Oct 28, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Alex Wood throws a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning in game four of the 2017 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
HOUSTON — The only thing predictable about postseason baseball is its unpredictability, a trope so infallible that it remains surprising when prognosticators misremember its validity.
Case in point: Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood, whose lone postseason start prior to Game 4 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park came 10 days ago at Wrigley Field in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Dodgers’ only loss of the National League Championship Series.
Wood not only seemed a likely victim of rust and inactivity, the prevailing notion that he wouldn’t pitch deep on Saturday night set off blaring alarms of concern of the Dodgers’ already taxed bullpen.
Fittingly, the exact opposite scenario unfolded. Wood, despite amassing a total of 4 2/3 innings over the past month, befuddled the Astros’ right-handed-heavy lineup. He carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the Dodgers’ 6-2 win, thereby setting the table for their stable of exceptional relief pitchers to tackle their traditional roles and stifle Houston en route to victory.
“I think everybody was talking yesterday about our ‘pen being burned or tired or whatever it might be,” Wood said. “We haven’t really had to work too hard, so far in the playoffs, our bullpen hasn’t, truly. They’ve been absolutely nails. And so, we had to use a lot of guys yesterday, but I think our guys felt really good. They feel confident and everybody kind of wants the ball. It’s kind of the mentality we’ve had.”
But before Brandon Morrow, Tony Watson, who earned the win, and closer Kenley Jansen combined to allow one run on one hit — a two-out solo home run by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the ninth inning — with one strikeout over 3 1/3 innings, Wood worked his magic.
Early command issues didn’t hinder Wood, who erased a leadoff walk to Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the second inning by inducing a double play from the ensuring batter, first baseman Yuli Gurriel. Wood stranded a base runner in the third inning and retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth, matching the exceptional work of Astros starter Charlie Morton.
Two outs into the sixth Wood had yet to allow a hit. Astros center fielder George Springer ended that stretch with a solo home run to left field, but with the deficit at just one run, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was perfectly positioned to optimally utilize his bullpen.
Morrow and Watson were perfect over 2 2/3 innings and by the time Jansen surrendered that harmless homer to Bregman, the Dodgers led by five and were an out from squaring the series.
While he wasn’t the pitcher of record, Wood executed his job at a level that could be deemed surprising if these types of unexpected performances weren’t so prevalent in the postseason.
“Woody was phenomenal,” Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger said. “He was hitting his spots, keeping them off balance. He’s been great for us all year. We need that out of him to go deep in this game to save our arms in the bullpen.”
Said Roberts: “Woody set the tone for us and was just outstanding tonight.”
