World Series 2017: Houston Astros defeat Los Angeles Dodgers for first title

Tom Gatto

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World Series 2017: Houston Astros defeat Los Angeles Dodgers for first title image

World Series Game 7: Astros vs. Dodgers score

The Houston Astros are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history.

FAGAN: Astros gained motivation after Harvey

The Astros completed an epic Fall Classic with a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium. Houston scored all its runs in the first two innings against Los Angeles starting pitcher Yu Darvish. George Springer's two-run home run in the second inning broke the game open. Springer was voted Willie Mays World Series MVP.

WEXLER: Darvish, LA fans don't get what they wanted in Game 7

This was the third Game 7 in the past four World Series. The visiting team has won all three games (the Giants in 2014 and the Cubs in 2016 were the others).

FAGAN: Springer gives Houston five reasons to cheer

Charlie Morton, who has been dominant in the postseason, got the final 12 outs for Houston in recording the save. (UPDATE: This was the reaction of Astros fans who were watching the game at Minute Maid Park):

SHOP: Get Astros World Series championship gear

Sporting News provided updates throughout the Game 7 of the World Series between the Astros and Dodgers. SN MLB writer Ryan Fagan ( @ryanfagan ) was at Dodger Stadium to cover the game.

PHOTOS: Best scenes from Astros-Dodgers Game 7

(All times Eastern)

POSTGAME

12:37 a.m.: Astros shortstop Carlos Correa wins the World Series and the internet:

FINAL: Astros 5, Dodgers 1

Midnight: Morton gets the final 12 outs for the save. Jose Altuve fields Corey Seager's grounder and throws to first baseman Yuli Gurriel for the final out.

11:49 p.m.: Morton bats in the ninth, but BAH GAWD, THAT'S JUSTIN VERLANDER'S MUSIC!!!11!!! Verlander was shown throwing in the Houston bullpen, just in case.

End eighth: Astros 5, Dodgers 1

11:45 p.m.: Three outs away. Morton retires the Dodgers in order.

Mid-eighth: Astros 5, Dodgers 1

11:40 p.m.: The Astros are six outs away. Morton begins his third inning of relief.

11:26 p.m.: Morton begins his second inning, but Dallas Keuchel is warming behind him. Bullpen roles? What bullpen roles? It's Game 7. 

End sixth: Astros 5, Dodgers 1 

11:05 p.m.: LA gets on the board against Houston flavor of the hour Charlie Morton. Andre Ethier, pinch-hitting for Kershaw, singles home Joc Pederson. The Dodgers leave two more on base and are up to 10. Kenley Jansen will pitch the top of the seventh.

10:54 p.m.: Four scoreless for Kershaw, who is likely finished. There was an interesting moment in the sixth when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ordered two intentional walks to load the bases with two outs. Kershaw then retired pinch hitter Cameron Maybin on an infield popup.

End fifth: Astros 5, Dodgers 0

10:40 p.m.:  A pitcher for each out in the inning, and now Houston is 12 outs away from its first world championship. The Dodgers have left eight on base and are 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position. 

10:35 p.m.: The wheels are turning in the Astros' dugout: Houston has used three pitchers in the bottom of the fifth as it tries to maintain a big lead. Peacock begins it, then Francisco Liriano comes on to retire Bellinger, then Chris Devenski enters to face Puig.

10:18 p.m.: Kershaw succeeds as a stopper: He's up to three scoreless innings, on just 31 pitches (24 strikes).

10:02 p.m.:  The first 3 1/2 innings are played in a crisp 1:36. Kershaw's Game 1 win in 2:28 is ancient history.

9:51 p.m.:  Oh, and Clayton Kershaw is on the mound for a second inning of long relief. Naturally, people have questions:

9:49 p.m.: Your NL and AL Rookies of the Year, everyone:

End third: Astros 5, Dodgers 0

9:47 p.m.: McCullers is out after 2 1/3 innings. Brad Peacock takes over. McCullers allows no runs but hits four batters, including Justin Turner twice.  

9:27 p.m.: After the Dodgers fail to score in the bottom of the second, A-Rod brings the #analysis about Darvish:

9:15 p.m.: Springer is the third player in World Series history to hit five home runs in a series. The others: Reggie Jackson in 1977 and . . . Chase Utley in 2009. Utley is, to use broadcast parlance, in the ballpark tonight.  

Mid-second: Astros 5, Dodgers 0

9:08 p.m.: Uh-oh, LA. The Astros add three more runs in the top of the second to take a 5-0 lead. McCullers drives in Brian McCann with a slow grounder to second, and Springer follows with a two-run homer to left. Darvish is out, Brandon Morrow is in (again).

End first: Astros 2, Dodgers 0

8:52 p.m.: LA wastes an opportunity to respond. It leaves the bases loaded. Yasiel Puig grounds out to Altuve to end the threat.

Mid-first: Astros 2, Dodgers 0

8:27 p.m.: The Astros score twice in three batters against Darvish. George Springer leads off the game with a double, then scores on a throwing error by LA first basmen Cody Bellinger that allows Alex Bregman to reach second. Bregman steals third, then scores on a Jose Altuve groundout to Bellinger.

7:50 p.m.: Look at baseball trying to be like hockey with the white gloves holding the Commissioner's Trophy. Sorry, fellas, the Stanley Cup still rules the North American sports trophy kingdom.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.