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(Story by Marco Stoovelaar) Dodgers rally in ninth inning to even World Series Nederlands HOUSTON, Texas (USA) - Los Angeles Dodgers rallied for five runs in the top of the ninth inning to win 6-2 against Houston Astros in Game 4 of the 113th World Series on Saturday-evening (October 28). With that, the best-of-seven was evened again at 2-2 and it also means that it will return to Los Angeles for at least a sixth game. Houston took a 2-1 lead on Friday by winning Game 3 with a 5-3 score. Los Angeles won the opener on Tuesday at with a 3-1 score, thanks to a 2-run homerun by Justin Turner. The next day, Houston recorded a hard-fought 7-6 win in eleven innings, a game that featured a record-setting total of eight homeruns. George Springer hit the most important fourbagger, as it gave Houston the lead (again) in the eleventh inning. Game 5 will be played on Sunday, also in Houston. After a pitching-duel, Houston opened the score with one run in the bottom of the sixth on a homerun by George Springer, which ended Alex Wood's No-Hitter. Los Angeles came alongside in the seventh, then rallied for five runs in the ninth, highlighted by a 3-run homerun from Joc Pederson. Houston scored one more run in its ninth on a homerun by Alex Bregman. With that, Houston lost its first home game in the postseason after having won seven in a row. Earlier on Saturday-afternoon, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that Houston's first baseman Yulieski Gurriel has received a 5-game suspension without pay at the start of the 2018 season. Gurriel got the suspension for making an offensive gesture directed at Yu Darvish after hitting a homerun off of the Japanese righthander in the second inning of Game 3 on Friday. He also appeared to say something while sitting after having returned in the dug-out. While there was a possibility that Gurriel might be given an one-game suspension during the World Series, it was decided to give him a 5-game suspension next year. In a statement, it was announced that Manfred wanted to include the penalty of lost salary, which can only be done during the regular season. He also felt it was 'unfair to punish the other 24 players on the roster'. Besides that, Manfred also was impressed by the reaction of Darvish 'to move forward'. The Astros will donate Gurriel's pay for the five games to charitable causes. After the game, Gurriel immediately apologized for his behavior and did again earlier today. The starting pitchers today were Charlie Morton (Houston) and Alex Wood (Los Angeles). 33-year old righthander Charlie Morton was 14-7 this season with a 3.62 ERA. In the postseason, Morton started three games for the Astros and was 1-1. Morton was the starter in Game 4 of the ALDS against Boston Red Sox, giving up seven hits in 4 1/3 inning. Houston won 5-4 to advance to the ALCS. Morton had a no-decision and threw 4 1/3 inning. He then was the starting and losing pitcher of Game 3 in the ALCS against the New York Yankees, giving up six hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 inning. Hereafter, Morton was the starter and winner in Game 7 against the Yankees, striking out five hitters in five innings, while giving up only two hits. Houston won 4-0 to win the LCS and advance to the World Series. 26-year old lefthander Alex Wood was 16-3 this season with a 2.72 ERA. In the postseason, Wood threw in only one game for the Dodgers. On October 18, he was the starting and losing pitcher in Game 4 of the NLCS against Chicago Cubs. Wood struckout seven hitters in 4 2/3 inning and gave up four hits. (October 28)

Starting pitchers Charlie Morton and Alex Wood threw an attractive pitching-duel and didn't gave way anything in the first five innings. Morton gave up a lead-off single to Chris Taylor in the top of the first inning, but he was caught stealing with two outs. He then retired the side in the next four innings, striking out a total of seven hitters. In the first five innings, Morton faced the minimum of 15 hitters. Wood retired the side in the bottom of the first inning. He then walked Carlos Correa to start the second at bat, but he was eliminated in a double play on a grounder by Yulieski Gurriel. With one out in the third inning, Wood walked Marwin Gonzalez, but he was forced out to end the at bat. The lefthander then retired the side in the fourth and fifth inning, meaning he faced only one batter more than the minimum. Besides that, Wood held Houston hitless! In the sixth inning, both teams were more productive. Morton hit lead-off hitter Austin Barnes, then gave up an one-out single to Kiké Hernández. That brought Barnes to third base, who with that became the first runner to get into scoring position in this game. Hereafter, Chris Taylor hit one-hop difficult grounder to third baseman Alex Bregman, who made another great defensive play, as he had done in previous games. Bregman not only fielded the ball, he got it in time to catcher Brian McCann, who tagged out the approaching Barnes. The inning ended when Corey Seager lined out to leftfield. After the Dodgers were unable to score in the top of the sixth, the Astros did do so moments later. Wood retired the first two batters, but then his No-Hitter and ShutOut ended when George Springer drilled the ball into leftfield for a homerun! That also marked the end for Wood, who was relieved by Brandon Morrow and he got an inning-ending grounder. In the top of the seventh, Houston also went to the bullpen. With one out, Cody Bellinger doubled to record his first World Series-basehit. Hereafter, Will Harris took over from Morton. He saw Yasiel Puig line out to rightfield, but then gave up a single to Logan Forsythe that enabled Bellinger to score the tying run. Forsythe was forced out, but the score was tied at 1-1. After both teams were retired in order in the eighth inning, the Dodgers took the lead in the top of the ninth inning. Houston-closer Ken Giles took the mound, but he was greeted with a lead-off single from Corey Seager, then walked Justin Turner. Hereafter, Cody Bellinger connected for his second double in the game, which gave Los Angeles a 2-1 lead. It also led to a new pitching change, as Joe Musgrove took over from Giles. With runners on second and third base, he struckout Yasiel Puig, then walked Logan Forsythe intentionally wit two outs to set up a force play. However, the force play never can. Instead, Los Angeles added a run on a sacrifice fly by Austin Barnes and Joc Pederson followed with a 3-run homerun to increase the lead to 6-1. In the bottom of the ninth, Kenley Jansen closed the game for the Dodgers. With two outs, he gave up a homerun to Alex Bregman, but a flyout then ended the game.

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