The Dodgers’ epic late-inning comeback stuns rival Astros

Los Angeles Dodgers #16 Will Smith (C) solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The bats were ablaze for both perennial powerhouses during Saturday's thrilling slugfest, and in the end, it wasn't the swing of the bat that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers their narrow 9-8 win over their rival Houston Astros. It was a stunning balk call late that walked in the winning go-ahead run for the Boys in Blue at Dodger Stadium.

Offensively it was a balanced attack for the Dodgers, who produced eight runs on only five hits on the night, all extra-base hits. No player had more than one hit, and the Dodgers’ early season MVP Freddie Freeman went hitless for his second straight game, sitting on two hits shy of 2,000 for his career.

"Very, very well executed team offense," said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. "Starting with some great walks in there. Freddie walked to start, he joked with me that he decided to take balls out of the strike zone today."

In the bottom of the first inning, it looked like Mookie Betts was picking up where he left off Friday night with another lead-off home run as he crushed a shot over the left-field wall. Unfortunately, his quest for back-to-back lead-off home runs was robbed by the Astro rookie Corey Julks who elevated up and caught the ball over the top of the wall with an incredible highlight reel play.

Four pitches later, the next batter Will Smith, got his revenge by blasting another ball to the same left-field area. Unfortunately for the Astros this time, there were no web gems as the ball cleared the left-field wall to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.

After a walk to J.D. Martinez, the big left-hander Jason Heyward belted out a 402-foot bomb giving the Dodgers an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. It was a shaky start for Ronel Blanco (1-0), who was making his fourth start since moving from the Astro bullpen into their rotation. Blanco would finish with three runs on two hits over six innings.

In the top of the third inning, Jake Meyers doubled, which brought Jose Altuve to the plate resulting in a thunderous echoing of boos from all corners of the stadium. Altuve and Alex Bregman are the only two remaining Astros players from their infamous championship team, which was revealed to have cheated against L.A. in the World Series.

The Dodger fans were loud whenever the duo came up to the plate, but Altuve silenced the crowd with a clutch hit that brought in Meyers, putting Houston on the board, 3-1.

Altuve would advance to third with a steal and sacrifice hit before Miller escaped the inning with a Jose Abreu ground out, which stranded two Astro runners.

After pitching a shutout through four innings, Bobby Miller (3-1) imploded in the top of the fifth. It was rookie-on-rookie as Julks smacked the first pitch into right field for a base hit.

Next at bat, Meyers drew a five-pitch walk bringing the Dodgers fans, the biggest villain, up to the plate. The 5'6" Altuve then caught Miller napping as the speedster bunted high on his first pitch and beat the lumbering pitcher to first base.

Houston Astros #2 Alex Bregman’s (3B) grand-slam in the top of the fifth inning. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

He was visually angry, punching his glove and yelling angrily after losing the footrace. Bregman then took advantage of the frustrated Miller, sending a grand slam over the left field wall as Houston took their first lead of the game, 5-3, with no outs.

After a walk and a double by the next two batters, Yainer Diaz singled to center scoring Kyle Tucker. After giving up six straight runs with no outs, Roberts made a long overdue trip to the mound pulling the rookie, replacing him with Yency Almonte, who was able to get the Dodgers out of the inning without giving up any additional runs.

"After the bunt, it probably frustrated me a little bit, and I wasn't expecting the bunt," said Miller. "It's basic, and every pitcher knows you gotta get over there and cover first earlier." Miller finished with six runs on ten hits over four-plus innings.

In the sixth inning, the dynamic duo Altuve and Bregman each reached base safely with hits before Altuve scored on an Abreu sacrifice hit, giving Houston a 7-3 lead.

After seven unanswered runs, the Dodgers showed signs of life in the seventh inning. Jason Heyward got plunked by a pitch to open the inning. With a man on base, Roberts made a decision to have David Peralta pinch-hit for hitless Miguel Vargas. The decision immediately paid off for the Dodgers after Peralta crushed a 72-mph curve ball 417 feet for the two-run home run cutting the lead in half, 7-5.

"After that homer, we said we're back in business!" exclaimed Peralta.

The Fourth-of-July fireworks exploded a week early for the Dodgers, with the eighth inning being highly explosive. Three straight walks for the Dodgers loaded the bases bringing Heyward back to the plate, hunting for another homerun. He took a 2-2 hanging slider deep to right field, but Tucker made a sliding catch to save extra runs. It was still deep enough to bring in one run on the tag up.

Now a one-run game, 7-6, and runners on the corners, James Outman launched what appeared to be a three-run home run. However, after some initial confusion, it was ruled a ground-rule-double with the ball wedged into the outfield wall. One runner scored, tying the game 7-7.

Ryan Stanek entered the game for Houston with one out, hoping to get out of the inning. After getting Peralta out while still having two runners in scoring position, the game was decided on a controversial call.

With two outs, the count 3-2, and the entire stadium on the edge of their seats, second base umpire Junior Valentine immediately called a balk on Stanek for stepping off the bag after starting his pitching motion. For Stanek, it was his first career balk, and it scored the go-ahead run, 8-7.

"Obviously, in a game like that, you don't want that to be the deciding run in that situation," said Roberts. "But they got it right."

After striking out the next batter to end the inning, Stanek launched a profanity-laced tirade at the umpire, which got him ejected. In-between innings, the Astro manager Dusty Baker would also be tossed.

Evan Phillips came in to close for the Dodgers, who got the save on an eight-pitch ninth inning. The streaking Dodgers will look to make it five straight wins and complete the series sweep of the defending champs Sunday at Dodger Stadium.