then made his leap in the fourth to catch Gurriel's fly ball.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Indians reach World Series by ousting Blue Jays

LOS ANGELES -- The Cleveland Indians are going to the World Series for the first time since 1997 after a 3-0 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto on Wednesday.

The Indians won the best-of-seven American League Championship Series four games to one and will host game one of the World Series on Tuesday against either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs knotted the National League Championship Series at two games apiece with a 10-2 victory in Los Angeles.

Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp belted solo home runs for the Indians, who are seeking their first World Series title since 1948 and third overall.

They have lost the World Series in 1954, 1995 and 1997.

Rookie pitcher Ryan Merritt, making his post-season debut and his second start in five major-league appearances, allowed just two hits in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander surrendered no walks and no runs, striking out three.

He needed only 31 pitches in retiring nine straight hitters over the first three innings.

"The emotions out there were kind of crazy at first," Merritt admitted. "But it settled down, just trusted myself, stayed within myself, tried not to let the crowd get to me too much, trusted my defense and just be myself out there."

Toronto starter Marco Estrada allowed five hits -- including both homers, and three runs in six innings.

Cleveland jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out single from Francisco Lindor and a double by Mike Napoli. Toronto leftfielder Ezequiel Carrera mis-handled the ball coming off the wall so the run was scored as unearned.

Santana's second homer of the playoffs came on a 1-0 pitch with one out in the third, and Crisp hit his second homer of the post-season on a drive to right with two out in the fourth.

This year will mark the first time in Indians club history that they will serve as hosts in the opening game of the World Series.

On the same night, the Cleveland Cavaliers will raise their championship banner on the opening night of the new NBA season -- the first crown for any Cleveland sports team in 50 years.

"I can't wait to see what it's like in Cleveland, honestly," said Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller, who was named Most Valuable Player of the series after producing 14 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings while allowing two hits, no walks and no runs. "Obviously they got a taste of the basketball championship. The crowds for the playoff games at home have been special. It's going to be a lot of fun."

- Cubs bats come alive -

While the Indians' dry spell is the longest in the American League, the Cubs have endured a mythic drought since last winning the World Series in 1908.

The Cubs looked to be in trouble after two straight shutout losses to the Dodgers put them in a 2-1 hole.

But after 21 scoreless innings, they exploded for four runs in the fourth inning that included a two-run homer by Addison Russell.

The Dodgers' 20-year-old rookie Julio Urias, who became the youngest pitcher to start a post-season game, had held the Cubs without a hit through three innings.

But Ben Zobrist led off the fourth with a bunt single, and moved to second on a base hit from Javier Baez. Zobrist scored on a single by Willson Contreras as the throw from leftfielder Andrew Toles was off target.

Baez scored on Jason Heyward's ground out and then 22-year-old shortstop Russell, who was 1-for-24 this post-season, homered to right-center.

Urias would depart before the end of the fourth, charged with four runs on four hits with four strikeout.

Pedro Baez replaced him and gave up a leadoff homer to Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the fifth.

The Dodgers pulled back two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

But Rizzo singled in two runs as the Cubs continued to pour it on with five runs in the sixth, some sloppy Dodgers defense helping them stretch their lead to 10-2.

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