By Spencer Nowak ’22

Going into this year’s American League Division Series, baseball fans had never been more excited. All the teams had been chosen for this year’s playoffs. The New York Yankees had an early win and advanced into the playoffs, beating the Twins in a wild card game. In a similar instance, the Diamondbacks beat the Rockies in the second wild card game. The teams for the 2017 ALDS were now set: Red Sox, Astros, Yankees, Indians, Cubs, Nationals, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers. Each team would play a series of 5 games in the quarter-finals.

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The Red Sox played the Astros first. After winning two games in a row, it looked certain the Astros would clinch the third, but with a 10-3 blowout, the Red Sox started to have hope. Just when things looked bright for the Red Sox, the Astros prevailed with a close 5-4 win. Houston now advanced to the semi-finals.

In the second quarter final game, the Dodgers faced the Diamondbacks, and with an easy three win streak, the Dodgers advanced to the semi-finals.

In the third quarter-final game, the Cubs competed against the Nationals. Both teams performed very well and they went into the fifth and final game tied at two games each. Once again in one of the closest match of the playoffs, the Cubs barely won with a final score of 9-8. The Cubs were on to the semi-finals.

In the final game of the 2017 ALDS quarter-finals, the Yankees challenged the Indians. After the Indians won the first two games easily, things didn’t look good for the Yankees. Miraculously, the Yankees managed to win three straight games in a row against the Indians, and were the final team to make it to the semi-finals.

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The final four teams were decided. The New York Yankees would play the Houston Astros, and the LA Dodgers would face the Chicago Cubs. Each team would play best of seven games.

After losing their first two games, the Yankees were hopeful that they could once again pull an epic comeback. Somehow the Yankees make an amazing comeback, leading the Astros 3-2. Almost as if they had celebrated too early, the  Astros went on the win the next two games and advanced to the finals, with a final score of 5-3.

The final semi-final game had the Dodgers playing the Cubs. The Cubs had hope, but unfortunately only won one of the five games, and the Dodgers became the second and last team to enter the 2017 World Series.

The final two teams of the 2017 World Series were decided. The Houston Astros would face the LA Dodgers on the Astro’s home turf. Was this an advantage that guaranteed them the win? Stay tuned.