It’s been an out-of-this-World Series for home runs, and only two games have been played.
In the Houston Astros’ 7-6, 11-inning win over the Dodgers on Wednesday night, the teams combined for a World Series-record eight home runs — including a record four in the two extra innings.
Each team clubbed four, and for the Dodgers that meant that only one of their hits didn’t land over a fence and become a souvenir.
In the two games at Dodger Stadium, there were 11 home runs. Since 2012, only one World Series — last year’s seven-game classic between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians — has had more.
So what’s with the power surge? The theories are many.
Pitchers are throwing harder and batters are stronger, so when the bat meets the ball, it’s going to carry farther. Dodgers pitcher Josh Fields throws fastballs at nearly 100 mph, but he lasted only three batters in Wednesday’s game after Jose Altuve, Houston’s 5-foot-6 second baseman, greeted him with a home run to left, shortstop Carlos Correa followed with an even deeper drive into the left-field pavilion, and first baseman Yuli Gurriel smashed a double into the gap in left-center field.
If the axiom that the bigger they are, they harder they fall holds true, the same goes for the harder they throw, the harder they get hit.
There’s also some question about the baseballs that are getting hit. Anecdotally, many players and coaches swear baseballs are smaller and harder than ever, with the seams on them flattened, resulting in more carry.
Rob Manfred, baseball’s commissioner, and Rawlings, the manufacturer of the balls, say they are no different than they’ve been in years past. Major League Baseball went so far as to release a statement earlier this season insisting it has conducted repeated studies of the balls and found no changes.
To this mix add one more hypothesis: global warming.
Dodgers slugger Justin Turner, whose two-run home run in Game 1 barely cleared the wall, gave the dry air and game-time temperature of 103 degrees some of the credit. Houston pitcher Justin Verlander agreed after giving up two hits — both homers — in Game 2.
“I think the heat affected the home runs,” said Verlander, who took the mound in 93-degree heat. “Dodger Stadium is pretty famous for, at night, the ball not carrying. Doesn’t seem like the case the last couple of nights.
“I went and looked it up.”
So did William Patzert, a climatologist with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory who says he is a lifelong Dodgers fan.
“The players are on top of it. The physics were there,” Patzert said Thursday. “On Tuesday and Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, the air was warm and dry rather than the usual damp, cool marine layer. This tilted the game toward the hitters. The science was in place.”
Patzert, whose earliest baseball memory is watching the Dodgers’ Jackie Robinson play at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, expects the advantage to swing back to the pitchers when the World Series resumes Friday in Houston’s Minute Maid Park. That stadium is indoors with a retractable roof, and temperatures will be in the low 70s.
Weather aside, it’s not too surprising that baseballs have been flying out of Dodger Stadium at a record rate during the World Series. This was, after all, the year of the home run — the 30 big-league teams combined to blast a record 6,105 homers during the regular season.
The Dodgers provided more than their fair share, setting a franchise record with 221.
Part of the reason for that could be the way hitters approach at-bats these days. Turner is an example. After he was released by the New York Mets, he began working with Chatsworth-based hitting coach Doug Latta, who encouraged the former Cal State Fullerton star to change his swing to launch the ball into the air and generate backspin, which makes it travel farther.
Four years later, Turner is an all-star and MVP candidate.
Teammate Cody Bellinger hit four home runs in his first two minor league seasons, then made an adjustment similar to Turner’s and blasted a National League rookie record 39 homers during the regular season. Same with Chris Taylor, who hit one home run over parts of three pervious major league seasons but has 24 this season, including three in 10 playoff games.
That swing-for-the-fences approach has a downside, though, with major league players now striking out at a record rate as well. The New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who hit a major league rookie record 52 home runs this season, also set the rookie record for strikeouts with 208.
One reason for both might be that pitchers are throwing harder than ever. The average speed of a fastball has risen fom 89 mph to just a tick below 93 over the last seven seasons. Some teams have bullpen specialists who come in firing at triple-digit speeds.
And though that makes those pitches harder to hit, when they are squared up, that power benefits the hitters.
Patzert, the NASA climatologist, isn’t a baseball expert, but he can speak to the weather. And that, he is sure, has changed.
“On average, L.A. is three degrees warmer than in the mid-’50s due to global warming and the urban heat island,” he said, referring to how the growth in population and infrastructure has helped drive up temperatures in Southern California.
“Baseball is being played in a warmer world. Everywhere. This is a smaller impact than better balls, equipment and stronger players. [But] many of the homers would not have made it out under normal damp and cool conditions.”
Does that make Fields or Verlander or any other pitcher who has been tagged feel any better?
Probably not.
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Astros center fielder George Springer celebrates his two-run home run against the Dodgers in the 11th inning of Game 2.
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A Dodger fan watches Houston win Game 2 of the 2017 World Series 7-6 in the 11th inning to even the series at a game apiece at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Fans at Dodger Stadium react as Houston wins a Game 2 thriller, 7-6, in 11 innings.
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George Springer exults after his 11th-inning home run.
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Disappointed Dodgers fans.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig strikes out to end the game.
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A happy Houston Astros fan at Dodger Stadium.
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George Springer and Cameron Maybin celebrate after a two-run homer by Springer off Dodgers reliever Brandon McCarthy in the 11th inning.
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Dodgers fan Ethan Czypinski, 7, of San Dimas wears his baseball glove under his World Series hat while watching a tense Game 2 at Dodger Stadium.
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Kenley Jansen turns toward the outfield after giving up a game-tying homer to Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez in the ninth inning.
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The throw to Astros catcher Brian McCann is too late as Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe scores in the 10th inning on a single by Enrique Hernandez to tie the Game 2 score at 5-5.
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Yasiel Puig sits with his head in his hands after not being able to catch what turned into a ground-rule double off the bat of Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the seventh inning.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig throws his glove in anger after not being able to catch a ground-rule double by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.
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A fan watches Houston take a 7-6 victory in 11 innings on Wednesday night.
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Dodgers reliever Brandon McCarthy paces behind the mound as Astros center fielder George Springer circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the 11th inning.
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Dodgers left fielder Charlie Culberson celebrates as he circles the bases after hitting a home run in the 11th inning to cut the Dodgers’ deficit to 7-6.
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Dodgers fans wave souvenir towels as they cheer on the Dodgers from the top deck section during Game 2 of the 2017 World Series.
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With his glove ready in the left field pavilion, a Dodgers fan cheers on the Dodgers while watching Game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodgers second baseman Logan Forsythe scores the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning after a hit by Enrique Hernandez.
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Chris Taylor can’t get to a home run by Houston’s Marwin Gonzalez during the ninth inning of Game 2.
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Fan Angel Rodriguez of East Los Angeles wears his Dodgers pride on his face while watching Houston win 7-6 in the 11th inning to even the series.
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Astros shortstop Carlos Correa greets teammate Marwin Gonzalez after he hit a solo home run off Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning to tie the score, 3-3, and force extra innings.
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Corey Seager reacts after hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning against Astros pitcher Justin Verlander.
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Dodger fans cheer in the left field pavilion as Corey Seager hits a two-run homer in the sixth inning for a 3-1 Dodgers lead in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series against the Astros at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dodger fans cheer in the left field pavilion as Corey Seager hits a two-run homer in the sixth for a 3-1 Dodgers lead in Game 2 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Andrew Vialpando, center, cheers with other Dodgers fans while watching the World Series at The Short Stop in Echo Park.
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Corey Seager lets out a yell as he hits a two-run home run against Houston starting pitcher Justin Verlander in the sixth inning.
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Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson celebrates after hitting a solo home run, which broke up Justin Verlander’s no-hit bid and tied the score, 1-1.
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Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson connects for a solo home run against Houston’s Justin Verlander.
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Chris Taylor is tagged out by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa in the fourth inning.
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Dodger starter Rich Hill watches as Justin Turner throws to first base after fielding Justin Verlander’s sacrifice bunt in the third inning.
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Rich Hill delivers a pitch during the first inning of Game 2. Hill would work four innings, giving up one run on three hits, all in the third inning, while striking out seven.
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes catches a foul ball hit by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the first inning.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig catches a fly ball hit by Astros shortstop Carlos Correa with his tongue out during the first inning of Game 2.
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes falls the ground after catching a foul ball hit by Astros third baseman Alex Bregman during the first inning.
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Actor Jason Bateman yells at Astros shortstop Carlos Correa during the first inning.
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Fernando Valenzuela, Vin Scully and Steve Yeager walk off the field after the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2.
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The crowd cheers after honoring Vietnam veterans while country music star Brad Paisley sang the national anthem before Game 2.
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Dodgers legends Vin Scully, left, and Fernando Valenzuela throw out the first pitch before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig sports a new dye job before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers ace Clayotn Kershaw meets with country singer Brad Paisley before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, share a light moment before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers outfielder Enrique Hernandez, right, shares a light moment with hitting coach Turner Ward before the start of Game 2.
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Dodgers fan Wendy Perez, of Los Angeles, holds up 7-month-old son Ezra Perez, her “lucky charm,” in the upper level before watching the Dodgers play the Astros in Game 2.
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A Corey Seager fan watches an Astros pitcher work out in the bullpen before Game 2.
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Mike Eliason, dressed in a Justin Turner wig, high-fives Dodgers fans before Game 2.
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Dodgers fan Robbie Tabares, 6, of Whittier takes in the view of his first World Series from the upper deck.
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Dodgers fans take photos before watching the Dodgers play the Astros in Game 2.
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Dodgers season-ticket holder Gilbert Romero sports his Dodgers sombrero and beads in upper deck before the start of Game 2.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series
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