Statistically, the odds of the Houston Astros losing Game 2 of the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers was 85 percent, according to Sports Illustrated, and by the eighth inning, it was 3-2. The Dodgers had been 98-0 this year when leading after eight innings.
Houston’s Marwin Gonzalez had become a star at the plate this year during the regular season, batting .303 with 23 homers and 90 RBIs. He played six different positions, according to Sports Illustrated. But he’d been struggling during this postseason, hitting just .150 and two walks in 12 games, for an on-base percentage of .227.
Now Gonzalez was facing Kenley Jansen, who the Astros think is the best closer in the game. But Jansen’s third pitch to Gonzalez at the top of the ninth was wait high, and Gonzalez hit, driving the ball over the centerfield wall. Game 2 was now tied at three.
“At some point his bat was going to come back,” said Carlos Correa said, according to Sports Illustrated. “He’s too good of a hitter to be in a slump for that long. He’s back, man. And he gets really scary when he’s back.”
Another MVP of Game 2, which the Astros eventually emerged with a 7-6 win after two extra innings, tying the series at one-one, was George Springer, according to Sports Illustrated. Springer was also struggling during his first postseason, batting .213 with 15 strikeouts in 47 at-bats, and walking just once every two games. But by the time he stepped up to the plate in the top of the 11th against Brandon McCarthy, he had gone 2-for-4. McCarthy threw him a slider low, Sports Illustrated writes, which Springer hit into the rightfield bleachers for a two-run home run. This ended up being the game-winner.
The Astros award a pro wrestling-style belt to the MVP of every game and on Wednesday, it went to Gonzalez. Gonzalez has faced Jansen twice, once in 2012 and once in 2015. In 2012, Gonzalez walked, in 2015, he had an RBI single. So far, Jansen has never gotten him out. We’ll have to see what happens in Game 3.
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