The Dodgers and Astros have played another game for the ages

I have a request.

Whenever, and however, this World Series ends, could we please ask the Dodgers and Astros to just keep playing? I don’t know, maybe three or four times a week, all offseason? Just to entertain us, because this World Series has been one of the most entertaining in years, and I say that as a Cubs fan who was highly entertained by last year’s World Series.

And here I thought these two teams had played the wackiest, craziest game I’d seen all year last Wednesday, when I called Game 2 “a game for the ages.”

Now we have another one of those, and the World Series hasn’t even gotten past Game 5 yet.

As I noted in my Game 2 recap, I don’t usually write these for non-Cubs games, but once again, these two teams have played a game worth remembering.

The Dodgers blew a four-run lead, then a three-run lead, then a one-run lead. Not to be outdone, the Astros blew a three-run lead — in the ninth inning, with one strike to go for a win. The teams combined for seven home runs, which came within one of the record for most home runs in a World Series game, which was set... last Wednesday. (MLB says the balls aren’t juiced. Pitchers say: “Yeah, right.”)

Brian McCann’s home run in the ninth inning was the 22nd in this World Series, which is a record for one Series... with at least one more game to go. At the end of the ninth inning, the teams had played four hours and 52 minutes, which would have been the longest nine-inning game... ever, not just in postseason or World Series history. (Current record: 4:45, August 18, 2006, Red Sox vs. Yankees, and I’m sure you’re not surprised by those two teams setting that mark. Longest nine-inning postseason game: well, you surely remember this one... Game 5 of this year’s Cubs/Nationals NLDS, 4:37. Longest nine-inning World Series game: Game 3, 2007, Red Sox vs. Rockies, 4:19.)

Anyway, these two teams felt we needed even more baseball, and how could any of us complain?

Perhaps the only thing that hadn’t happened in this game did happen when McCann was hit by a pitch with two out in the 10th. He advanced to second base on a walk and was replaced as a pinch-runner by Derek Fisher.

Derek — who, you’re asking? Derek Fisher was a first-round pick of the Astros in 2014, 37th overall, who played in 37 games for Houston during the regular season this year, but who had made just three appearances in the postseason, all as either a pinch-runner or pinch-hitter and who had not been in any of the first four World Series games.

Then this happened:

That game had so many “Are you kidding me?” moments, you figure it can’t be topped. But then, I thought that after Game 2. There are so many highlights from this game I can’t possibly post them all here — go here to see all of them.

It was just the fourth game in World Series history in which both teams scored 10 or more runs, the first since Game 2 in 2002, when the Angels beat the Giants 11-10. The 25 combined runs was the second-most ever in a World Series game (most: 29, Game 4 in 1993, when the Blue Jays beat the Phillies 15-14).

All of this in a game started by Clayton Kershaw and Dallas Keuchel, who have four Cy Young Awards between them.

You think it was tense for you watching at home, or for the 43,300 in Minute Maid Park?

Justin Verlander gets the chance to pitch his team to a World Series win when he starts Game 6 Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Verlander pitched in two losing World Series for the Tigers (2006, 2012). Now he’s one win away from a ring.

I love baseball. This World Series has been amazing for anyone who loves baseball, and hopefully has brought many more fans in to watch the game we all know is the best.

One more game, or maybe two more games, to go in the 2017 season. Dodgers and Astros, you sure you’re not up for some exhibition games to help us pass the winter?