October Heatwave in LA: The 2017 World Series Opener Kershaw Sizzles

On October 24, 2017 — On an unseasonably warm day in Los Angeles, CA where the temperature is above 100 degrees at game time, the Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Houston Astros, 3 – 1, in Game 1 of the World Series as Clayton Kershaw is the winner over Dallas Keuchel. All four runs score as the result of long balls, and Justin Turner’s two-run shot with two outs in the 6th is the difference maker after Chris Taylor and Alex Bregman trade solo shots.

“I felt good. It’s a tough lineup over there,” Kershaw said. “The way Keuchel was throwing it was up and down a lot, which was good. It got us into a rhythm a little bit. I think for me personally, it helped out a lot.”

“It’s the best lineup that we’ve seen all year,” L.A. manager Dave Roberts said. “They slug. They don’t strike out. They’re athletic. They steal bases. There’s so many ways they can beat you.”

The lefthander had waited his whole career for this moment. And once he took the mound in his Series debut, he lived up every bit to the legacy of Sandy Koufax, Orel Hershiser, and the greatest of Dodgers hurlers. The three-time Cy Young Award winner struck out 11, gave up just three hits, and walked none over seven innings, featuring a sharp breaking ball that often left Houston batters looking foolish. His lone blemish was a home run by Alex Bregman in the fourth that made it 1 all.