By Steve Parkhurst, Senior Editor for US Daily Review
The Los Angeles Dodgers made quick work of the Houston Astros to take game one of the World Series Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
In a game that lasted almost exactly two and a half hours, the Astros found themselves overmatched by the Dodgers pitching. For seven innings Clayton Kershaw dominated the strike zone, striking out 11 batters. Kershaw made one mistake, a pitch that Astros third basemen Alex Bregman hit for a homerun, the only run the Astros would score in the 3-1 loss. After Kershaw, Brandon Morrow took care of things for an inning, and then the dominant Kenley Jansen slammed the door shut in the ninth on fourteen pitches.
The duo that shared the NLCS MVP award provided the Dodgers all the offense they needed via the long ball. Chris Taylor hit the first pitch of the game from Dallas Keuchel into the left field seats. In the sixth inning, Justin Turner would do the same, after a critical two-out walk by Astros starter Dallas Keuchel to put a runner on base in front of Turner.
Both starting pitchers kept their pitch totals low, which means they will be plenty ready for their next starts, and if the Astros were to fall behind 3-0 in the Series, Keuchel could likely be pressed into service for game four to attempt to save the season.
The hottest game time start temperature ever gave way to a nice, cool evening by the 7th inning. By that time, the game was over.
Clayton Kershaw got off to a quick start, retiring the first six batters he faced with ease. The left-hander’s curveball was filthy all night, the 12 to 6 drop from the top of the zone to the bottom of the zone was dazzling Astros hitters as they struck out eleven times and were never a threat beyond Bregman’s homerun in the fourth inning.
Dallas Keuchel was equally good, he made one more mistake than Kershaw and it was the difference in the game.
The two teams will be back at it Wednesday night as Rich Hill will take the mound for the Dodgers versus Justin Verlander for the Astros.
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