Los Angeles Dodgers beat Houston Astros 3-1 in World Series opener
Wednesday 25 October 2017 09:28, UK
Clayton Kershaw and Justin Turner stole the show as the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed a 1-0 World Series lead at a red-hot Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw struck out 11 in seven innings and was the beneficiary of Turner's sixth-inning home run, a hit that made all the difference as the Dodgers prevailed 3-1 in a record-breaking opener.
Batters had constant trouble on a night when the first pitch was thrown with the temperature sitting at a stifling 103 degrees, a record for a World Series game.
The packed crowd had something to celebrate in the bottom of the first when Chris Taylor launched a 447ft home run into deep left off Astros starter Dallas Keuchel.
But Keuchel would prove just as effective as Kershaw over the next five innings and the Astros levelled the scores in the fourth when Alex Bregman finally got to the Dodgers starter.
Keuchel continued to stymie the Dodgers until the sixth, when he walked Chris Taylor with two outs and then allowed Turner, who hit 21 regular season home runs, to take him deep and make it 3-1.
Kershaw handed over to Brandon Morrow after seven innings and he and Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen saw the game out to give them an early advantage in the seven-game series.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw's performance: "Tonight was one of those nights, I think the first time in a while, where we've seen all three of his pitches synced up.
"He just was repeating the delivery, held the velocity. Was throwing the baseball where he needed to, where he wanted to.
"They are a very talented team over there. And for him to get ahead, keep them off balance, work them from front to back, up and down, to all quadrants. This was a special night for Clayton."
