This, you half to see: Best innings of '17

The recycling bin is filled with discarded wrapping paper and we've got New Year's resolutions on our mind as 2018 looms. But before we turn that page, let's look back at the history book -- and baseball scorebook -- that was 2017.
One unique way to remember all the great matchups, pitching duels and game-turning hits, home runs and catches is to go inning by inning with highlights from the regular season and postseason we just witnessed.

We've combed through the archives to come up with a "game" comprised of the most unforgettable individual half-innings of the year, so let's recall the best of 2017, frame by frame.
TOP OF THE FIRST
Pirates at Cubs, July 9: The Pirates stumbled into the last game prior to the All-Star break, with starter Jameson Taillon a late scratch because of flu-like symptoms. The offense was healthy, though, sending 15 batters to the plate in the opening inning and scoring 10 runs to knock out Cubs starter Jon Lester before finishing the frame in a 14-3 laugher.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Nationals at Phillies, April 8: After a quiet top of the first inning, Philadelphia erupted with a club-record 12 runs in the home half, the most any team scored in any inning this season. The Phillies sent 16 batters to the plate in the frame, paving the way for an easy 17-3 win.
"You never know when these innings are going to happen again," Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph said. "As they keep piling, you try to get as many as you can."

TOP OF THE SECOND
Astros at Dodgers, Nov. 1 (Game 7 of the World Series): This was the game that netted the Astros their first title, and it effectively ended in this frame, when George Springer's two-run homer led to three runs in the inning and a 5-0 lead. Springer became the first player to homer in four straight World Series games and earned MVP honors after this game was over.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Indians at Yankees, Oct. 9 (Game 4 of the American League Division Series): The Yankees were shut out by Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer over 6 2/3 innings in Game 1, but this game -- and maybe the series -- turned in this inning, when New York erupted for four runs to chase Bauer and cruise to a win that tied the series at 2-2.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Brewers at Cubs, Sept. 9: The Brewers came into this late-season National League Central battle banged up, having learned that their terrific right-hander, Jimmy Nelson, would have to miss the remainder of the season because of a shoulder injury. But Milwaukee's offense took it upon itself to cheer up the club, crushing Cubs pitching with an eight-run third inning en route to a 15-2 win that cut Chicago's division lead to three games.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Brewers at Nationals, July 27: Nationals Park looked more like a NASA launching pad in this one. Washington hitters went blast-off with four consecutive homers and five overall while scoring seven times in the inning. By the time the game had ended, the Nationals had hit eight homers and won, 15-2.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Marlins at Rangers, July 26: The Marlins had serious thump in their lineup in 2017, including Major League home run leader Giancarlo Stanton, and they showcased it in this inning, scoring nine times. Overall, Miami scored 22 runs in the victory, the highest single-game total of any road team in '17.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Twins at Angels, June 3: How about a little room for some Major League Baseball history? The great Albert Pujols became the ninth member of the 600-homer club -- and the first to do it with a grand slam -- when he went yard with the bases loaded off Ervin Santana, keying a 7-2 win.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Cubs at Nationals, Oct. 12 (Game 5 of the NL Division Series): The Nationals were at home in a deciding Game 5 to try to notch their first postseason series win in franchise history, but the Cubs would not go away, and this was the pivotal frame. Chicago was trailing by one entering the inning but rallied to score four times against Max Scherzer. They did not relinquish their lead in what became a 9-8 victory that sent them to another NL Championship Series.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Dodgers at Astros, Oct. 29 (Game 5 of the World Series): In one of the craziest games in World Series history, this might have been the craziest inning. The Astros had come all the way back from a 4-0 deficit in the previous inning, but gave up three in the top of the frame. Then the smallest Astro, second baseman and AL MVP Jose Altuve, came up huge, hitting a three-run homer to tie the game again. The Astros would eventually win this all-time classic, 13-12, in 10 innings.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
White Sox at Royals, May 3: Finally, one for the pitchers out there. Right-hander Nate Karns pulled off the rare accomplishment of striking out four batters in this inning and went on to pitch six scoreless frames, giving up only one hit. The Royals ended up winning, 6-1.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Yankees at Indians, Oct. 6 (Game 2 of the ALDS): One of the most memorable hits of October came in this inning, and it came in the midst of what looked like a lifeless performance by the Indians' offense. Cleveland trailed the Yankees, 8-3, and Progressive Field was quiet. But when Lonnie Chisenhall's hit by pitch went unchallenged by New York, the bases were loaded and Francisco Lindor unloaded, hitting a grand slam off New York reliever Chad Green to cut the deficit to one and bring the stadium back to life. The Tribe would go on to win, 9-8, in 13 innings in one of the more memorable games of the postseason.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Blue Jays at Cardinals, April 25: The highlight reels were buzzing after one of the most spectacular baserunning plays in recent memory. Chris Coghlan worked a pinch-hit walk and then scored on Kevin Pillar's triple by somersaulting over catcher Yadier Molina and landing on home plate in a 6-5, 11-inning win.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Rockies at D-backs, Oct. 6 (NL Wild Card Game): One of the more unlikely clutch hits of the postseason came in this spot. Arizona led, 6-5, and manager Torey Lovullo opted to have relief pitcher Archie Bradley hit with two runners on and two outs. It turned out to be a stroke of genius because of Bradley's stroke, which produced a two-run triple that helped lead to an 11-8 win.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Cardinals at Cubs, July 21: A lot of games that have 3-2 scores entering the eighth inning are taut affairs that go all the way to the end. Not so much with this one. The Cardinals were trailing by that score here before putting 11 consecutive men on base via six hits and five walks. They scored nine times, turning a tight one into an 11-4 rout.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Astros at Yankees, Oct. 17 (Game 4 of the AL Championship Series): The Yankees could not afford to fall behind 3-1 in the series, but they were close to doing just that, entering this frame trailing, 4-2. But Aaron Judge tied the game with a double and Gary Sánchez doubled home two more in a four-run explosion that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead that would eventually hold up and tie the series.

TOP OF THE NINTH
D-backs at Marlins, June 3: In one of the more emotional game endings of the year, veteran right-hander Edinson Vólquez took a no-hitter into this inning and finished it off in style, striking out the side to cap the no-no while pitching on the birthday of his late friend and former teammate, Yordano Ventura, who died in a car accident the previous offseason. Volquez's brilliance in the 3-0 victory made him the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the entire 2017 season.
"When you're little, as a baseball player, first you want to be in the big leagues, throw a no-hitter, go to the All-Star Game," Volquez said. "It's a dream come true."

BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
Giants at Rockies, June 18: How's this for a dream come true: completing the rare feat of completing the cycle by hitting a come-from-behind, walk-off homer? That's exactly what Nolan Arenado did, crushing a ball over the left-field wall at Coors Field to beat closer Mark Melancon and the NL West-rival Giants, 7-5. Arenado became the first player in big league history to clinch a cycle with that very special type of long ball.

TOP OF EXTRA INNINGS
Astros at Dodgers, Oct. 25 (Game 2 of the World Series): We'll take the decisive 11th in this remarkable game. Houston hitters homered a combined four times in the ninth, 10th and 11th, with none more important than Springer's shot in this spot that ended up being the game-winner.

BOTTOM OF EXTRA INNINGS
Royals at Indians, Sept. 14: It was patently absurd that the Indians entered this game having won an AL-record 21 consecutive games, and in the bottom of the 10th, Jay Bruce's walk-off double made it an even-more-unheard-of 22. The Indians had tied the game with two outs in the ninth and Bruce's frozen rope to right field only added to the drama in the 3-2 victory that proved to be the final one in the amazing streak.
"You can't draw this stuff up, man," Bruce said in the aftermath. "You really can't."