World Series Live Updates: Atlanta Tries Again to Clinch Title
Nov. 2, 2021, 7:00 p.m. ET
HOUSTON — Part of the reason the Astros are starting Luis Garcia in Game 6 on short rest, rather than running back Jose Urquidy after his one-inning, 14-pitch outing in Game 5 on Sunday, is because of what they saw in the American League Championship Series against Boston.
Nathan Eovaldi started Game 2 for the Red Sox on Oct. 16, then threw 24 pitches while getting two outs in relief on Oct. 19 (while surrendering four runs). He then came back to start Game 6 on Oct. 22. Eovaldi, who had held Houston to three runs and five hits over five and a third innings in his Game 2 start, was the losing pitcher in Game 6 despite allowing only one run and five hits over four and a third innings.
Houston was taking notes.
“He wasn’t quite as sharp on that start after his bullpen day,” Houston Manager Dusty Baker said. “So you sort of take a page from other people’s groups. You tend to know your personnel.”
Baker noted that Eovaldi lasted only 63 pitches in Game 6 after throwing 81 in Game 2.
“So you had all those things in there,” Baker said, before adding about Garcia: “If it works, it’s great. If not, he’ll probably get criticized. But you’ve got to do what’s best that you think for the team and for the player.”
Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/11/02/sports/braves-astros-world-series-score