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Game 1 of the World Series proved that miracles can happen, as the Dodgers beat the Astros in a game that took fewer than two hours and 30 minutes to play. That really happened. It seemed impossible this postseason, yet it seems that it just took a matchup between two former Cy Young winners in 100 degree heat to make it happen.
Another Cy Young winner and two-time runner up is pitching tonight in the form of Justin Verlander. The dude is living a charmed life since getting traded from the last place Tigers to the 101-win Astros. Counting the playoffs, Verlander has pitched in nine games for Houston, and he has been the winning pitcher in all nine, giving up just eight earned runs in 48.2 innings. That's a 1.48 ERA. Dang.
Unlike in Game 1, Verlander will not be facing off against a former Cy Young winner. Pitching for the Dodgers is 2009 Oriole Rich Hill, who, well, he's a lot better than he was in 2009. Hill struck out 166 batters in 135.2 innings this year, which is actually kind of ridiculous.
Maybe we're in for another short game - or maybe the offenses are going to break out. Here comes Game 2.