The Houston Astros have finally won their first title in the franchise’s 56th season, after closing out the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 5-1 win in Game 7. Playing for a city still recovering from Hurricane Harvey, and wearing an H Strong logo on their jerseys, the Astros brought home the prize that had eluded them since they started out in 1962 as the Colt .45s.

Dodgers fans devastated after Game 7 loss. This franchise hasn’t earned a ring since 1988, and the story goes on. At least for this year.

Built on the skills of homegrown All-Stars Carlos Correa, Dallas Keuchel and more, and boosted by the slick trade for Justin Verlander, general manager Jeff Luhnow completed the ascent that some predicted. And for a Series that was shaping up as an October classic, Game 7 quickly became a November clunker as Houston scored five runs in the first two innings off an ineffective Yu Darvish.

Highlights of the game

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George Springer doubled and scored to open the game against Yu Darvish, then hit a two-run homer to chase Darvish from the game with two outs in the second.

The first of Springer’s hits sparked a two-run rally for the Astros, who plated their initial run when Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger committed a throwing error on a routine groundout by Alex Bregman. Springer scored, and Bregman raced to second on the error, later stealing third and scoring on Jose Altuve’s groundout. In both regular-season and postseason play, Darvish has allowed 87 career stolen bases on 99 attempts, including 44 on 46 tries since 2014.

Following Bregman’s steal, Darvish settled down to retire three consecutive hitters, keeping the score at 2-0. But he threw 24 total pitches in the inning, including 13 in a strikeout of Yuli Gurriel.

An inning later, Darvish walked Brian McCann, who scored on pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.’s groundout three batters later. With a man on base, Darvish served up Springer’s homer, which gave the Astros a five-run lead.

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Dodgers ace starter Clayton Kershaw was brought in as a reliever in the third inning. He pitched 4 scoreless innings.

The Dodgers squandered multiple opportunities to score after the Astros took a 5-0 lead after two innings. They finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Dodgers had runners on first and second with no outs, on a single by left fielder Joc Pederson and a walk by second baseman Logan Forsythe. But they managed to get only one run on pinch-hit single by Andre Ethier, scoring Pederson.

Best moments of the game

Astros’ Yuli Gurriel tips helmet to Yu Darvish before first at-bat

In an apparent effort to make further amends for his racist gesture earlier in the World Series, Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel took off his batting helmet and slightly nodded his head when he faced Los Angeles Dodgers starter Yu Darvish in the first inning of Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday night.

With boos loudly raining down from the Dodger Stadium crowd, Darvish prepared himself behind the mound. Gurriel dug into the box and then waited until he got the right-hander’s attention before making the respectful gesture. Darvish seemed to extend his glove slightly in acknowledgement.

Yuli Gurriel tips his helmet to Yu Darvish #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/zlQ1JDzAct — Jesse Foster (@Jesse__Foster) November 2, 2017

With his 5th home run, George Springer ties mark for most homers in a World Series

In the biggest game of the season, the biggest game in Astros history and certainly the biggest game of his life, Springer remained in the moment. He tied the World Series record with his fifth home run, crushing a 3-2 fastball from Dodgers starter Yu Darvish way out to left-center field in the second inning at Dodger Stadium during Wednesday night’s Game 7 to give the Astros a 5-0 lead and knocking Darvish from the game.

Springer matched Reggie Jackson (1977) and Chase Utley (2009) for the record of five home runs in one World Series, although both of them did it in a six-game Series.

Clayton Kershaw sets Dodgers postseason strikeout record

Clayton Kershaw struck out four Astros in relief in Game 7 of the World Series, and in doing so set a Dodgers record for most strikeouts in a single postseason.

He entered the game in relief to start the third innings, after Yu Darvish recorded only five outs for the second time in as many starts in this World Series. The Dodgers were trailing 5-0 when Kershaw entered, and he gave them four scoreless innings in relief.

Kershaw is 3-0 with a 3.82 ERA in his six postseason appearances in 2017, with 33 strikeouts in 33 innings. Kershaw broke the previous club record of 32 strikeouts, by Orel Hershiser in 1988.

Charlie Morton

Normally a starter, Charlie Morton finished up with four stellar innings of relief for the win.

“We held down a really tough lineup,” Morton said. “For my teammates, for the city of Houston, it’s just unbelievable.”

She kissed “YES”

Clunkers

For the Dodgers, the quest to win a Series for the first time since 1988 fell short. They led the majors with 104 wins and a $240 million payroll, yet it didn’t pay off for part-owner Magic Johnson or manager Dave Roberts.

Only once have the Dodgers clinched a crown at home, that coming in 1963 when Koufax outpitched Yankees star Whitey Ford to finish a sweep. They’ve never won Game 7 of the Fall Classic at their own park, dating more than a century ago to their days on the streets of Brooklyn as the Trolley Dodgers.

But there’s always a second chance to try. In just 106 days from today, pitchers and catchers will report for spring training.

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Astros Win Their First World Series. Houston was strong in their first World Series title in franchise history, beat Dodgers 5-1. Recap and video highlights