World Series tied 2-2

Bellinger’s key hit stops Astros

Associated PRess

HOUSTON

Cody Bellinger pulled into second base with his first World Series hit and said: “It’s a miracle!”

With the Dodgers three innings from falling into a deep deficit, the rookie slugger sparked a late comeback that stopped the Houston Astros’ surge.

Hitless in 13 at-bats, Bellinger doubled and scored the tying run in the seventh inning, then doubled home the go-ahead run off struggling closer Ken Giles in a five-run ninth that lifted Los Angeles to a 6-2 win Saturday night and tied the Series at two games apiece.

George Springer put the Astros ahead with a two-out homer in the sixth, the first hit off Los Angeles starter Alex Wood.

The crowd at Minute Maid Park, where the Astros had been 7-0 this postseason, was revved up in anticipation of the Astros having a chance tonight to win the first title in their 56-season history.

Instead, the Series will go back to Los Angeles no matter what. Clayton Kershaw starts Game 5 for the Dodgers tonight and Dallas Keuchel for the Astros in a rematch of the opener, when Kershaw pitched Los Angeles to a 3-1 win.

Bellinger, a 22-year-old bopper who set a National League rookie record with 39 home runs this season, struck out four times in Game 3 and once more in the fifth inning — his eighth whiff of the Series.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed faith Friday night in Bellinger and again Saturday afternoon.

Bellinger doubled over left fielder Marwin Gonzalez, chasing starter Charlie Morton, and came home on Logan Forsythe’s two-out single off Will Harris.

Giles entered to start the ninth and got into immediate trouble, allowing a leadoff single to Corey Seager and a walk to Justin Turner.

Bellinger took a low slider, then lined a fastball at the letters to left-center. He raised a hand rounding first and clapped his hands half a dozen times in excitement after sliding into second.

Joe Musgrove relieved and allowed Austin Barnes’ sacrifice fly and Joc Pederson’s three-run homer, his second home run of the Series.

Wood, Brandon Morrow, winner Tony Watson and Kenley Jansen combined on a two-hitter. Jansen allowed Alex Bregman’s two-out homer in the ninth, the 14th home run of the Series.

Giles, the loser, was charged with three runs — he has allowed runs in six of seven postseason appearances.

BOXSCORE

Dodgers 6, Astros 2

Los AngelesHouston

abrhbiabrhbi

C.Tylor cf4010Sprnger cf4111

C.Sager ss4110Bregman 3b4111

J.Trner 3b3000Altuve 2b4000

Clbrson pr-2b0100Correa ss2000

Bllnger 1b4221Y.Grrel 1b3000

Puig rf4000Reddick rf3000

Frsythe 2b-3b3111Gattis dh3000

A.Brnes c2001Ma.Gnza lf2000

Pderson dh4113B.McCnn c3000

K.Hrnan lf4010

Totals32676Totals28222

Los Angeles000000105—6

Houston000001001—2

DP—Los Angeles 1. LOB—Los Angeles 3, Houston 1. 2B—Bellinger 2 (2). HR—Pederson (2), Springer (2), Bregman (2). CS—C.Taylor (1). SF—A.Barnes (1).

IPHRERBBSO

Los Angeles

Wood5 2-311123

Morrow1 1-300000

Watson W,1-0100000

Jansen111101

Houston

Morton6 1-331107

Harris BS,1 2-310000

Devenski100001

Giles L,0-1023310

Musgrove112211

Giles pitched to 3 batters in the 9th

HBP—by Morton (Barnes).

Umpires—Home, Laz Diaz; First, Bill Miller; Second, Dan Iassogna; Third, Mark Wegner.

T—3:06. A—43,322 (42,060).