In looking at Astros manager A.J. Hinch’s bullpen management, it sure looked like the team’s plan after they fell behind 3-1 in the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s World Series game was to save their quality pitching arms for a potential Game 7.
Of course, if the Astros had been able to tie or take the lead, then maybe Hinch would’ve gone with one of his more “reliable” arms to follow Justin Verlander, who exited in the previous inning, leaving his team with a 2-1 deficit. Although, it’s important to note that most of the team’s relievers have been anything but “reliable” during the World Series, so it’s been bullpen by committee for Hinch in the past few games.
The Astros manager rolled with Joe Musgrove to replace Verlander, which resulted in a Joc Pederson home run in the seventh. Luke Gregerson then did a good job of recording two outs in the eighth, and Hinch then got a bit creative in trying to close out the inning.
With one more out to go to potentially finish off the Dodgers for the night — unless the Astros could tag Kenley Jansen for two runs in the ninth inning, which they were not able to do — Hinch looked to a veteran pitcher who has pitched in some big games in his career. 34-year-old Francisco Liriano entered the game with two outs in the eighth, and Twitter users had some great reactions to the surprising move.
Here are some of the best tweets about a pitcher who’s played on three teams in the past two seasons appearing in a potential World Series-clinching game.
This series has a good cast of "wait, they're still in the league?" guys: Ethier, Utley, Liriano, Beltran
— Clint (@ClintFromOhio) November 1, 2017
fransisco liriano came into the league when i was in 7th grade. im going to my 10 year high school reunion this month.
— Mr. West (@JaeQuest) November 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/Starting9/status/924852418088665093
https://twitter.com/EricTeetsel/status/925569538711834625
Seeing Tony Watson and Francisco Liriano have an impact in the World Series makes me hate Bob Nutting even more. @Pirates SPEND MONEY!
— Corb (@CorbyCorb12) November 1, 2017
Watson the winner tonight. Liriano with a great World Series debut. And Charlie Morton gonna get the win tomorrow. #FormerPirates.
— Max Gongaware (@maxgongaware) November 1, 2017
Carlos Beltran batting for Francisco Liriano woulda been trouble in 07.
— Aaron Burgin (@FullTimeHoops1) November 1, 2017
https://twitter.com/jfn514/status/925577973482303488
https://twitter.com/Chad_in_Spring/status/925577797652897792
https://twitter.com/Jonathanacosta0/status/925575791165001728
https://twitter.com/jookyhc/status/925571240315715584
To his credit, the 11-year veteran got ahead of Cody Bellinger by two strikes and eventually struck the Dodgers’ slugger out on nine pitches, so Liriano did his job. The Dodgers, however, emerged victorious and forced a Game 7 with some timely hitting against this postseason’s most dominant pitcher.
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