Ohtani moving to Dodgers in record 10-yr, $700-M deal

LOS ANGELES -- Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani confirmed on Saturday he is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers in a record-shattering 10-year, $700 million deal -- the richest contract in the history of North American sport.

After weeks of frenzied speculation over where the 29-year-old Los Angeles Angels two-way ace would land in free agency, Ohtani announced on Instagram he had opted for his former club's cross-town rivals.

"To all the fans and everyone involved in the baseball world, I apologize for taking so long to come to a decision," Ohtani wrote on Instagram. "I have decided to choose the Dodgers as my next team.

"I pledge to always do what's best for the team and always continue to give it my all to be the best version of myself.

"Until the last day of my playing career, I want to continue to strive forward not only for the Dodgers but for the baseball world," Ohtani added.

Ohtani's agent Nez Balelo said in a statement the deal would be worth $700 million over 10 years, a historic figure that smashed the previous record baseball contract as well as bettering the largest deals ever agreed in the NFL and NBA.

Balelo described Ohtani's mammoth payday as a "unique historic contract, for a unique historic player."

"Shohei is thrilled to be a part of the Dodgers organization," Balelo said. "He is excited to begin this partnership."

The previous largest contract awarded in baseball was the 12-year, $426.5 million extension handed to Ohtani's Angels team-mate Mike Trout in 2019.

Until Ohtani's deal, the largest contract in any sport in North America belonged to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who agreed a 10-year, $450 million extension in 2020.

Mahomes was among several US sports stars to react to news of Ohtani's gargantuan payday.

"Bro like what!...Congrats to him," the NFL star wrote on social media.

Cleveland NBA star Donovan Mitchell chimed in: "$700 million is crazy!! And he deserves every penny of that too."

Ohtani has taken Major League Baseball by storm since landing in the league in 2018, with his almost unheard of combination of elite pitching and hitting prowess earning him comparisons to Babe Ruth.

- Making history -

Although his talents were not enough to help spark a revival in the Angels' fortunes – the team failed to make the playoffs following his arrival – Ohtani nevertheless dazzled in a flagging franchise.

He has twice been named American League Most Valuable Player, in 2021 and 2023, on both occasions winning by unanimous vote – the only player in history to achieve that distinction.

Although elbow injuries have cut short his pitching appearances – he missed the final month of the 2023 campaign with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow – this season was his most successful to date.

As a designated hitter, Ohtani led the AL in home runs with 44, in on-base percentage (.412), slugging percentage (.654) and total bases (325).

He hit 26 doubles and eight triples with 20 stolen bases and 95 runs-batted-in. He hit over .300 for the first time in his six-year major league career.

In 23 pitching starts he went 10-5 with a 3.14 earned-run-average and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings.

He had the lowest batting average against (.184) among all AL pitchers with at least 130 innings.

It marked Ohtani's second straight season with at least 10 wins on the mound and 10 home runs at the plate.

The only other player to accomplish that feat was New York Yankees legend Ruth back in 1918.

Although revered as a dual threat, Ohtani will not pitch in 2024 to help his arm recover but will still be able to hit.

Even though he will be absent from the mound next season, his offensive talents and future pitching potential proved irresistible to the Dodgers.

Ohtani's departure from the Angels had become inevitable as the franchise struggled for relevance during the Japanese star's six seasons with the club.

In that time the Angels failed to reach the postseason or even register a winning season.

But while Ohtani was frustrated in his pursuit of success with the Angels, he was the driving force behind Japan's victory in the World Baseball Classic in March.

He helped close out a fairytale 3-2 victory for Japan over the United States in the final of the showpiece in Miami, striking out Angels teammate and US captain Mike Trout to clinch his country's third WBC victory following triumphs in 2006 and 2009.

As well as being a standout on the field, Ohtani has also been a one-man commercial juggernaut off the field. He reportedly made a one-season MLB record $65 million in salary and endorsements these season, making him the highest paid player in baseball.

He also had the best-selling jersey of any Major League Baseball player this season -- the first time a Japanese player topped the list.

Agence France-Presse

Red Sox beat Dodgers to take stranglehold on World Series

LOS ANGELES - The Boston Red Sox overcame a late four run deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-6 in Game Four of the World Series on Saturday and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Red Sox scored five runs in the top of the ninth behind RBI hits by Rafael Devers, Steve Pearce and Xander Bogaerts to complete the comeback and put themselves one win away from their fourth World Series title since 2004.

The Dodgers appeared to have the game in hand when Yasiel Puig smashed a three-run home run in the sixth inning to give the home team a 4-0 lead.

But Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pulled starting pitcher Rich Hill in the seventh inning and struggling reliever Ryan Madson gave up a three-run home run to pinch hitter Mitch Moreland later in the inning to cut the Dodgers lead.

Roberts brought Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in to try and pitch out the final two innings but the move backfired when Steve Pearce hit a solo home run to tie the game at 4-4.

The floodgates opened for Boston in the top of the ninth with the biggest hit coming from first baseman Pearce, who hit a bases-loaded double to drive in Devers, Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi in the five-run ninth.

Kiki Hernandez cut the lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of half of innings but it was not enough for the Dodgers, who are trying to win their first title in 30 years.

Game Five will be played at Dodger Stadium on Sunday. 

(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)

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World Series: Dodgers' marathon win over Red Sox smashes records

It took 18 innings -- seven hours and 20 minutes -- for the Los Angeles Dodgers to claw their way back into the 2018 World Series with a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The teams combined to use 46 players, 27 position players and 19 pitchers -- if you count Dodgers' ace Clayton Kershaw's pinch-hit at-bat.

Max Muncy brought the proceedings to a close with a walkoff home run off Red Sox reliever Nathan Eovaldi, who came on in the 12th inning and threw 97 pitches -- compared to the 61 of Red Sox starter Rick Porcello.

In the immediate aftermath, Red Sox manager Alex Cora couldn't say who he'd be sending to the mound in game four on Saturday, when he'd planned to have Eovaldi as his starter.

"How do you spell that, "TBA"? TBA," Cora quipped.

The game surpassed the San Francisco Giants' six-hour, 23-minute victory over the Washington Nationals in the 2014 National League Division Series as the longest in Major League post-season history.

The longest prior World Series game was five hours and 41 minutes -- the Chicago White Sox's 14-inning win over the Houston Astros in game three in 2005.

"To be honest, as the game kept going, you look up and see the 18th inning and you're like, holy cow, where did the game go?

"Those last nine innings or so just kind of blended together."

By the end of the contest -- at 12:30 a.m. Saturday -- the record-setting exploits of the Dodgers' starting pitcher Walker Buehler were a fading memory.

The 24-year-old rookie right-hander needed 26 pitches to retire the first three batters he faced -- the most thrown in a 1-2-3 inning in post-season history.

He became the youngest Dodgers pitcher to throw six or more scoreless innings in a World Series game since Johnny Podres in 1955.

The rookie right-hander joined Roger Clemens (game two, 2000) and Don Larsen (game five, 1956) as the only pitchers to throw seven or more scoreless innings while allowing two or fewer hits in a World Series game.

Buehler threw 108 pitches, 72 of them for strikes. He struck out seven and walked one, retiring his last 14 batters after surrendering two hits in the third inning.

And Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who was able to keep game four starter Rich Hill in reserve along with Ryu Hyun-Jin, thought his pitching staff was in good shape heading into Saturday.

"Considering what we went through tonight, we're in good shape with our pen, we really are," Roberts said. "Obviously Rich is going to have to come out there and get some outs.

"Considering where we're at, down 2-1, home crowd behind us, I think there's a little bit of momentum on our side."

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Red Sox dump Dodgers to take control of World Series

BOSTON -- David Price and three relievers pitched 5 1/3 perfect final innings and J.D. Martinez singled in the deciding runs Wednesday as Boston defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 to seize command of the World Series.

The Red Sox grabbed a 2-0 edge in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final, which shifts to California for game three Friday with Boston a perfect 5-0 in road playoff games.

"We're playing good baseball," Price said. "We've got to keep it going."

Price, a 33-year-old US left-hander, baffled Dodgers batters much of the night with five strikeouts and three walks over six innings, surrendering his only two runs and three hits in the fourth.

"I take a lot of pride of being able to evolve from pitch to pitch, being able to adjust, and I did that really well," Price said.

"I made a lot of good pitches that inning. They hit some. That was a tough inning, it could have spun out of control pretty fast. Being able to stop it at two right there, that was big for us."

Designated hitter Martinez, with the season's second-best major league batting average, hit a bases-loaded single to right in the fifth to plate the winning runs -- three hits and two walks coming with two outs.

"That was a perfect example of grinding at-bats out, getting guys on and finding ways to score," Martinez said.

Price was then followed by Boston relievers Joe Kelly, Nathan Eovaldi and Craig Kimbrel in retiring the final 16 Dodgers batters over the last 5 1/3 innings to secure the Red Sox 100th all-time playoff victory on a cold and windy night at Fenway Park.

"We pitched extremely well. David was amazing. And then the bullpen did what they've been doing," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "David is a huge part of what we're trying to accomplish. Without him going six, it was going to be tough."

A long way to go'

Price, who lost his first 11 career playoff starts before beating Houston last week in the American League finals, threw 58 of his 88 pitches for strikes.

"Give credit to Price. He made pitches when he needed to. We had him on the ropes. We stressed him," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "The difference is they got the big hit when they needed it and we didn't."

Eovaldi's stint as a reliever likely means Boston right-handed pitcher Rick Porcello will start game three against Dodgers' rookie righty Walker Buehler at Dodger Stadium on Friday as Los Angeles tries to win its first World Series since 1988.

"We've got to find a way to win a game," Roberts said. "We're not swinging the bats well right now. That's obvious. But getting home, I think we'll be ready for game three."

Roberts will insert left-handed batters in the lineup that he removed for games against lefty pitchers in Boston.

"We're going to shuffle it up," said Roberts. "When guys are in there they've just got to be productive. We've got a lot of good players and we've got a long way to go."

In World Series history, 43 of 54 teams with a 2-0 lead, just under 80 percent, have won the crown, doing so in each of the past 10 opportunities.

The Red Sox, seeking their ninth title and fourth in 15 seasons, improved to 9-0 in the playoffs when scoring first. They led the major leagues this year at 74-15 when scoring first.

Ryu takes the loss

Dodgers left-hander Ryu Hyun-jin became the first South Korean starter in a World Series but took the loss.

Boston opened the scoring in the second inning when Xander Bogaerts doubled and scored on Ian Kinsler's single.

The Dodgers struck in the fourth on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Matt Kemp and a Yasiel Puig run-scoring single up the middle to give the Dodgers their only lead at 2-1.

That set the stage for Christian Vazquez and Mookie Betts singles and an Andrew Benintendi walk to load the bases. Reliever Ryan Madson replaced Ryu but walked Steve Pearce to force in the tying run, then surrendered the decisive single by Martinez.

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Baseball: Tennis champion King joins LA Dodgers ownership group

Tennis Hall of Famer and social activist Billie Jean King has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as a minority owner, the Major League Baseball franchise announced on Thursday.

King, born and raised in southern California, said she and her partner Ilana Kloss were delighted to join an organization she perceived to be socially progressive.

"The entire Dodger organization are a first-class operation that have proven to be leaders in sports on and off the field of play," she said.

"We share a commitment to equality and inclusion, including the LGBTQ community, and we hope to further expand the team's efforts in those areas as we move forward together."

Team owner and chairman Mark Walter welcomed King.

"Just like Billie Jean and Ilana, the Dodger franchise has a history of and commitment to breaking barriers, inclusion and winning, and we're looking forward to them continuing to promote these attributes within our organization," Walter said.

King, 74, won 12 grand slam titles, including Wimbledon six times.

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Astros beat Dodgers for maiden World Series title

LOS ANGELES -  The Houston Astros won the World Series on Wednesday on the back of a two-run home run by George Springer that busted the game open and lifted the team to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Seven.

The Astros clinched the best-of-seven series 4-3 for the first franchise title in a 55-year existence, and did so against a Dodgers team that had Major League Baseball's best regular season record.

The Astros jumped on Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish early, scoring all five runs in the first two innings before riding a long string of relief pitchers to the win at Dodger Stadium.

"I think this is the happiest moment of my life in baseball," Astros second baseman Jose Altuve said on the field after the final out.

"We did this for them," he said of the fans in Houston, who are still recovering from the deadly Hurricane Harvey in August.

"There has been a lot going on in Houston the last year (and) they are the biggest reason why we are here."

   
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the team was proud of the part it played in lifting the spirits of the city.

"This team loves playing in Houston and we're going to love bringing this World Series trophy back to Houston," he said.

The signs for the Dodgers were ominous early as World Series most valuable player Springer got the Astros off to an excellent start when he laced a leadoff double to left field corner and later scored the game's first run on a throwing error by Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger.

Alex Bregman scored on a ground ball hit by Altuve that gave the Astros a 2-0 lead before the Dodgers had even came up to bat.

Darvish issued a leadoff walk to Astros catcher Brian McCann to start the second inning and scored on a soft ground ball by pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. to make it 3-0.

Springer stepped to the plate with one on and two out in the inning and blasted his fifth home run of the World Series for a 5-0 advantage, chasing Darvish, who ended an ignominious World Series after a similarly disastrous start in Game Three.

"My approach was to get something out over the plate, get something I could drive," Springer said of his two-run shot.

"And I just remember swinging and hearing the sound of the bat, and I knew it was a good sound."

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw took the mound in the third inning and threw four scoreless innings to keep his team in the game but the Los Angeles offense failed to convert hits into runs.

The National League champions were unable to capitalize on their many opportunities, stranding 10 baserunners.

The Dodgers scored their lone run in the sixth inning when pinch hitter Andre Ethier hit a ground ball that found a hole on the right side to score Joc Pederson.

"It hurts, it's suppose to hurt but there is nothing to regret when you leave all out there," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters.

"It was a long season and we stayed together, fought until the end and we came up a little short but there is nothing for us to hang our heads about," he said.

"The Astros are a great team and you have to tip your hat because they earned it."

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Andrew Both)

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World Series: Dodgers battle back to defeat Astros and force Game 7

LOS ANGELES --  Corey Seager's sixth inning sacrifice fly helped the Los Angeles Dodgers eke out a come-from-behind 3-1 Game 6 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday to force a World Series decider.

Seager's deep fly ball to right field allowed Chase Utley to scamper home for the go-ahead run, igniting the sold-out crowd of 54,128 as the Dodgers tied the series up at 3-3 to set up Wednesday's winner-take-all showdown.

Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor continued his clutch hitting in the post-season, tying the game 1-1 earlier in the inning with a double down the right field line off of losing pitcher Justin Verlander.

"I was just trying to put a ball in play," Taylor said.

"He's really tough with that fastball up in the zone and a good slider. I was just trying to get the barrel on the ball and hope for something good and it worked out for me," he said.

Taylor has reached base safely 26 times this post-season, a franchise record.

Dodgers slugger Joc Pederson hit a solo 373-foot blast in the bottom of the seventh to provide the National League champions with an insurance run, and reliever Kenley Jansen came in during the eighth inning for a drama-free six-out save.

The loss was the first of the post-season for the hard-throwing Verlander, who had a no decision in Game 2.

   
Dodgers starter Rich Hill was sharp but gave up a solo home run to center fielder George Springer in the third inning for a 1-0 Astros lead and was pulled with two outs in the fourth.

Dodgers reliever Tony Watson, who came into the game in the top of the sixth inning and escaped a two on-two out jam, was the winning pitcher.

The defensive play of the game came in the top of the seventh when the Astros had runners on first and third with two outs, and second baseman Jose Altuve hit a soft ground ball to Justin Turner.

The third baseman charged to pick up the ball and make a quick throw to first baseman Cody Bellinger, who took it on the hop to get the speedy Altuve and keep the Dodgers 2-1 in front.

Game 7 will pit the Dodgers' Japanese right-hander Yu Darvish against Astros curve-ball specialist Lance McCullers Jr.

Darvish had a nightmare start in Game 3 in Houston, where he could not get out of the second inning in the shortest start in his major league career.

McCullers had a solid outing for the first five innings of the same game before losing his accuracy in the sixth inning.

Wednesday's game will be the first-ever World Series Game 7 played at Dodger Stadium and will either see the hosts win a first title since 1988 or the American League champion Astros bag a first-ever crown in their 55-year history.

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Astros win thriller, on brink of World Series crown

HOUSTON -  The Houston Astros escaped a thrilling home-run filled clash with a 13-12 extra-innings victory against Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday 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.

"Back and forth, the two best teams in baseball fighting to the very end and going toe to toe with each other," Bregman told reporters. "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.

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

"We knew going into this series, this is the best offensive ballclub that we were going to see all year. And they can slug you. They spoil pitches. They're athletic. And credit to them," said Dodges manager Dave Roberts. "But our guys did the same thing. They just got the hit when they needed."

After rallying back from four, three and one-run deficits, Houston finally pulled in front when Jose Altuve's run-scoring double made it 9-8 just two batters after George Springer tied the game with a solo shot.

Carlos Correa's two-run homer before the inning was over stretched the Astros lead to three but Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager doubled in a run in the top of the eighth to pull his team to within 11-9.

On a night when no lead was safe, the Astros fans remained a tense bunch even after Brian McCann's eighth-inning homer gave the Astros their biggest lead of the night, 12-9.

But the drama was only getting started as the Dodgers stormed back in the ninth compliments of Yasiel Puig's two-run shot and a run-scoring single from Chris Taylor before sending it to extra innings.

Kershaw, who enjoyed a pitching masterclass in the series opener, was locked in early but the wheels came off and by the time he left the game had allowed six runs and four hits with two strikeouts and three walks over 4-2/3 innings.

Keuchel also had a rough night as he loaded the bases in the first before a Logan Forsythe single scored a pair. The Dodgers added another before the frame was done and Keuchel left the game after allowing four runs on five hits through 3-2/3 innings.

"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," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch.

"Just exactly what you expect to come to the park with Keuchel and Kershaw pitching. Just a perfect setup game for a bunch of runs," he added jokingly.

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

(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

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Dodgers beat Astros to level World Series at 2-2

HOUSTON - Joc Pederson's three-run shot in the ninth inning helped the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-2 win over the Houston Astros on Saturday to level the World Series at two games apiece.

With the teams tied 1-1 entering the final inning, the Dodgers got their noses in front through Cody Bellinger's run-scoring single before a sacrifice fly from Austin Barnes scored another.

Pederson then smashed a homer to right field to give the Dodgers a five-run lead and silence the home crowd.

With the Astros down to their final strike, Alex Bregman homered to left but it proved too little too late as their unbeaten home stretch in the postseason ended at seven games.

Game Five is scheduled for Sunday in Houston.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Astros beat Dodgers to grab 2-1 World Series edge

Houston's Yuli Gurriel smashed a home run off Japan's Yu Darvish, who endured the shortest start of his career in the biggest game of his life, and the Astros downed the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-3 Friday in the World Series.

Darvish lasted only 1 2/3 innings, the 31-year-old right-handed pitcher surrendering four runs on five hits in a nightmare second inning as the Astros seized a 2-1 edge in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final.

The 113th World Series continues Saturday at Houston with Dodgers left-handed pitcher Alex Wood (16-3) facing Astros right-hander Charlie Morton (14-7).

The Astros, who unleashed a 12-hit barrage against Los Angeles, seek the first crown in their 55-year history while the Dodgers try for a seventh championship and their first since 1988.

With the victory, the Astros matched the best home playoff start in major league history, Philadelphia's 7-0 run from 2008.

Darvish, obtained in a July trade with Texas, became only the second Japanese starting pitcher in a World Series game after former Boston Red Sox star Daisuke Matsuzaka in 2007.

Darvish had been 2-0 in this month's playoffs with 14 strikeouts and two runs allowed until his Houston humbling.

Cuban Gurriel began the second-inning onslaught with a solo homer. Josh Reddick followed with a double off the left-field wall. Evan Gattis walked and Venezuela's Marwin Gonzalez singled to score Reddick.

Brian McCann, Houston's weakest batter, singled to right field to drive in Gattis. Alex Bregman's sacrifice fly scored Gonzalez from third base for a 4-0 lead. Jose Altuve followed with a double and Los Angeles ended Darvish's misery, replacing him with compatriot Kenta Maeda.

Darvish threw 31 strikes in his 49 pitches but only one was a batter's swinging miss, that a botched bunt attempt by Gonzalez.

The Dodgers scored a run in the fourth after Astros starter Lance McCullers Jnr walked three batters to load the bases with none out, but Corey Seager's run-scoring double play and a Justin Turner ground out ended the threat.

Another Los Angeles chance fizzled in the fifth as Joc Pederson doubled, took third base on a ground out but was stranded when Chris Taylor flew out to end the inning.

PEACOCK SHINES

Houston stretched the lead to 5-1 in the fifth when Reddick singled and scored from first when Evan Gattis chopped an infield hit and Dodgers relief pitcher Tony Watson made an errant throw allowing the runners to advance.

The Dodgers answered in the sixth when Seager walked, took third on a Turner double and scored on Yasiel Puig's ground out to shortstop. Turner later scored on a wild pitch from Astros reliever Brad Peacock to pull Los Angeles within 5-3.

Houston, whose 12 stranded base runners included at least one in every inning, left the bases loaded in the seventh when George Springer's fly ball to centerfield was gloved by Taylor just shy of the wall for the last Astros out.

Peacock baffled Dodgers batters over the final 3 2/3 shutout innings, allowing no hits with four strikeouts.

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Astros hope to bring the noise with closed roof

The Houston Astros plan to keep the roof closed at their Minute Maid Park for Game Three of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday in a bid to feed off the electric atmosphere created by their fans.

The Astros head back to Houston for three games after splitting the first two of the series on the road.

The Astros have yet to win a World Series title but have momentum on their side after coming from behind to win a thrilling Game Two in extra innings on Wednesday.

They are also 6-0 at home in postseason games this year.

"We want it closed. We've got to have it closed," Astros reliever Chris Devenski told reporters on Thursday.

"I feel the electricity when it's closed and it is so much better. And we love playing here.

"We have so much excitement being here and the electricity and the vibe. And I feel like we feed off of it."

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the roof would be closed to prevent rain from getting on the field but acknowledged the closed environment amplified the volume of the team's passionate, orange-clad fans.

Rain is forecast for Houston on Friday, although Saturday and Sunday are expected to be sunny for Games Four and Five.

"It was one of the loudest stadiums the last series and I expect it to be the same," Hinch said of the series against the New York Yankees, in which they lost three on the road and won all four at home.

"It is a great environment at home. I think that's what makes people feel good."

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman was also keen for the roof to remain closed.

"But no matter if it's opened or closed, we're going to take it one pitch at a time," he added.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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Astros stun Dodgers to level World Series

LOS ANGELES -- The Houston Astros out-dueled the Los Angeles Dodgers 7-6 in an 11-inning thriller on Wednesday to level the World Series at one game apiece.

George Springer smashed a two-run homer in the top of the 11th to cap the Astros' late charge.

It proved just enough as the teams combined for an astonishing five extra-inning home runs -- a record for a Major League Baseball post-season game.

"That's an incredible game on so many levels, so many ranges of emotion," said Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "That's one of the most incredible games you'll ever be a part of."

With the win the Astros head home on level terms for games three four and five on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Marwin Gonzalez homered for the Astros in the ninth to tie it at 3-3 after the Dodgers had seemingly been heading for victory.

Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa ripped back-to-back homers in the top of the 10th to put Houston up 5-3.

Undaunted, the Dodgers responded in the bottom of the 10th with a lead-off homer from Yasiel Puig.

With two outs in the 10th, Astros relief pitcher Ken Giles walked Logan Forsythe, who reached second on a passed ball and raced home when Enrique Hernandez belted a single to right field.

With the score at 5-5, Dodgers relief pitcher Brandon McCarthy surrendered a single to Cameron Maybin to open the 11th.

Springer followed to put the Astros ahead for good -- although the Dodgers pulled within 7-6 with Charlie Culberson's homer in the bottom of the 11th.

"It was an exciting baseball game," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "It was an emotional roller-coaster."

Astros ace pitcher Justin Verlander pitched four-plus innings of no-hit ball.

But the two hits he surrendered in six innings were home runs to Corey Seager and Joc Pederson that gave the Dodgers the early advantage.

Pederson rewarded Dodgers manager Dave Roberts's faith with a game-tying homer to right field with two outs in the fifth.

Pederson, picked to start in left field over Andre Ethier because Roberts said he liked Pederson better against Verlander's velocity, connected on an 88 mph (141.62 Km/h) slider to level the score at 1-1.

Seager made it 3-1 in the sixth with a two-out home run to left field off Verlander that also scored Chris Taylor, who had walked.

Houston had opened the scoring in the third inning, when Josh Reddick singled off of Dodgers starter Rich Hill and advanced to second on Verlander's sacrifice.

A single from Springer put runners on the corners. Alex Bregman followed with a sharply hit single to center field, where the ball eluded diving Dodgers center fielder Taylor, knocking the brim of his cap.

Reddick scored, but the ball bounced toward Pederson, who corralled it to hold Springer and Bregman on base. Hill then struck out Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa to end the inning.

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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

Pitched battle promises World Series classic

LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles ace Clayton Kershaw and Houston hurler Justin Verlander lead the Dodgers and Astros into the 113th World Series here Tuesday seeking to capture a first Major League Baseball crown.

Kershaw and Verlander, perhaps the two greatest pitchers of their generation, boast a wealth individual honors, but neither has captured the ultimate prize.

Kershaw, the southpaw from Texas whose resume includes one National League Most Valuable Player award, three NL Cy Young award and seven All-Star selections, gets his first chance after helping the Dodgers reach the World Series for the first time since they last won it all in 1988.

Verlander, a former American League Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young award-winner, has pitched in two World Series, as a rookie with the Tigers in 2006 and again with Detroit in 2012 when they were swept by San Francisco.

He's 0-3 in World Series starts -- a record he aims to change with the Astros, the team he joined in a trade from Detroit on August 31 just in time to be included on their post-season roster.

"Obviously he's a premier performer at the highest times, the most intense times," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "And you can't teach that. And you can't buy it. You have to have it or you don't. And Verlander has it."

Verlander is coming off two sensational starts that earned him MVP honors in the American League Championship Series triumph over the New York Yankees.

He held the Yankees to one run over 16 innings, notching 21 strikeouts.

"Verlander, if that dude wasn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer before this post-season, he is now," Astros pitcher Lance McCullers said. "The impact he's brought on this team, the way that he goes about his business after all these years, you cannot say enough about what he's done for us and how he's built his legacy."

Kershaw, who was long unable to translate his regular-season dominance into post-season success, allowed just one run on three hits with five strikeouts in six innings in the final game of the Dodgers' National League Championship Series triumph over the defending champion Chicago Cubs.

 - Four more wins -

He was promptly slated to pitch game one of the World Series on Tuesday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who says there was no sign that the back trouble that sidelined Kershaw for five weeks would be a problem.

"Physically, Clayton feels good," Roberts said. "Obviously, you saw the emotion after (the clinch). He'll be ready to go game one."

Kershaw called reaching the World Series "an incredibly special moment" but made it clear it wasn't "mission accomplished".

"You know, we have four more wins to go," he said. "We've 1988 so long in LA, it feels good to say that we're getting to the World Series in 2017, and with four more wins, hopefully get to get one home."

The Dodgers are seeking a seventh World Series title while the Astros, in the Fall Classic for just the second time, are in pursuit of their first.

The Dodgers led the major leagues with 104 regular-season wins while the Astros notched 101.

The Dodgers disposed of the Cubs in five games in the NLCS while the Astros were pushed to the brink by the Yankees in the ALCS, falling behind 3-2 in the series before winning the last two games at home to deny New York a 41st World Series berth.

While Houston may not provide the glamour that would have surrounded a Dodgers-Yankees match-up, the Astros' game one starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel believes they'll bring plenty of game.

"Quality ballclub," Keuchel, the 2015 AL Cy Young award-winner said of the Dodgers. "They led the Major Leagues in wins for a reason. They're not to be taken lightly -- but we're not to be either."

- Two teams standing -

The teams do have some post-season history, dating back to the days before realignment landed the Astros in the American League in 2013.

Houston eliminated the Dodgers in a one-game NL West division tiebreaker in 1980, and Los Angeles downed Houston en route to a World Series title in the strike-disrupted 1981 season.

This clash will see the Astros' explosive offense -- which led the majors in runs scored with the second-highest number of home runs -- challenging a formidable Dodgers pitching staff that was beefed up in the wake of last season's playoff loss to the Cubs.

"There's two teams standing," Hinch said. "It's a race to four wins now."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Dodgers draw first blood in Cubs rematch

LOS ANGELES -- Yasiel Puig homered and drove in another as the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied to beat the World Series champion Chicago Cubs 5-2 to open their Major League Baseball playoff series.

The Dodgers, sent packing by the Cubs in last year's National League Championship Series, took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven NLCS with game two set for Sunday at Dodger Stadium.


The winner of the series will play either the Houston Astros or the New York Yankees for the major league crown.

The Astros took a 2-0 lead in the American League Championship Series with a 2-1 win over the Yankees in Houston on Saturday.

The Dodgers received a pre-game blow when a back injury to Corey Seager forced the All-Star shortstop off the NLCS roster.

But they managed fine without him, with homers from Puig and Chris Taylor.

Puig homered to lead off the bottom of the seventh, sending the Dodger Stadium crowd in to a frenzy.

"He loves the big stage, and his only focus is helping us continue to win baseball games," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the mercurial Cuban. "So right now he's playing at a high level, and not only the fans, but his teammates are feeding off of it."

Charlie Culberson followed with a double, and after Taylor singled, raced home on a single from Justin Turner.

Culberson was ruled out at home plate, but that call was overturned on review, with major league officials saying Contreras violated the home plate collision rule by illegally blocking his path to the plate.

Incensed Cubs manager Joe Maddon burst from the dugout to argue and was promptly ejected.

Maddon said Wilson had no choice but to move toward the baseline to catch the ball.

"His technique was absolutely 100 percent perfect," Maddon said. "I could not disagree more with the interpretation of that."

Taylor, who started the season in the minor leagues, had put the Dodgers up 3-2 in the sixth with a homer off Cubs relief pitcher Hector Rondon.

Albert Almora's two-run homer off Clayton Kershaw in the fourth inning had staked the Cubs to a 2-0 lead.

The Dodgers responded in the fifth. After Cubs starter Jose Quintana gave up back-to-back walks to Logan Forsythe and Austin Barnes, Puig doubled to score one run and Culberson's fly scored Barnes.

Kershaw lasted five innings, giving up four hits with four strikeouts. He retired the last six batters he faced before the Dodgers went to their bullpen.

Kenley Jansen recorded the last four outs for the save.

In Houston, Carlos Correa followed a homer with a walk-off double for the Astros.

Correa's ninth-inning effort ensured the Astros capitalized on a stellar performance from starting pitcher Justin Verlander.

Correa smacked a 3-ball, 2-strike fastball from Aroldis Chapman into the right center-field gap to score Jose Altuve from first base.

Altuve raced around the bases, scoring when Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge made his relay throw toward the middle of the infield and catcher Gary Sanchez couldn't grab the subsequent throw to home.

- Verlander 'exceptional' -

Verlander worked nine innings, allowing one run on five hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts.

He threw 124 pitches -- 93 of them for strikes -- and held off the Yankees to give the Astros a chance to rally.

"He was exceptional in every way," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said of Verlander. "He put us on his back today with his pitching."

In the fourth inning, Correa turned a 99-mph (159.33 Km/h) fastball from Luis Severino for a home run to right.

The ball barely eluded Judge, and a young fan in the first row of seats deflected it into the stands.

"I love that kid," Hinch said, "I want to leave that kid tickets.

An official review offered no grounds for overturning the play, and even Yankees manager Joe Girardi acknowledged there was no camera angle that confirmed fan interference.

The Yankees answered with an even stranger play.

With two outs in the fifth, Verlander gave up back-to-back doubles to Aaron Hicks and Todd Frazier.

Frazier's caught in a fence in left-centerfield and Hicks scored on a ground-rule double.

But Verlander regrouped, and the Yankees could make no more inroads against him.

"It's definitely one of the most satisfying starts I've had in my career," Verlander said.

They Yankees will try to bounce back when they host game three on Monday.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Indians, Dodgers teams to beat as playoffs begin

WASHINGTON -- The Cleveland Indians, seeking their first crown since 1948, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose title drought only dates to 1988, are the clubs to beat as the Major League Baseball playoffs begin.

Only last year, the Chicago Cubs ended the longest title drought in North American sports history, winning their first World Series crown since 1908 by defeating Cleveland in a dramatic seventh-game showdown.

Now the Indians, who unleashed an American League-record 22-game win streak, are back in the playoffs and with the AL's best record at 102-60, the second-most season wins in club history. Now they own baseball's longest title drought.

"From the start of the season, our goal has been to get back to the postseason and then go as far we can," shortstop Francisco Lindor said.

The Indians boast one of baseball's top pitchers in right-hander Corey Kluber, who went 18-4 with a majors-best 2.25 earned-run average and 265 strikeouts this season. And Tribe right-hander Carlos Carrasco of Venezuela went 18-6.

Indians outfielder Jay Bruce, who joined Cleveland at mid-season, could feel the hunger for another chance at the crown the minute he walked into the locker room.

"I think the expectations for this year were set from last year's experience and accomplishments and the failure to win game seven of the World Series, although that wasn't a failure by any means," Bruce said. "But every guy in our clubhouse feels like they should have won it last year. I felt that as soon as I got here."

While Cleveland lost the World Series to a team with a championship drought 40 years longer than their own, they could face a team whose title drought is 40 years shorter in the Dodgers, who led the major leagues with a 104-58 mark. Their 57 home wins also topped the majors.

 And the Dodgers counter with a mound ace of their own in left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who went 18-4 with a National League-best 2.31 ERA, second only to Kluber in the majors, and 202 strikeouts. Los Angeles also features right-handed closer Kenley Jansen, whose 41 saves shared the NL best.

The playoffs open with two one-game wildcard showdowns between the best non-division winners -- the New York Yankees entertain Minnesota on Tuesday in the American League while Colorado will visit Arizona on Wednesday.

The Yankees-Twins winner gets a best-of-five series against the Indians that opens at Cleveland on Thursday, the same day the Boston Red Sox visit Houston in the other American League semi-final series.

In the National League, the Colorado-Arizona winner visits the Dodgers to open their National League semi-final series while the defending champion Cubs travel to Washington for their opening matchup.

- Long drought in Washington, too -

Houston's Jose Altuve, a Venezuelan second baseman, led the major leagues with a .346 batting average.

Yankees' slugger Aaron Judge led the AL with 52 home runs and his powerful hitting could spark the 27-time World Series champions to yet another deep playoff run.

Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy matched Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner at .322 to share third in the NL batting race and the Nationals also a formidable starting rotation of pitchers paced by right-handers Max Scherzer, 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA and 268 strikeouts, and Stephen Strasburg, 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 204 strikeouts.

Toss in lefty Gio Gonzalez, 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA, and Washington fans are dreaming of the US capitol's first World Series berth since 1933 and first crown since 1924.

That includes two Washington clubs that relocated, becoming Minnesota and Texas, and 33 seasons with no team before the Montreal Expos moved to Washington for the 2005 campaign -- a franchise that has not played in a World Series in its 48-year history.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Japan's Darvish sizzles in Dodgers debut

NEW YORK -- Japanese ace Yu Darvish dazzled in his Los Angeles Dodgers debut, throwing seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts in a 6-0 victory Friday over the New York Mets.

The 30-year-old righthander from Osaka picked up his seventh win of the year and first since being acquired Monday from the Texas Rangers on Major League Baseball's trading deadline.

"He did everything we hoped he would do," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

The Dodgers, who improved to 77-32 on the season, gave up three prospects to get Darvish, who allowed just three hits and one walk.

It marked the first win for Darvish since June 12. He was 0-5 with a 5.81 earned-run average in his final eight starts for the Rangers.

Darvish became the first Dodger with 10 strikeouts in his debut since Japanese compatriot Kaz Ishii in 2002.


"It is not just about being a Dodger in my first outing," Darvish said. "I gave up 10 runs in my last outing. I was a little concerned about that. I didn't want to pitch bad in my first outing."

Darvish received the only support he would need when Chris Taylor homered leading off the first against Mets right-hander Jacob deGrom at Citi Field. Yasiel Puig homered in the second and Justin Turner drove in a run in the fifth.

The scorching Dodgers won for the 42nd time in their last 49 games dating to June 7. The Mets lost for the fifth time in six games.

DeGrom allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight over five innings. He also singled and stole a base in the third. It was the first stolen base by a Mets pitcher since Oliver Perez swiped second in May 2008.

Chase Utley blasted a two-run home run for the Dodgers. Utley was booed loudly before every at-bat by fans who remember from his years with the Philadelphia Phillies, when he broke the leg of shortstop Ruben Tejada with a hard slide into second base during the 2015 National League playoffs.

The blast was his 39th regular-season homer against the Mets, most of any active player.

source: news.abs-cbn.com