Reporting from Houston — So much for the sanctity of a save, of the importance of ninth-inning familiarity. With his aggressive bullpen decisions in two of the Houston Astros’ last three victories this postseason, manager A.J. Hinch has demonstrated how much he values closing experience: very little.
Each time, Lance McCullers Jr. and Brad Peacock have proved his intuitions well-reasoned. On Friday night at Minute Maid Park, as the Astros surpassed the Dodgers 5-3 in the third game of this World Series, Peacock earned his first career save by firing 3 2/3 no-hit innings.
He entered in relief of McCullers, with two men on and one out in the sixth. He exited after the game ended.
When Peacock returned to the dugout after the eighth inning, he was certain he was done. Then Hinch asked him how he felt, he said he was fine, and Hinch said the game was his to finish.
“I was shocked,” Peacock said.
Out he went. Seventeen pitches later, the Astros’ 2-1 series lead was secure.
“This is the race to 27 outs with the lead,” Hinch said. “When the guy’s doing his job, there’s only so much I need to explain.”
In sticking with Peacock, Hinch bypassed his available closer Ken Giles and setup man Chris Devenski, just as he did in the seventh game of the American League Championship Series. That night, McCullers finished the final four innings to send the Astros to the World Series.
“We’ll be forever linked,” McCullers said.
But on that game’s eve, McCullers already knew his save was the plan. He had hoped to earn the Game 7 start. When he didn’t, Hinch phoned him to cheer him up, telling the pitcher he’d rather have him finishing the game than starting it.
On Friday, Peacock first began to warm in the Astros’ bullpen in the third inning. No one warms in the third and finishes games.
“Bringing a starter into the game out of the bullpen, when it doesn’t go well, it feels like he wasn’t prepared,” Hinch said. “When it does go well, you go on to the next game.”
In the ALCS, McCullers took advantage of a combative New York Yankees lineup, spinning curveball after curveball. In the World Series, Peacock seized on a Dodgers lineup that was repeatedly missing. His fastball moves more than most, rendering it difficult to square up, but it still bisected the plate more often than not.
“They weren’t taking really good swings off me,” Peacock said.
Since the save’s invention, only two pitchers had ever recorded World Series saves of that length: Madison Bumgarner in 2014, completing San Francisco’s Game 7 win over Kansas City, and Steve Howe in 1981, finishing off the Dodgers’ triumph over the New York Yankees in six games. No one had ever done it without allowing a hit.
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Dodgers’ from left, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Chase Utley and Brandon Morrow meet on the mound in Game 3.
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The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning.
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Dodgers’ from left, Yasmani Grandal, Josh Fields, Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda stand during Astro introductions before Game 3.
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Astros closer Brad Peacock is all smiles after shutting the Dodgers out in 3 2/3 innings and striking out four.
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Dodgers starter Yu Darvish leaves the game in the second inning after surrendering four runs to the Astros.
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Yuli Gurriel hits a second-inning leadoff homer off of Dodgers starter Yu Darvish. Video of Gurriel making an apparent racist gesture in the dugout after the homer surfaced on social media during the game.
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Justin Turner of the Dodgers walks back to the bench after popping up against the Astros in the eighth inning.
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The Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig sits quietly in the dugout during Game 3 of the World Series.
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Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers chases a ball that goes foul.
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The Dodgers’ Corey Seager loses his helmet as he runs the bases on a hit by Justin Turner in the sixth inning.
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Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish, center, watches the game form the dugout in the ninth inning. Darvish started the game but was relieved in the second inning.
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Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish stands on the mound during the second inning.
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Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers strikes out in the ninth inning against the Astros.
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The Astros’ Jose Altuve tags out the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, who was trying to reach second base on a hit in the fourth inning.
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes bobbles the ball as the Astros’ Marwin Gonzalez scores a run in the second inning.
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Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel is greeted by teammate Carlos Correa after homering in the second inning against Dodgers starter Yu Darvish.
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A dour group of Dodgers watch from the dugout as a pop foul sails overhead in Game 3.
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Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. raises a fist to fans as he leaves the game in the sixth inning.
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Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes can’t make the tag on the Astros’ Josh Reddick at home plate in the fifth inning.
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The Dodgers Justin Turner scores on a wild pitch by Astros reliever Brad Peacock in the fifth inning.
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Dodgers’ catcher Austin Barnes can’t make the tag on the Astros’ Josh Reddick at home plate in the fifth inning.
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Dodgers pitcher Yu Darvish walks off the field after being taken out of the game in the second inning.
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Astros’ center fielder George Springer makes a diving catch to save a run off the bat of the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor in the fifth inning.
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The Astros’ Jose Altuve tags out Dodgers Yasiel Puig, who was trying to reach second base on a hit in the fourth inning.
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Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa, left, relays to first base in time to complete a double play after forcing out the Dodgers’ Chris Taylor.
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Yasiel Puig is tagged out by Astros second baseman Jose Altuve after trying to stretch a single into a double during the 4th inning of game 3.
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Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager can’t reach a bloop single by Astros catcher Brian McCann during fourth-inning action.
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Dodger Austin Barnes sits after Astro Josh Reddick scores from first base on an error in the fifth inning.
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The Houston Astros’ Yuli Gurriel celebrates his home run as Dodgers catcher Austin Barnes watches during the second inning.
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The Houston Astros’ Yuli Gurriel is congratulated by George Springer after hitting a home run during the second inning.
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Yu Darvish looks to the outfield as Yuli Gurriel homers in the second inning.
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Yuri Gurriel hits a second-inning leadoff home run off Dodgers starter Yu Darvish in game 3.
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Dodgers centerfielder Chris Taylor chases down a first-inning double by Astros leadoff hitter George Springer.
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The Dodgers’ Logan Forsythe singles in the top of the second inning.
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The Dodgers’ Yu Darvish pitches during the first inning.
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A giant American flag is held on the field as the national anthem is performed.
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Fans gather along the third base line during pregame warmups before Game 3 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park.
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Dodgers fans chant and clap in support of the players warming up on the field before Game 3.
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Yasiel Puig plants a kiss on his hitting coach Turner Ward during intorductions before Game 3 of the World Series.
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Joc Pederson heads to batting practice before Game 3 of the World Series at Minute Maid Park.
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Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez watches batting practice before Game 3.
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Dodgers players shag balls in the outfield before Game 3.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) McCullers drew a knowing contrast between his start and Peacock’s finish.
“I grinded through every out that I had,” McCullers said. “Pea just absolutely flourished with the opportunity. He looked unbelievable. It’s tough, especially as a starter, to be able to come out and keep your emotions in check with such a big game.
“He was just oozing with confidence. It was really easy to tell.”
Taking issue with the widespread characterization of Peacock’s season as a “Cinderella story”, McCullers launched into a spirited defense of his teammate’s long-standing potential.
Skills notwithstanding, it was wonderfully unlikely. In 2017, the 29-year-old Peacock registered one of the best surprise seasons in the sport. Before he logged a 3.00 earned-run average over 132 innings, he owned a 4.57 career mark.
In years past, he had entertained the idea of pitching in Japan. This year, he arrived at spring training thinking he’d miss the opening-day roster.
“Someone got hurt,” he said. “Now, I just had a save in the World Series. It’s unbelievable.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series
pedro.moura@latimes.com
Follow Pedro Moura on Twitter @pedromoura
