The Houston Astros took an important step towards their first World Series title in the first inning of Game 7 in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
After losing Game 6, 3-1, the Astros bats came alive against Dodgers starter Yu Darvish.
George Springer led off the game with a double to left field and later scored on a throwing error by Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger. Game 5 hero Alex Bregman reached second on the error and eventually scored on a sacrifice by Jose Altuve.
The Dodgers responded in kind in the bottom of the first as Chris Taylor led off with a double of his own.
George Springer (No. 4) of the Houston Astros reacts after a double in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers
Yuri Gurriel was booed loudly again in the first inning on Wednesday.
The Astros first baseman was recently suspended for the first five games of the 2018 season after being seen making a racist gesture in the Houston dugout during Game 3.
Gurriel’s gesture was seemingly referencing Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish, who is from Japan.
Gurriel was previously booed by the Dodger faithful during introductions on Tuesday and again before his first at-bat in Game 6.
In fact, Dodgers starter Hill stepped off the mound after Gurriel was announced, which gave the home fans more time to show their displeasure.
During Game 3, the Cuban-born Gurriel could be seen pulling on the corners of his eyes after homering off Darvish during Houston’s 5-3 win. He also used a derogatory Spanish term in reference to Darvish, who was born in Japan.
‘I made an offensive gesture that was indefensible,’ Gurriel said in a statement released by the Astros.
‘I sincerely apologize to everyone that I offended with my actions. I deeply regret it.’
‘I would particularly like to apologize to Yu Darvish, a pitcher that I admire and respect. I would also like to apologize to the Dodgers organization, the Astros, Major League Baseball and to all fans across the game,’ he said.
Gurriel will lose $322,581 of his $12 million salary next year, which the Astros will donate to charitable causes.
Darvish has downplayed the incident.
‘When a Dodgers staffer told me what was happening, at the time, it’s not like I was that irritated by it,’ Darvish said through an interpreter. ‘About the extent of my reaction was me telling [interpreter Hideaki] Sato, “He did something he shouldn’t have done. This is going to be a problem, isn’t it?” But I wasn’t angry at all.’
Gurriel attempted to apologize to Darvish, but the Dodgers hurler did not deem it necessary.
‘I was told the next day told he wanted to speak to me, and I communicated to him that it was completely unnecessary and that I wasn’t bothered by it,’ Darvish said. ‘Even now, I’m not bothered by it at all.’
The Dodgers turned to pitching legends Don Newcombe and Sandy Koufax for ceremonial first pitches before Game 7.
The right-handed Newcombe tossed the ball to Rick Monday, while lefty Koufax threw to Steve Garvey.
The 91-year-old Newcombe hung onto the 81-year-old Koufax’s arm as they walked onto the field. They stood midway between the mound and home plate to make their throws.
Newcombe was a member of the franchise’s 1955 World Series championship team. Koufax was World Series MVP in 1963 and 1965.
Before the game, Newcombe was sitting in his usual seat near the Dodgers dugout and entertained a steady stream of well-wishers. Hall of Famer Dave Winfield stopped by, along with current Dodgers Kenley Jansen and Andre Ethier and actor Ken Jeong.
Los Angeles Dodgers fans cheer before Game 7 of the World Series against the Houston Astros on Wednesday night