World Series Homerfest Continues As Astros Top Dodgers 13-12 in Game 5

If you as a baseball fan are an aficionado of the home run, the 2017 World Series has been for you. The Houston Astros pounded out five home runs and the Los Angeles Dodgers had a pair in the Astros 13-12 win in 10 innings in Game 5 on Sunday night October 22nd. The Astros took the lead in the series 3-2. There have been 22 home runs in the first five games (13 by Houston, 9 by Los Angeles) of this World Series, breaking the old record of 21 set in the seven game 2002 Series between the Giants and Angels.

It wasn’t just the number of home runs, it was the see saw action of lead changes and comebacks that made the game a classic. Houston trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, and tied it at four. A three run home run by Cody Bellinger in the top of the fifth put the Dodgers back up 7-4. Jose Altuve hit a three run homer of his own in the bottom of the fifth to tie it at 7. In the top of the seventh, Bellinger drove in a run with a triple with a line drive that Houston center fielder George Springer tried, and failed, to make a diving catch, giving the Dodgers an 8-7 lead. Springer made up for it with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the inning to tie it a 8. The Astros scored three more in the inning to take an 11-8 lead.

The Dodgers scored once in the eighth, which was answered by a Brian McCann home run for the Astros. Los Angeles scored three times in the ninth to tie it at 12-12. The Astros did not score in the bottom of the ninth, and it was on to extra innings . L.A. did not score in the top of the 10th. Dodgers’ closer Kenley Jensen began his second inning of work by retiring the first two batters in the bottom of the 10th. He then hit McCann with a pitch, and walked Springer. Houston put Derek Fisher in to run for McCann. Alex Bregman then singled into left center, Fisher scored the winning run and the five hour 17 minute game was over with the Astros winning 13-12.

With the game ending at after 1:30 a.m. in the Eastern time zone, and after 12:30 a.m. in the Central, it just got too late for some folks in the eastern half of the country to see live. But those who reported to work bleary-eyed and coffee-fortified on Monday had witnessed one of the most exciting World Series games ever.