The Latest: Astros take 4-0 lead, Darvish lifted in 2nd

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

8:14 p.m.

The Houston Astros had no problem hitting Yu Darvish in the World Series. He didn’t even make it out of the second inning with the Dodgers down 4-0.

Darvish was done after Jose Altuve’s double off the left-center wall that was the Astros’ fifth hit in the second inning. Kenta Maeda took over with two on and two outs, and got Carlos Correa for an inning-ending flyout.

Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second by sending a nearly 95 mph fastball into the Crawford Boxes in left field to give the Astros the first run of the game.

Josh Reddick, without an extra-base hit his first 54 plate appearances this offseason, then followed with a sharp double down the left field line. After Evan Gattis drew a walk, Reddick scored when Marwin Gonzalez hit a ball that ricocheted off the wall in left center beyond the reach of leaping center fielder Chris Taylor.

Gonzalez got only a single since Gattis stopped at second base after holding up to see if the ball would be caught.

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 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.

In his first World Series start, Darvish faced 12 batters. He gave up the homer, three doubles and two singles – includes the one by Gonzalez that went about 373 feet.

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7:39 p.m.

In sharp contrast to the games in Los Angeles, where Santa Ana winds led to a gametime temperature of 103 degrees in the opener, it was 65 degrees at Minute Maid Park for the first World Series game in Houston since 2005. The roof was closed – it has not been open for a game since June 9.

After throwing 24 consecutive curveballs for the final five outs of the AL Championship Series against the New York Yankees, Lance McCullers Jr. opened with five fastballs in a 1-2-3 first inning that included six fastballs and six breaking balls.

Second baseman Jose Altuve, shifted a dozen feet into right field, knocked down Corey Seager’s sharp one-out grounder to his glove side, picked up the ball after three bounces and threw to first in time for the out. Justin Turner ended the first by flying to center fielder George Springer on the warning track, 402 feet from home plate.

Springer doubled to right-center against Yu Darvish leading off the bottom half, took third on Altuve’s one-out fly to deep right center and was stranded when Carlos Correa grounded to shortstop.

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7:15 p.m.

J.J. Watt has thrown out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of the World Series.

The star defensive end for the Houston Texans was forced to do it on crutches after breaking his left leg on Oct. 8.

It was the first public appearance for Watt, who is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, since he sustained the season-ending injury against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Watt, who started a fundraiser that brought in more than $37 million for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts, received a huge ovation as he was introduced.

He wore a bright orange Astros jersey with his name and No. 99, athletic shorts and had a large black brace on his injured leg.

He made his way out to the mound before handing one of his crutches to girlfriend and Houston Dash soccer player Kealia Ohai. He then launched a pitch that was a bit outside to Dallas Keuchel.

He made a hand gesture as if to indicate that his pitch was so-so before getting his second crutch back and moving toward Keuchel. The two embraced and talked for a few seconds before the lefty ace signed the ball for him.

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5:55 p.m.

Joc Pederson will be the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 3 of the World Series, which has shifted to the American League ballpark.

Enrique Hernandez, who was originally announced as the DH, will play left field.

Center fielder Chris Taylor leads off, followed by shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Justin Turner, first baseman Cody Bellinger, right fielder Yasiel Puig, second baseman Logan Forsythe, catcher Austin Barnes, Pederson and Hernandez.

Forsythe also started the opener and was replaced by Chase Utley for Game 2.

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5:25 p.m.

Yasiel Puig in a good-natured way started saying “Excuse me, excuse me” while working to get from batting practice through the crowd of media in front of the Dodgers dugout before Game 3.

With a big smile on his face, he then hooked up with Kenley Jansen, using the 6-foot-5, 275-pound Dodgers closer as a sort of shield to get through the crowd.

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5:20 p.m.

Enrique Hernandez is the designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers and bats ninth in Game 3 of the World Series, which has shifted to the American League ballpark.

Hernandez started the opener in left field. He entered Game 2 as a defensive replacement and hit a tying single in the 10th inning off Ken Giles.

Center fielder Chris Taylor leads off, followed by shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Justin Turner, first baseman Cody Bellinger, right fielder Yasiel Puig, second baseman Logan Forsythe, catcher Austin Barnes, left fielder Joc Pederson and Hernandez.

Forsythe also started the opener and was replaced by Chase Utley for Game 2.

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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.

Houston Astros’ Brian McCann watches his RBI single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the second inning of Game 3 of baseball’s World Series Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Houston Astros’ George Springer celebrates after a double against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball’s World Series Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish, of Japan, throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball’s World Series Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning of Game 3 of baseball’s World Series Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

J.J. Watt talks to Houston Astros’ Dallas Keuchel after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3 of baseball’s World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig laughs during batting practice before Game 3 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig watches during batting practice before Game 3 of baseball’s World Series against the Houston Astros Friday, Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Turner throws during a practice for a World Series baseball game, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston, Texas. Los Angeles will face the Houston Astros in Game 3 Friday. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish talks to the media during a World Series baseball news conference, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. Darvish will start for the Dodgers as they play the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the series Friday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, right, talks to Justin Turner during baseball practice for Game 3 of the World Series, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2017, in Houston. The Dodgers are to play the Houston Astros, Friday. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)