What happened: The ball shifted in Jackson Chourio's glove before he secured it for the second out of the third inning. The grab prevented the inning from extending past two outs.

Why it matters: Middle-inning outs carry extra weight in October, when extended frames tax pitching staffs. The same Chourio who delivered a Game 2 walk-off added defensive value to an early offensive contribution.

What to watch: The middle innings will show whether the defense continues to back the pitching in a tight postseason game.