Could be the Dodgers’ strategy worked.
The Houston Astros, statistically the best hitting team in Major League Baseball this season, managed only three hits in a 3-1 loss in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday.
Was it Clayton Kershaw, Brandon Morrow and Kenley Jansen’s prowess, or were they lulled into a slump?
When the Astros took the field for batting practice during Monday’s workout at Dodger Stadium, the sound system played cheesy soft rock from artists such as Toto, Ambrosia and the Little River Band.
No harm, no foul on the selection, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said before the game. He was more offended that the Dodgers kept his team waiting beyond the scheduled starting time of the workout.
“The gamesmanship started with a 6:30 workout that started at 6:45 because they weren’t done with their live BP,” Hinch said. “To each their own. We’ll have a few things up our sleeve when they come to Houston.”
When the Astros took batting practice before Game 1, the Dodgers played a pleasant selection of organ music, including “Heat Wave” and “Summer Breeze.”
Speaking of the weather
The temperature at Dodger Stadium at the time of the first pitch was 103 degrees.
That’s a World Series record. The previous record (94 degrees) was established in Arizona in 2001, for the opener between the Diamondbacks and New York Yankees.
For Game 1 of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Indians at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, the temperature was 50 degrees.
He’s already been a hit
Hinch excitedly told reporters that Justin Verlander had knocked a home run during the team’s Monday batting-practice session.
Verlander was far less excited about hitting during his start in Game 2 on Wednesday.
At Dodger Stadium, the pitchers will hit. In Houston, there will be a designated hitter.
“Hitting, it’s fun during the regular season,” Verlander said. “You kind of get to break up the monotony a little bit. We have fun with it. But the World Series is a different animal. You can change the outcome of the game whether you get a bunt down or whether you can squeak out a hit.”
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Justin Turner and Clayton Kershaw hug after defeating the Astros in Game 1.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 2/30
Dodgers relief pitcher Kenley Jensen points to the sky after getting the final out.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 3/30
Clayton Kershaw is congratulated by coaches and teammates after the Dodgers beat the Astros, 3-1, in Game 1.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 4/30
Justin Turner connects for a two-run homer off Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel in the sixth inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5/30
Justin Turner hits a two-run home run aginst the Astros in the 6th inning in Game 1.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 6/30
Yasiel Puig congratulates Justin Turner after he hit a two-run home run aginst the Astros in the 6th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 7/30
Teammates happily greet Justin Turner after he hit a two-run homer off Houston starter Dallas Keuchel.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 8/30
Chris Taylor, left, congratulates Justin Turner who hit a two-run home run aginst the Astros in the 6th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times ) 9/30
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw touches his nose with his tongue during the seventh-inning stretch during Game 1 of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 10/30
Enrique Hernandez catches a fly ball by Astros Josh Reddick inthe 8th inning in Game 1.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 11/30
Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel looks up at a foul ball as he strikes out against Clayton Kershaw.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 12/30
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is greeted with high-fives in the dugout after a succesful third inning sacrifice bunt.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 13/30
The Astros’ George Springer strikes out against the Dodgers in Game 1.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 14/30
Clayton Kershaw flashes a look of disgus after giving up a solo homer to Alex Bregman in the 4th inning.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 15/30
The Dodgers’ Kiki Hernandez is tagged while striking out by Astros catcher Brian McCann in the 5th inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 16/30
Corey Seager tries to break up a fifth inning double play as Astros second baseman Jose Altuve relays a throw to first on a grounder by Logan Forsythe.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 17/30
The Dodgers’ Corey Seager hits a single against the Astros in the 5th inning in Game 1.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 18/30
Dodger Cody Bellinger’s jersey in Game 1 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 19/30
Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor runs towards first base after hitting a solo home run off the first pitch of the game against Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 20/30
Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor gets a hand slap from Los Angeles Dodgers first base coach George Lombard after hitting a solo home run off the first pitch of the game against Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 21/30
Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 22/30
Dodgers outfielder Chris Taylor homers on the first pitch from Houston Astros starter Dallas Keuchel.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 23/30
Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor hits a solo home run off the first pitch of the game against Houston Astros starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) 24/30
Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor hits a solo home run in the first inning against the Houston Astros.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 25/30
Dodger fans cheer as pitcher Clayton Kershaw gets a strikeout against the Astros in the 1st inning.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 26/30
Clayton Kershaw gave up one hit with 11 strikeouts in seven innings against Houston in Game 1 of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times) 27/30
Comedian and Dodger fan George Lopez waves a flag above the home team’s dugout before game one of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 28/30
Fans cheer opening ceremonies as Dodgers reserve Joc Pederson sits alone in the dugout before Game 1.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 29/30
Police, fire and military personnel unfurl a large U.S. flag before the start of Game 1.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) 30/30
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw warms up in the outfield before the start of the World Series.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Verlander said the Astros’ pitchers were at a “pretty severe disadvantage” compared to Dodgers pitchers who hit during most of their starts this year. He said he would take a simple approach when it was his turn.
“I’m not going to try to get a home run,” Verlander said. “I hope I’m 0-for-0 with four sac bunts. That’s the ideal plan. But I guess when you’re up there, if the situation calls for it, you try to do the best you can.”
Verlander had one single in six plate appearances this season. In 53 career plate appearances, he has four singles, no extra-base hits, and has never walked.
Times staff writer Mike Hiserman contributed to this report.
The Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series
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