Roberts uses whole arsenal, mistakes cost Dodgers as Astros take Game 2. (Game 2 Review)

Houston Astros players Jose Altuve (center-left), Alex Bregman (center-right) and Yuli Gurriel (right) all had significant roles in the Astros Game 2 victory Wednesday night. (Photo/Karen Warren/Houston Chronicle)

"Baseball is boring", they said. "Baseball is slow-paced", they said. "Nothing ever happens at a baseball game", they said.

BULL-pen...presents a review of World Series Game 2 from Wednesday night. Boy, was it a doozy.

A record eight home runs were hit at Dodgers Stadium during Wednesday night's instant classic. Keep in mind, Dodger Stadium has been notorious for being known as one of the West's most pitcher-friendly parks.

You would be excused if you thought the World Series was being played in Coors Field last night. However, it's important to know that Game 2 wasn't exactly a Home Run Derby.

In fact, entering the 8th inning, the Astros and Dodgers combined for only four runs, three of which came from a solo shot by Dodger youngster Joc Pederson in the fifth inning and another two-run shot the next inning by last year's NL Rookie of the Year, Dodger shortstop Corey Seager.

Through the first eight innings, the Dodgers were held to just two hits! The only reason why they led heading into the ninth was because of the masterclass pitching performances by Justin Verlander, Will Harris and Joe Musgrove.

Another thing: Justin Verlander, as heroic as he had been during since his acquisition from the Tigers, did not get the winning decision for the Astros in Game 2.

In fact, heading into the ninth, Verlander was going to be dealt with a loss for the first time since he joined the Astros at the start of September.

So...what happened? How did we go from a 3-1 pitching duel through seven innings to the 7-6 extra-inning longball affair we witnessed last night?

Dave Roberts decides to take out Rich Hill after four innings.

At the time: HOU 1-0 LAD

This would not be the first call to the 'pen Dodger skipper Dave Roberts would make...not by a longshot.

I understand the concept of not taking a lot of risks during postseason games, especially when talking about pitching.

However, although I know that in the short-term bringing in Kenta Maeda in the fifth inning was good for the Dodgers, I have to disagree taking out Rich Hill after only four innings.

I understand Hill allowed three walks on top of three hits and the Dodgers were unsure about his performance, but Rich Hill was fooling Astro batters.

Rich Hill speaks at a press conference after Game 2. (Photo/Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)

Jose Altuve, the leader of the dynamic Houston lineup, struck out twice to the lefty offspeed specialist...in just six pitches.

Rich Hill could have and should have been given a longer leash Wednesday night. Looking at the Dodgers bullpen going into the game, I talked in my preview of Game 2 that if you reach six or seven innings with Hill, the bullpen would shut the door.

Despite what I'll say later on, I stand by my words.

Also, if you're going to bring in a starter like Kenta Maeda, bring him in for more than 1.1 innings. Don't pull him out of the ballgame so soon.

Houston did a fantastic job during game seven of the ALCS against the Yankees by going to Charlie Morton and calling Lance McCullers Jr. to pitch the final four innings of the game.

Although Kenta Maeda probably wouldn't have held off the Astros bats through five complete innings, Maeda managed to become the first National League pitcher to retire the first 18 batters he faced in his playoff career.

Maeda went 1.1 innings with just one hit amounted to no runs in the sixth inning. I would've held him in for longer.

The impervious Justin Verlander makes two costly mistakes.

At the time: HOU 1-3 LAD after six innings

Justin Verlander's run with the Astros has been impeccable. Even Wednesday night, it seemed Verlander did absolutely everything right.

Through 4.2 innings, Verlander was tossing a gem like everyone thought he would. He was dominating the lineup left and right and was hitting his spots.

Enter: Joc Pederson.

Two gone in the fifth, Pederson launches a solo shot to level the game. Still, Verlander kept his calm and tried moving on.

The veteran righty managed to get two batters retired to start the sixth inning. Then, it happened again for the Dodgers.

A two-out walk for Chris Taylor put the leading run on first with two gone in the bottom of the sixth inning, the exact situation where Justin Turner hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead that they would hold onto to win Game 1.

Enter: 2016's NL Rookie of the Year, Corey Seager.

Justin Verlander throws a great pitch over the outside part of the plate to the lefty shortstop. Seager measures the pitch up, doesn't pull it, and launches it for an opposite field home run on a great pitch by Verlander.

Justin Verlander (left) and Corey Seager (right) watch as Seager hits a home run off Verlander in Game 2 of the World Series. (Photo via New Hampshire Public Radio)

Suddenly, a world-class effort by Justin Verlander, a man who entered Game 2 with an incredible 1.46 ERA in the postseason, allows just two hits...but they're both home runs.

Verlander manages to retire Justin Turner immediately after the Seager home run but shakes his shake in frustration as his ends his night: 6 IP, 5 K, 2 BB, 2 H...2 HR...3 ER.

Justin Verlander, who had his pitches hitting every spot he needed to, makes two mistakes that change the course of the game.

However, not all was doom and gloom for the veteran.

Yasiel Puig's "almost" catch becomes the Dodgers' Butterfly Effect

At the time: HOU 1-3 LAD, Alex Bregman on second base, no one out.

Two other pitchers enter the game for the Dodgers (still more to come, trust me), including Ross Stripling, whose only action of the game was a four-pitch walk to Evan Gattis (seriously, Dave Roberts put him in, and then pulled him out after a four-pitch walk).

With a man on first, Brandon Morrow, who has been dominant in the last weeks for the Dodgers, is summoned into the game by Dave Roberts. Morrow retires his three batters and comes back into the game for the eighth inning.

This is when the game takes an undeniable, dramatic shift.

Alex Bregman steps into the box to leadoff the top of the eighth inning against Brandon Morrow.

A ball is hit to right field towards Cuban star outfielder, Yasiel Puig who had done more than what was asked of him during the postseason.

Puig gets an incredible jump, reads the ball and sprints a solid 50 feet before diving for the ball. But Puig...

Screenshot credit to FOX Sports/Major League Baseball.

...has the ball bounce off his glove and bounce over the wall for a leadoff ground rule double.

Screenshot credit to FOX Sports/Major League Baseball.

Puig senses the severity of this play. Although many Dodger fans applauded at his passionate effort, this missed opportunity would lead to a sort of butterfly effect for the Dodgers.

A butterfly's wings flapping in Washington could turn into a tornado in Kansas. Although you may not agree with that statement, what is for sure, the ball bouncing off Yasiel Puig's glove turned into Dave Roberts calling on his closer Kenley Jansen to get six outs instead of three.

Kenley Jansen's first assignment is successful as he makes Jose Altuve ground out. However, Alex Bregman moves up to third base.

The next batter is Carlos Correa and he hits a ball back up the middle to break the Dodger bullpen's record 28+ innings without allowing a run in the postseason. Bregman scores and although Jansen gets out of the inning, the lead is trimmed in half.

The Dodgers can't add to their lead as they are shutout in the eighth inning by Joe Musgrove.

The ninth inning arrives as Marwin Gonzalez approaches the plate. Before that at-bat, Gonzalez had been hitting 6 for 42 (.143). He was facing Kenley Jansen, who had the record 12 consecutive saves to begin a playoff career.

This seemed like an easy out to begin the ninth but-

Marwin Gonzalez trots past first base after hitting a home run in World Series Game 2. (Photo/Mark J. Terrill/AP Photo)

Marwin Gonzalez leads off with a solo home run off Kenley Jansen. A blown save for Jansen and the game is tied in the ninth.

This leads me back to my point earlier.

Kenley Jansen was the sixth pitcher to enter the game...and still had to do more than normal.

Why oh why did Dave Roberts have to change up his pitcher so much in this game?

Keep Hill in the game. Take him out? Keep Maeda in the game. Tony Watson gets a double play that ends the sixth inning on one pitch? KEEP HIM IN THE GAME.

Ross Stripling threw four times as many pitches as Tony Watson in Game 2. Tony Watson threw a single pitch. A single pitch.

Yet when the game is on the line with the tying run at the plate with a man in scoring position with no one out, you immediately throw your closer headfirst into the fire.

Kenley Jansen, one of the most effective, successful and reliable closers in the game, essentially did an Aroldis Chapman from last year with the Cubs.

Aroldis Chapman could not convert save opportunities if he was summoned before the start of the ninth inning or when a runner was on base.

You throw in a guy in middle of an inning with pressure already on him, he is going to make mistakes and he will not have the same mentality as he would at the start of an inning.

Dave Roberts threw all his weapons at once in Game 2 but did not know how to manage them. Simple as that.

No one in the bullpen is reliable anymore.

Time: From the start of the ninth inning to the end of the game.

A.J. Hinch was right in bringing in his closer Ken Giles to pitch in the ninth inning. Giles held his ground and kept a Dodgers walk-off win at bay. Remember this.

Dave Roberts rightfully replaces Kenley Jansen in the 10th inning. Except...

Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve celebrate Altuve's home run in the top of the 10th inning in World Series Game 2. (Photo/Matt Slocum/AP Photo)

...he brings in Josh Fields who immediately allows back-to-back solo home runs by Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.

At the time: HOU 5-3 LAD in the 10th inning.

Bottom half of the inning now. Astros just need three outs and they are headed home with the series tied at one. In stands Yasiel Puig against...Ken Giles.

2-1 count and...

Yasiel Puig hits a home run off Ken Giles in the bottom of the 10th inning of World Series Game 2. (Photo/Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Yet another run let by the reliable closing pitchers in Game 2. The Astros lead is now 5-4. Now would be a good time to get someone warming up in the Houston bullpen.

Yasmani Grandal strikes out to Ken Giles. At this point, there is one out and Giles has thrown 18 pitches. Normally, after 20 or 25 pitches, you would expect your closer to start losing his stuff and become less effective, especially because the opposing offense can start to get a feel for his pitches.

Next up is Austin Barnes who was 0-3 before the 10th inning. 1-2 count and Giles strikes him out as well. Giles retires Barnes quickly in four pitches. Now the pitch count is 22.

Now, I understand A.J. Hinch keeping Giles in for the next batter. Giles has been clutch and deserves a chance.

Next up is Logan Forsthye, a journeying utility infielder who shouldn't be a threat for the long ball. Full count, Giles is now up to 27 pitches so this should be his last man regardless.

Giles walks Forsthye. Now, absolutely now. If you're A.J. Hinch, you aren't taking any chances and you're getting your man out of the game. Ken Giles, you've done your part. You're tired. You're missing the plate. 28 pitches is more than what you're used to.

Ken Giles stays in. He falls behind in a 1-0 count to Kike Hernandez who hit three home runs in Game 5 of the NLCS against the Cubs. Hinch, get the phone and call the 'pen.

Screenshot credit to FOX Sports/Major League Baseball.

Ken Giles...throws a wild pitch that goes to the screen. The tying run moves to second.

Message to A.J. Hinch: CALL YOUR BULLPEN. You're not Dave Roberts, you have multiple pitchers left to use!

Hinch doesn't budge. 3-1 count to Hernandez and a ball is hit to right. Josh Reddick has to throw home to get Forsthye...play at the plate and...

Logan Forsthye slides past Brian McCann to tie World Series Game 2 in the 10th inning. (Photo/Alex Gallardo/AP Photo)

He's safe. Of course he is. Tied game in the 10th inning.

Neither of the closer can come up clutch. 5-5 in the 10th inning.

Finally, the Dodgers turn to former starter Brandon McCarthy to turn in the first scoreless inning for the Dodgers since the seventh and-

George Springer celebrates his home run in the 11th inning of World Series Game 2. (Photo/Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

George Springer smashes a home run and the Astros lead

7-5 in the 11th.

All-Star reliver Chris Devenski enters the 11th inning to try to shut this game out.

He gets the first two outs of the inning as Dave Roberts turns to his final bench player remaining, Charlie Culberson. And would you believe it-

Charlie Culberson watches the ball as he hits a home run in the 11th inning of World Series Game 2. (Photo/Gary A. Vaquez/USA Today Sports)

Yet ANOTHER home run as the Dodgers cut the lead to 7-6 in the final out of the ballgame.

Finally, at long last, after four hours and 19 minutes of baseball, 14 different pitchers taking the mound and 24 different players having a plate appearances, Chris Devenski faces Yasiel Puig who hit a home run earlier and-

Screenshot credit to FOX Sports/Major League Baseball.

finally sends everybody home.

Moral of the story:

The Houston Astros finally won a crucial game on the road. With this, the Astros leave Los Angeles with their chins held high, knowing they will play in their beloved labyrinth that is Minute Maid Park.

Dave Roberts needs to decide what leash he will give to Yu Darvish on Friday night and going forward for his starting pitchers.

Both A.J. Hinch and Dave Roberts MUST talk to their bullpens and see what is working and what isn't.

Game 2 of the World Series will go down in history as one of the wildest postseason games of all time. This will serve as a turning point for both of these clubs and it will only be a matter of who reflects on Wednesday night and how they adjust to the results.