The record books will forever show that the winning pitcher of game-6 of the 2017 World Series was Dodgers left-hander Tony Watson. And while the 32-year-old Sioux City, Iowa native most certainly did exactly what he was called upon to do, he made a grand total of six pitches and actually hit the first batter he faced.

But while Watson was credited with the win, the real winner of game-6 was Dodgers left-hander and game-6 starter Rich Hill. But because Hill did not go the requisite five innings, he was denied the win.

But you know what? Rich Hill couldn’t care less.

Through his first four innings of work, Hill allowed only one run – a third-inning / two-out solo home run by Houston Astros center fielder George Springer – to make it a 1-0 game. It would be one of only four hits that the soft-tossing Boston, Massachusetts native would allow on the night, while striking out five and walking only one.

But Hill ran into what seems to be a nightly Astros buzz saw in the top half of the fifth inning when Astros catcher Brian McCann led off the frame with a sharp single to right. This was immediately followed by a double down the left field line by Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez, which put runners at second and third with no outs; a very precarious situation for Hill against the best hitting team in the American League during the regular season.

As if by divine intervention, the 37-year-old Hill then struck out Astros right fielder Josh Reddick on a 3-2 / 74.2-mph curveball for the first out of the inning, and then struck out Astros ace Justin Verlander on four pitches. But with the Astros lineup turning over, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to replace Hill with flame-throwing right-hander Brandon Morrow rather than have Hill face the excellent-hitting Astros lineup for a third time on the night; this in spite of Hill’s absolutely brilliant performance.

Although he didn’t go the required five innings to technically earn the win, the real winning pitcher in game-6 of the 2017 World Series on Tuesday night was Dodgers starter Rich Hill.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

It was the defining moment of the game and it worked to perfection. The 33-year-old Santa Rosa, California native and 11-year MLB veteran got Astros third baseman Alex Bregman to ground out to Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who promptly threw the speedy Bregman out at first base – but not without drama. Seager’s throw was in the dirt but was expertly dug out by Dodgers rookie sensation Cody Bellinger to end the inning and the extremely intense threat.

Morrow would come back out to pitch the top of the sixth inning and, in fact, got himself into trouble when he gave up a two out single to less-than-popular Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel. It is here that Roberts opted to go with the left-handed Watson to face right-handed hitters McCann and Gonzalez. And though Watson hit McCann with a pitch to put runners at first and second, he got Gonzalez to line out to a leaping Chase Utley, who had entered the game at second base as part of a double switch with Watson, to end yet another Astros threat.

Watson was then the benefactor of a two-run bottom of the sixth in which Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes led off with a single to left. Utley was then hit by a 91-mph Verlander change-up, which was followed by a huge double to right field by always-in-the thick-of-things Dodgers center fielder Chris Taylor to score Barnes to tie the game 1-1 and put runners at the corners, still with no outs. Seager then lofted a scoring sacrifice fly to Reddick and just like that it was a 2-1 ball game, with Watson now on the leading (and potential winning) side of the ledger.

The Dodgers tacked on an insurance run in their half of the seventh inning on an exciting opposite field home run by Dodgers left fielder Joc Pederson to make it a 3-1. It was Pederson’s team-leading third home run of the Fall Classic and makes him the front-runner for series MVP, should the Dodgers go on to win game-7 on Wednesday.

“I didn’t think I got it,” Pederson told reporters after the game.

You got all of it, Joc.

Pederson significantly improved his chances for 2017 World Series MVP with his seventh-inning opposite-field home run on Tuesday night. He now leads the Dodgers with three home runs in the series.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In what was arguably the best outing of the postseason and perhaps his eight-year MLB career, Dodgers closer and recently named 2017 NL Reliever of the Year Kenley Jansen was called upon for a six-out save. Not only did the 6′ – 5″ / 275-pound gentle giant from Willemstad, Curacao do exactly that, he did so on a combined 19 total pitches (18 for strikes) over his two perfect innings of work that included three strikeouts.

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen had arguably the best outing of his career in game-6 of the World Series when he recorded a six out save on only 19 pitches – 18 of which were strikes.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Wednesday’s seventh and deciding game will be the first ever World Series game-7 to be played at Dodger Stadium, MLB’s third oldest ballpark. First pitch is scheduled for 5:20 pm PT and is expected to feature Astros right-hander Lance McCullers opposite Dodgers right-hander Yu Darvish. For those concerned that Darvish will experience another clunker, as he did in game-3 of the best-of-seven series, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has already indicated that left-handers Alex Wood and Clayton Kershaw are available, should Darvish run into trouble.

This Team!