Darvish had near perfecto at Minute Maid park

By Associated Press 27 October 2017, 12:00AM

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on World Series Game 3 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros (all times local):

4:50 p.m.

Yu Darvish has been close to perfect at Minute Maid Park, where he makes his first World Series start in Game 3 for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Houston Astros.

The first time Darvish ever pitched on the road against the Astros was when he was with the Texas Rangers. The right-hander from Japan retired the first 26 batters he faced on April 2, 2013.

Darvish's bid for a perfect game ended when Marwin Gonzalez hit a single through the pitcher's legs and into center field with two outs in the ninth inning.

With the Rangers, Darvish was 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA in six road starts against the AL West rival Astros. He struck out 56 and walked 11 in those games.

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4:35 p.m.

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers played a postseason game in Houston was way back in 1981, at the Astrodome and when the Astros were still in the National League.

That was in the NL Division Series, when Houston won the first two games in the best-of-five series. The last three games were played in Dodger Stadium, and the Dodgers won all three at home to advance to the NL Championship Series.

In that NLDS Game 2 in Houston, on Oct. 7, 1981, the Astros won 1-0 in 11 innings. Denny Walling had a two-out RBI single with two outs in the 11th for the game's only run.

Jerry Reuss had thrown nine scoreless innings in that game for the Dodgers. Astros starter Joe Niekro went eight innings.

Los Angeles went on to beat Montreal in the NLCS, and won the World Series in six games over the New York Yankees.

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4:30 p.m.

Evan Gattis is the Houston Astros' designated hitter and bats seventh in Game 3 on Friday night as the World Series shifts to the American League ballpark.

Catcher Brian McCann drops from sixth to ninth in the batting order. Houston stays with the same eight position players for the third straight game.

Center fielder George Springer leads off, followed by third baseman Alex Bregman, second baseman Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, right fielder Josh Reddick, Gattis, left fielder Marwin Gonzalez and McCann. Right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. is on the mound.

Los Angeles won the opener 3-1 and Houston rallied to win Game 2 7-6 in 11 innings.

By Associated Press 27 October 2017, 12:00AM
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