LOS ANGELES -- The 2017 season ended with Charlie Morton throwing a 96-mph fastball to Corey Seager, Seager hitting a groundball to Jose Altuve, Altuve throwing the ball over to Yuli Gurriel and then all the Houston Astros charging in from the bullpen and the dugout, their orange jerseys swarming the field at Dodger Stadium. It was a beautiful thing to see -- a baseball celebration.
The story of Game 7 and the Astros' 5-1 clinching victory, however, begins in the top of the first inning and with the first batter.