World Series favourites the Houston Astros suffered an opening night defeat to the Washington Nationals in the first game of the best-of-seven series.
Playing at their home stadium, Minute Maid Park, the 2017 champions were expected to prevail courtesy of pitcher Gerrit Cole but his ever-reliant arm was undone by 20-year-old slugger Juan Soto.
Cole had conceded just one run in three previous play-off games before Soto cleared the park and hit a two-run double to seal a tight 5-4 victory.
In the process, it ended a 19-match winning streak for Cole dating back to May.
Soto, who turns 21 in just three days' time, ended the contest with three hits, a stolen base and catching out Michael Brantley after which he was mobbed by his Nationals team-mates.
The Astros get the opportunity to make immediate amends when the two sides meet again on Tuesday for game two.
Of Cole’s relatively poor showing, Astros manager AJ Hinch said: “I think he’s been so good for so long that there’s this thought of invincibility and that it’s impossible to beat him.”
Cole admitted in the aftermath: “I didn’t have my A game tonight. Outside of a few pitches, it wasn’t my best game.
”They’re one of the two best teams in the world. When you’re not executing, they make you pay.”
