Live Blogging: Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers 08/03/2018

MLB: Houston Astros at Los Angeles Dodgers 08/03/2018

Spectrum SportsNet LA TV Broadcast

Hello and welcome to another edition of ‘Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball’. Tonight it is the Houston Astros taking on Los Angeles Dodgers. This is the rematch of 2017 World Series. Both teams are leading their resepective divisions. The Astros come in with a record of 69-41, while the Dodgers are coming in with a record of 61-49.

The Astros return to the scene of their first World Series Clincher. As they defeat the Dodgers in 7 games in last year’s World Series.

Tonight’s starting pitchers are right-hander Justin Verlander for the Astros and left-hander Alex Wood for the Dodgers. Verlander in with a record of 10-6, 2.24 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 7.84 K/BB, 4.09 K/BB. Meanwhile Wood comes in with a record of 7-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.81 K/BB, 3.79 P/PA.

It is the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, coming up shortly.

Game Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

Starting Lineups:
Houston Astros (69-41):
1. George Spirnger, RF
2. Josh Reddick, LF
3. Alex Bregman, SS
4. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
5. J.D. Davis, 3B
6. Marwin Gonzalez, 2B
7. Martin Maldonado, C
8. Jake Marisnick, CF
9. Justin Verlander, P
SP: Justin Verlander (RHP) (10-6, 2.24 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 7.84 K/BB, 4.09 K/BB)

Los Angeles Dodgers (61-49):
1. Joc Pederson, LF
2. Manny Machado, SS
3. Justin Turner, 3B
4. Yasmani Grandal, C
5. Cody Bellinger, CF
6. Matt Kemp, RF
7. Max Muncy, 1B
8. Chris Taylor, 2B
9. Alex Wood, P
SP: Alex Wood (LHP) (7-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 3.81 K/BB, 3.79 P/PA)

Top of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Springer 
2. Reddick
3. Bregman
Alex Wood now starting as Dodgers Pitcher.
MLB Scores:
First Pitch around 9:11 p.m CDT.
Springer draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Reddick reaches on 3-6 fielder's choice. Springer is out at 2nd. Runner on 1st. 1 out.
Bregman lines out to Taylor. 2 outs.
Gurriel reaches on fielder's choice. Reddick is safe at 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Davis grounds out to Turner. 3 outs.
Astros strand a couple of base runners.

Middle of 1st Inning:
HOU 0, LAD 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Pederson
2. Machado
3. Turner
Justin Verlander now starting as Astros Pitcher.
UFC 227 Weigh-In Results: 
​HOME RUN: Joc Pederson hits a lead-off, solo home run off Verlander. HOU 0, LAD 1
Machado pops out to Gonzalez. 1 out.
Turner strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Grandal strikes out swinging. 3 outs.

End of 1st Inning:
HOU 0, LAD 1

Top of 2nd Inning;
Due Up:
6. Gonzalez
7. Maldonado
8. Marisnick
Wood currently at 17 pitches.
Poulter, Fleetwood, Thomas Lead After 2 Rounds at Bridgestone 
​Gonzalez flies out to Kemp. 1 out.
Maldonado draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Marisnick singles to left field. Maldonado advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Verlander strikes out on bunt attempt. 2 outs.
RBI-SINGLE: Springer hits an RBI-Single, scoring Maldonado. Marisnick scores on a fielding error by Bellinger. Springer advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd. HOU 2, LAD 1
Reddick draws a 2-out walk. Runner on 1st & 2nd.
Bregman lines out to Pederson. 3 outs.
Astros strand a pair of base runners.

Middle of 2nd Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
5. Bellinger 
6. Kemp 
7. Muncy 
Verlander currently at 17 pitches.
​Bellinger gets called out on strikes. 1 out.
Kemp gets called out on strikes. 2 outs.
Muncy strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Dodgers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 2nd Inning.

End of 2nd Inning:
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
4. Gurriel
5. Davis 
6. Gonzalez 
Wood currently at 52 pitches.
​Gurriel flies out to Pederson. 1 out.
Davis singles to left field. The ball just grazed Machado. Runner on 1st.
Gonzalez lines out to Bellinger. 2 outs.
Wood throws a wild pitch. Davis advances to 2nd. Runner on 2nd.
Maldonado strikes out swinging. Grandal throws out Maldonado at first. Grandal to Muncy. 3 outs.
Astros strand a base runner.

Middle of 3rd Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 3rd Inning;
Due Up:
8. Taylor
9. Wood
1. Pederson, HR, RBI
Verlander currently at 29 pitches.
​Taylor singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Wood strikes out on bunt foul. 1 out.
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #1: MVR: HOU 5, LAD 6
Pederson lines out to Marisnick. 2 outs.
Machado grounds out to Verlander. 3 outs.
Dodgers strand a base runner.

End of 3rd Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 4th Inning;
Due Up:
8. Marisnick, 1-1
9. Verlander, 0-1
1. Springer, 1-1, RBI
Wood currently at 70 pitches.
MLB Scores:
Marisnick strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Verlander grounds out to Turner. 2 outs.
Springer flies out to Kemp, at the warning track. 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

Middle of 4th Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 4th Inning;
Due Up:
3. Turner, 0-1
4. Grandal, 0-1
5. Bellinger, 0-1
Verlander currently at 45 pitches.
​Turner strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Grandal strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Bellinger singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Kemp strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Verlander has 9 strikeouts in tonight's game.
Dodgers strand a base runner.

End of 4th Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 5th Inning;
Due Up:
2. Reddick, 0-1
3. Bregman, 0-2
4. Gurriel, 1-2
Wood currently at 81 pitches.
UFC 227 Weigh-In Results:
Reddick flies out to Turner. 1 out.
Bregman gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Gurriel reaches on 5-4 fielder's choice. Bregman is out at 2nd. Runner on 1st. 2 outs.
Davis grounds out to Turner. 3 outs.
Astros strand a base runner.

Middle of 5th Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 5th Inning;
Due Up:
7. Muncy, 0-1
8. Taylor, 1-1
9. Wood, 0-1
Verlander currently at 61 pitches.
​Muncy strikes out swinging. Verlander has thrown his 10th strikeout of the night. 1 out.
Taylor lines out to Marisnick. 2 outs.
Wood steps up to the plate, to bat for himself.
Wood strikes out on bunt foul. 3 outs.
Dodgers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

End of 5th Inning:
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 6th Inning;
Due Up:
6. Gonzalez, 0-2
7. Maldonado, 0-1
8. Marisnick, 1-2
Wood currently at 96 pitches.
​Daniel Hudson (RHP) warming up in Dodgers Bullpen.
Gonzalez strikes out swinging. 1 out.
Maldonado gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
Wood currently at 103 pitches.
DOUBLE PLAY: Marisnick grounds into 6-4-3 double play. 3 outs.
Astros side is retired. 

Middle of 6th Inning:
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 6th Inning;
Due Up:
1. Pederson, 1-2, HR, RBI
2. Machado, 0-2
3. Turner, 0-2
Verlander currently at 68 pitches.
​Pederson grounds out to Maldonado. 1 out.
Machado grounds out to Verlander. 2 outs.
Turner draws a 2-out walk. Runner on 1st.
Grandal gets called out on strikes. 3 outs. Verlander drops a nasty 12-6 curve ball, to end the inning. 
Dodgers strand a base runner.

End of 6th Inning:
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 7th Inning;
Due Up:
9. Verlander, 0-2
1. Springer, 1-2
2. Reddick, 0-2
​PITCHING CHANGE: Dylan Floro (RHP) replaces Alex Wood as Dodgers Pitcher.
MLB Scores:
Verlander pops out to Taylor. 1 out.
Springer grounds out to Muncy, unassisted. 2 outs.
Reddick strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

Middle of 7th Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 7th Inning;
Due Up:
5. Bellinger, 1-2
6. Kemp, 0-2
7. Muncy, 0-2
Verlander currently at 90 pitches.
​Bellinger lines out to Gonzalez. 1 out.
Kemp pops out to Gurriel. 2 outs.
Muncy strikes out swinging. 3 outs.
Dodgers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

End of 7th inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
3. Bregman, 0-2
4. Gurriel, 1-3
5. Davis, 1-3
PITCHING CHANGE: Daniel Hudson (RHP) replaces Dylan Floro as Dodgers Pitcher.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Brian Dozier replaces Max Muncy, playing 2nd Base.
DEFENSIVE SWITCH: Chris Taylor moves to center field. Cody Bellinger moves to first base.
Bregman grounds out to Machado. 1 out.
Gurriel grounds out to  Machado. 2 outs.
Davis lines out to Kemp. 3 outs.
Astros go down 1-2-3, in their half of 8th Inning.

Middle of 8th Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
8. Taylor, 1-2
9. Dozier
1. Pederson, 1-3, HR, RBI
Verlander currently at 13 strikeouts, on 97 pitches.
​Taylor singles to center field. Runner on 1st.
Hector Rondon (RHP) and Tony Sipp (LHP) warming up in Astros Bullpen. 
Dozier flies out to Marisnick. 1 out.
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #2: MVR: HOU 4, LAD 6
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #3: MVR: HOU 3, LAD 6
Pederson strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
DOUBLE SWITCH: Hector Rondon (RHP) replaces Justin Verlander as Astros Pitcher, will bat 5th. Tyler White replaces J.D. Davis at 1st Base, will bat 9th in Astros Lineup.
DEFENSIVE SWITCH: Yuli Gurriel moves to 3rd Base.
STOLEN BASE: Taylor steals 2nd Base, while Machado is at-bat.
ASTROS MOUND VISIT #4: MVR: HOU 2, LAD 6
Machado flies out to Springer. 3 outs.
Dodgers strand a base runner.

End of 8th Inning:
HOU 2, LAD 1

Top of 9th Inning;
Due Up:
6, Gonzalez, 0-3
7. Maldonado, 0-1
8. Marisnick, 1-3
​Hudson currently at 10 pitches.
Gonzalez grounds out to Dozier. 1 out.
Maldonado flies out to Taylor. 2 outs.
Marisnick gets hit by a pitch. Runner on 1st.
STOLEN BASE: Marisnick steals 2nd Base, while Jay White is at-bat.
White grounds out to Machado. 3 outs.
Astros strand a base runner.

Middle of 9th Inning;
HOU 2, LAD 1

Bottom of 9th Inning;
Due Up:
3. Turner, 0-2
4. Grandal, 0-3
5. Bellinger, 1-3
Rondon currently at 7 pitches.
​Turner flies out to Springer. 1 out.
Grandal strikes out swinging. 2 outs.
Bellinger gets called out on strikes. 3 outs.
Dodgers go down 1-2-3, in their half of 9th Inning.
The game is over.

Final:
HOU 2, LAD 1
HOU: (70-41)
LAD: (61-50)
W: Verlander (11-6)
L: Wood (7-6)
SV: Rondon (11)
ToG: 2:59
PoG: Verlander (HOU) W, 7.2 IP, R, ER, 4 H14 K, BB

Final Thoughts:
In this 2017 World Series Rematch, Dodgers got off to a hot start with Joc Pederson's leadoff, solo home run off Justin Verlander. But Verlander settled down and was dominate. Striking out 14 batters in 7.2 innings of work. He also got help from the Dodger Killer, George Springer. Springer hits the GW-Single, in the Top of 2nd Inning, scoring Maldonado, and Marisnick. 

As for the Dodgers, they had a hard time hitting off Verlander, after Pederson's home run. Add that with Cody Bellinger's error on Springer's RBI-Single and that would be a recipe for a loss, against the defending World Series Champs. 

The Astros and Dodgers will play two more in L.A. As Kenta Maeda will start for the Dodgers. It will be interesting if Maeda will pitch against Yuli Gurriel, who made a racist gesture to Maeda, in last year's World Series. 

But the Final Score tonight is Astros 2, Dodgers 1

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. Thanks for visiting this page.
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