Here’s a look at the report from tonight’s Game 2.
Postgame
Well the Nationals just walked into Houston and ripped two games away from a team that was meant to waltz to a second title in three seasons. Not so fast. Washington have won eight straight playoff games and 18 of their last 20 overall. The end result is that they are heading home, knowing that taking two of three games will bring the franchise its first World Series title.
We will have more live game action on Friday night in addition to more traditional coverage. Until then, thank you for reading, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon or goodnight.
Updated
Nationals 12-3 Astros, Final
Marisnick bounces out to third and this ballgame is over!
Nationals 12-3 Astros, bottom 9th
Springer chops to the left side of the infield and Rendon throws it away. The E5 extends the inning.
Now Altuve has a base hit, and the Astros are content to waste all our time.
Here is Jake Marisnick off the bench.
HOME RUN! Nationals 12-3 Astros, bottom 9th
Martin Maldonado hits a home run over the Fuddruckers sign in left, and I thought Fuddruckers were no longer with us. The train does its thing, which is admirable and sad at the same time.
Now Reddick grounds out to second and the Astros are down to their final out.
Nationals 12-2 Astros, bottom 9th
Javy Guerra is in, and he entices a fly ball to center out of Correa. One down.
Nationals 12-2 Astros, top 9th
Parra skies to center. Inning over. Houston have three outs left.
HOME RUN! Nationals 12-2 Astros, top 9th
Michael Taylor with another blast, which leads to yet another celebration in the dugout. There’s lots to admire with these Nats, including their consistency.
Turner strikes out, and Parra enters off the bench.
Nationals 11-2 Astros, top 9th
Suzuki grounds out to cheers that are quite loud. Do they do Bronx cheers in Houston?
Nationals 11-2 Astros, bottom 8th
Rainey goes 1-2-3 after striking out Alvarez. To the ninth!
Nationals 11-2 Astros, bottom 8th
Oh, Rainey is in pitching now. I was getting cookies, which I think are allowed at this stage.
There’s more “all they gotta do is get back to Cole and Verlander” type stuff from Smoltz, who clearly doesn’t get what is happening right now.
Gurriel flies out to center, two down. Here’s Alvarez.
Nationals 11-2 Astros, bottom 8th
Bregman flies to right.
The Nats are building good will everywhere.
The Nationals are a treasure and I... think I love them? pic.twitter.com/yY5g9wDHrK
— Bill Baer (@Baer_Bill) October 24, 2019
Nationals 11-2 Astros, top 8th
Altuve makes a great tumbling stop at second to retire Zimmerman and end the inning.
RUN! Nationals 11-2 Astros, top 8th
Cabrera’s RBI single scores Soto. Their fans are undoubtedly asking them to save some runs for Game 3.
Nationals 10-2 Astros, top 8th
Kendrick singles, Soto moves to second, and Hinch is out to get James. We are in extensive gar-bage time, and it’s ugly.
Hector Rondon is in to face Cabrera.
Down 0-2
FOX TV in the US tells us that there are just three teams to lose the first two World Series games at home and comeback to win it. They are:
1985 Kansas City Royals
1986 New York Mets
1996 New York Yankees
So I am saying there’s a chance, but that’s not a pretty picture if you live in Houston.
Nationals 10-2 Astros, top 8th
Rendon strikes out, Soto walks.
HOME RUN! Nationals 10-2 Astros, top 8th
Adam Eaton just put one in the seats leading to yet another cabaret in the DC dugout.
Houston, it would seem, have more than just one problem. They are getting creamed at home and now face a long flight to DC knowing their sure thing World Series title is anything but. A wild turn of events.
Nationals 8-2 Astros, top 8th
Robles strikes out but reaches on a past ball so he’s on first. Here’s Turner, who strikes out without reaching first.
Eaton is next.
Nationals 8-2 Astros, bottom 7th
Strasburg is being hugged by four Nationals and deservedly so. Meanwhile, Altuve is popping out harmlessly to short. Two down for Brantley.
Analyst John Smoltz is on FOX TV in the US giving “all Houston has to do...” type of advice to the Astros. But what he doesn’t seem to understand are the RPM’s on the the buzzsaw they’ve just run into. The Nats have barely lost since May and don’t look like starting now. Vegas need to look in the mirror.
Brantley grounds out to first, inning over.
Nationals 8-2 Astros, bottom 7th
Reddick walks, then Springer bounces into a 5-4 force out. One down with a man on for Altuve.
The lines
Verlander
6IP 7H 4R 4ER 3BB 6SO 1HR
Not what they were looking for out of Verlander says Captain Obvious
Strasburg
6IP 7H 2H 2ER 1BB 7SO 1HR
He was phenomenal after his rocky first, and held on through a tough sixth inning well over 100 pitches. Terrific outing.
Updated
Nationals 8-2 Astros, bottom 7th
So here’s Fernando Rodney, which means Martinez is feeling really good about his chances. He faces Reddick to open the home seventh.
True story...
Juan Soto is getting Bonds treatment and he hasn't even been born yet. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 24, 2019
Nationals 8-2 Astros, top 7th
Suzuki started this inning with a blast, and finishes it with a ground ball out to second. This inning is finally over, one that may live on in infamy for Houston and their fans!
RUNS! Nationals 8-2 Astros, top 7th
A roller to third, Bregman will have to hurry, he’s got it and he throws it away! Two more are coming in for DC! What a nightmare inning, and especially so for Bregman! He needs to put that ball in his pocket but instead, he airmailed it!
Here comes Hinch to get Pressly. Josh James will enter.
What a mess in Houston!
RUNS! Nationals 6-2 Astros, top 7th
Cabrera: a line shot, right up the middle, and two more runs come in for the Nats!
Turner is in, so is Soto! What an inning for Washington and it’s crickets in Houston!
Zimmerman steps in with two on and two out.
Man, Bregman had to make that play...that’s an E-5 even if they didn’t score it that way.
Updated
RUN! Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 7th
Ground ball to short, Bregman runs to his left and he can’t get it! Robles scores and the Nats have a two run lead! He’s gotta make that play!
And the bases are still loaded for Cabrera!
Oh boy...
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Rendon skies to center - is it deep enough?
It is not! They won’t run on Springer and that’s just what Houston needed. That is also the argument agains the sac bunt.
Anyway, now they intentionally walk Soto, which is absolutely the right move, and they will take their chances with Kendrick.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Conservative: Eaton lays down a sac bunt that advances the runners. Am I allowed to like that move?
Here’s Rendon - swallow hard Houston.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Ball four! Two on, no outs. Here’s Eaton.
Home plate umpire sucks. How do you hold them accountable. Is there a review of the game and their calls? Baseballs all about numbers ... what does this look like for accuracy?
— Karen Caine (@KarenCaine8) October 24, 2019
They are reviewed, but you’re not alone in this department.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Now Robles walks and here comes AJ Hinch to speak to Verlander.
That will do it for Verlander, who had it for five innings tonight, but not in the first and not in the seventh. He is on the hook ands here comes Pressly in relief: heis operating with something of a balky knee.
Tough sledding ahead, here comes Turner.
HOME RUN! Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Kurt Suzuki launches one to deep left center and that’s way out of here! There’s a dance party in the DC dugout as the visitors go on top! Wow! Astros blink first!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Oh nasty! Strasburg floats a full-count curveball over the plate and Tucker can’t handle it! Strike three - huge stones from Strasburg, who is almost definitely done after 114 pitches. Great for Martinez to stick with him through late game trouble - old school!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Full count: the merry-go-round will be in motion!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Check swing, did he go? Yes! It’s 2-2 to Tucker...
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Broken bat, little fly ball a little north of second base and Strasburg survives Correa.
Here’s Tucker, who will pinch hit for the catcher Chirinos. Pitching coach Paul Manhart is on the hill to chat with Strasburg.
Tucker had a big hit last night as the Astros rallied in the eighth.
Two on, two out. How will it end?
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Full count!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Alvarez is intentionally walked to face Correa, which, despite the righty, righty thing, strikes me as a lotta bit crazy, regardless of his struggles.
Two on, one out. Here we go!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Gurriel laces a shot down the third base line, just fair! He’s at second base with a one out double and with Strasburg approaching 100 pitches, the wheels begin to turn for Nats manager Dave Martinez.
Here’s Alvarez trying to cash in.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Bregman steps in to face Strasburg and grounds out routinely to short: that’s a big first out. Here’s the Cuban Gurriel as the Nats Hurler continues to cruise.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 6th
Routine grounder to short is no problem for Correa - Verlander is through six approaching 100 pitches. No reason to not bring him out for the seventh and go batter by batter.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 6th
Kendrick lines to center where Springer makes an easy play. Then Cabrera strikes out, Verlander’s sixth of the evening. Now it’s up to Zimmerman in the away sixth.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Brantley hits a drive to center, back goes Robles to the edge of the outfield grass and he’s under it to make the catch. That’s a loud inning ending out for Houston, who have stranded four to DC’s five runners.
To the sixth!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Altuve is getting the regular treatment leading off of first.
1-2 to Brantley.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Now Altuve has a two-out knock and here’s Brantley up to keep the inning alive. Strasburg up to 83 pitches...
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Line drive hit on the screws, Turner, on one knee picks it from the dirt, gets up and throws out Springer for the out. What a play by Turner right there! Fantastic.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Reddick opens the home fifth with a sharp grounder to first, which is handled easily by Zimmerman. One down. Springer is next.
Updated
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th
A tapper to first results in an easy out and Verlander escapes the wrath of Soto...for now. His 83rd pitch of the game retires the side.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th
These people are crazy, insisting on pitching to Soto. It’s 2-2 now. He watches a fastball low.
Full count, Rendon will run with the pitch.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th
Rendon walks and that brings up Soto.
They’re pitching to him, again. It’s 2-0.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th
Ground ball to short - Correra has it, takes a short step to second, throws to first, double play!
I told you he should have stolen second!
Here’s Rendon with nobody on, just how Houston likes it.
Hadn’t seen this one before...
Justin Verlander, Leg Throw (with Tail). pic.twitter.com/bg8ZQLXhKc
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 24, 2019
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 5th
On an 0-2 offering, Turner flips one into the opposite field (right), and that’s a leadoff hit. He may try to get steal second, but with base runners rare, I wouldn’t try with the meat of the order coming up. Here’s Eaton.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 4th
Oh my. Chirinos chases a change up that dropped quickly. That ends the mild threat. Strasburg has six strikeouts and 72 pitches.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 4th
Correa, a grounder to third, Rendon runs in to his right and has it, throws to first and that’s the second out. Now it’s up to Chirinos.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 4th
Alvarez grounds a ball into right field, just beyond the reach of a diving Cabrera who was once again in the shift. That’s a one-out baserunner and here is Carlos Correa trying to get his sleeping bat going.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 4th
Meanwhile, Strasburg is dealing, getting Gurriel to chase high heat for his fifth strikeout of the night. Now it’s Alvarez with one down.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 4th
Robles pops to second. Verlander cruising. Inning over.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 4th
Zimmerman grounds on the left side of the infield, Verlander chases, slides, has the ball throws and...hits his own leg? He threw the ball into his own leg. Haven’t seen that one before.
One on, one out for Suzuki, who promptly skies to left where a chasing Brantly sticks up his glove and makes the catch.
Two down for Robles.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 4th
Cabrera chases up and away for his second strikeout, Verlander’s fifth of the night.
Here’s Zimmerman, the first non-Expos draft pick for the relocated Nats.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 3rd
Bregman bounces to short - Turner has it, flips to second for the force, and Washington survive the error. To the fourth we go!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 3rd
Brantley loops one just beyond the outstretched arm of Cabrera who is out in shallow right. That moves Altuve to third and brings up Alex Bregman, who hit a colossal shot in his last at-bat.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 3rd
Strasburg is watching Altuve closely, throwing repeated to first. Meanwhile it’s 1-2 to Brantley.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 3rd
Altuve grounds to shot - Turner can’t handle it, picks it up and fires on a bounce which Zimmerman can’t pick! So it’s a two-out E-6 which opens a door for Houston.
Here’s Brantley to try and make them pay.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 3rd
Reddick can’t handle a change-up low and away and strikes out. Then Springer skies an infield pop up for the second out. Now it’s up to Altuve, who had a double back in the first.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 3rd
Kendrick pops up and Verlander is walking off the mound well before the ball is caught in right. Chutzpah!
He survives the two-out double: inning over.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 3rd
Do they listen?
No.
They pitch to him. Soto muscles a pitch into the right field corner, turns the corner at first and cruises into second with a two out double.
Why?
Kendrick is here to try and bring the 20-year-old Ruthian slugger home.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 3rd
Rendon grounds to second, Altuve is there, makes the grab and fires over to first for the second out. Here’s the dangerous Soto. Don’t pitch to him!
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 3rd
Eaton pops out to center and that will bring up Rendon, who had a two-run double in the first. The soon to be extremely wealthy infielder is down in the count 1-2 after whiffing at a Verlander cheddar.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 2nd
Chirinos is completely overmatched, striking out to end the inning. So both aces put up zeros after being touched up in the opening frame, which is what we like to call settling in.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 2nd
Correa looks at a filthy curveball for strike three: now the Astros catcher Robinson Chirinos is up with two outs and the bases empty.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 2nd
Alvarez lines a shot into shallow right but a diving Cabrera, not known for his defense, makes a terrific stab, whilst in the defensive shift, for the out.
One down for Correa.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 2nd
Fans are up in Houston as Verlander gets ahead 0-2.
Turner pops to right and that’s inning over, a better, and more efficient one for Verlander who is on 36 pitches.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 2nd
Now here’s the Nats catcher Kurt Suzuki who drives a fastball to center for a base hit.
So it’s one out and one on for Victor Robles. He lunges at a fastball out of the strikezone for the K. Two down.
Top of the lineup - here’s Turner, who lead off this game with a walk.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, top 2nd
Ryan Zimmerman strikes out as Verlander resumes regular service, during a sequence that featured a silly, 78mph lollipop curveball that was awesome.
Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 1st
Gurriel grounds out to third to end a juicy first inning at Minute Maid Park (yeah, I said it).
HOME RUN! Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 1st
Alex Bregman swings, tosses his bat, peeks at his teammates and watches it fly - a home run way, WAY out in left! It’s a huge blast for the struggling MVP candidate and a huge confidence boost for the suddenly raging Astros faithful.
Updated
Nationals 2-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Michael Brantley has a two-out single that might have scored Altuve, had he been on base. Instead Houston have a two out runner for Bregman.
Nationals 2-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Altuve is stealing third, and he’s out!
Why?
What is that about? He’s going to score on a single, probably. That seems desperate. Why are the Astros acting desperate? They must be seriously concerned about Strasburg.
Nationals 2-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Springer whiffs on a nasty Strasburg curveball but then Altuve loops a pitch to left and that’s off the wall! Altuve strolls into second with a one out double and the crowd is alive again in Houston.
Nationals 2-0 Astros, top 1st
Some 21 pitches later, Verlander walks off the mound after a rocky first frame after Cabrera strikes out. It could have been worse...
Nationals 2-0 Astros, top 1st
Kendrick pops out to right, two down, and now it’s up to Asdrubal Cabrera.
Nationals 2-0 Astros, top 1st
Soto strikes out: that is an absolute miracle considering how he has been hitting. Kendrick the DH is next with a man in scoring position and one out.
RUNS! Nationals 2-0 Astros, top 1st
Anthony Rendon lines a shot off the top of the left field wall - here comes Turner, Eaton is right behind him!
It’s a two-RBI double for the Nats star third baseman (who once said he thought baseball was boring).
DC are up early and now, here is Juan Soto, who I would walk immediately, I don’t care what the situation is.
Here’s why...
At age 20...
— Dan (@DanClarkSports) October 23, 2019
Juan Soto (56 HR, 180 RBI)
Ronald Acuna Jr (26 HR, 64 RBI)
Bryce Harper (22 HR, 59 RBI)
Manny Machado (7 HR, 26 RBI)
Mike Trout (5 HR, 16 RBI)
Christian Yelich (Yet to debut)
Cody Bellinger (Yet to debut)
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st
Now Eaton lines a ground ball to the left of a lunging Bregman at third for a base hit.
FOX TV in the US tells us that Verlander has had his issues in the first inning - that’s holding true right now, and here comes Rendon with two on and nobody out.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st
Turner is on with a four-pitch walk, which is not really what nervous Astros fans were looking for. The runner is a threat to steal. Let’s see how aggressive Martinez is early. Verlander is paying some attention to him, throwing over twice already.
First pitch
And we’re off! Verlander fires a high fastball to Turner so start Game 2 of the World Series!
Houston Astros lineup
Yeah, it’s just one game, but there’s a wee bit of pressure on these folks tonight.
1. George Springer, CF
2. Jose Altuve, 2B
3. Michael Brantley, LF
4. Alex Bregman, 3B
5. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
6. Yordan Alvarez, DH
7. Carlos Correa, SS
8. Robinson Chirinos, C
9. Josh Reddick, RF
Simone Biles
The highly decorated US gymnast can flip, but how is her arm?
She threw out the first pitch tonight: not bad, but don’t quit your day job Simone...
Impressive back flip twist from @Simone_Biles before her first pitch! #WorldSeries #Houston pic.twitter.com/Nzxw7zFexT
— Andy Scholes (@AndyScholesCNN) October 23, 2019
Updated
Washington Nationals lineup
Can they do it again?
1. Trea Turner, SS
2. Adam Eaton, RF
3. Anthony Rendon, 3B
4. Juan Soto, LF
5. Howie Kendrick, DH
6. Asdrubal Cabrera, 2B
7. Ryan Zimmerman, 1B
8. Kurt Suzuki, C
9. Victor Robles, CF
National Anthem
Airman First Class Leah Fox of the USAF performed the national anthem. It was classic and strong. Who needs celebrities? I give her an 8/10.
Updated
Breaking
Here’s the latest on Rob Drake from Guardian sport.
Danger lurking for Houston?
This is a dangerous game for Houston. Verlander is beatable and if they drop the first two at home, the back end of Washington’s rotation is much stronger. Last night was pretty much a must-win for the Astros & they failed. #WorldSeries
— Drew (@rocknrollchem) October 23, 2019
I believe him. The body of work from these Nats since the opening stages is strong: the Vegas folks who made them huge underdogs should be thinking twice right about now.
Updated
Breaking
A tweet from Major League umpire Rob Drake is making news before Game 2 of the World Series.
Major league umpire Rob Drake tweeted “I will be buying an AR-15 tomorrow, because if you impeach MY PRESIDENT this way, YOU WILL HAVE ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!!! #MAGA2020”, according to a copy of the tweet obtained by ESPN. MLB says it is aware of it. News: https://t.co/Qf7VMAXEoJ
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 23, 2019
Obviously that is extremely unsettling, and the Guardian will have more coverage as the story develops.
The truth about Montreal
As many of you know, the Nats were born abroad, more specifically in Montreal, where they played from 1969 until the conclusion of the 2004 season. Baseball runs deep in the city and the story behind why they left for Washington is a complex one. Now, some 15 years later, Montreal is well on its way to hosting a MLB team again, either through expansion or franchise relocation.
The American press has put together a series of articles discussing the team link to Montreal, but I was wondering what the vibe was like up in La Belle Province surrounding their former franchise, which has made the World Series for the first time. A quick peak at the Montreal Gazette, an English daily, reveals minimal coverage of the team. Matthew Ross, Chairman and Founder of ExposNation told the Guardian:
“While the roots of the Nationals are in Montreal, they were uprooted and didn’t really look back once they left. Meanwhile, Montrealers never really looked at them as their team. They’re as related to Montreal these days, as the Pirates are. Montrealers are more curious about the Rays, with the Sternberg 2024 sharing announcement over the summer.”
So it seems that despite the success of the Nats, the link is permanently broken. Now the city eagerly awaits the return of Youppi and the Expos.
Updated
Astros off the field
Astros manager AJ Hinch has emerged as a bright spot during some dark days for the Houston Astros organization.
Today he condemned the clubhouse actions of an Astros executive taken after their defeat of the Yankees in the ALCS.
“It’s unfortunate, it’s uncalled for. For me as a leader in this organization down here in the clubhouse, on the field, I take everything that happens in the clubhouse to heart.”
Hinch also said: “No one, it doesn’t matter if it’s a player, a coach, a manager, any of you members of the media, should ever feel like when you come into our clubhouse that you’re going to be uncomfortable or disrespected.”
This is in stark contrast to the organization’s initial response, releasing a statement which torpedoed the Sports Illustrated report as “misleading and completely irresponsible”. Of course, you can read Tom Dart’s account about the ongoing situation here.
Hola!
We all saw it coming: the roof rattling in Houston on Tuesday night in Game 1, the Astros in the midst of yet another roaring late-inning rally. The Nationals, rookies in the World Series game, were up a run in the home eighth, seemingly on their way to blowing a 5-2 lead and a chance to skip out of Houston’s thunder-dome with a 1-0 lead.
From there you could’ve written the rest of the story rather easily: underdogs blow their big Series moment and there’s no chance at a bounce back. Astros in five? After all, Houston’s rollicking roster, so stacked in nearly every way, are as unforgiving as they come.
And then it flipped. Sean Doolittle came on with two outs and overcame the decibels and Jose Altuve. Houston’s engine, fresh off his ALCS winning walk-off home run, lined to right, leaving the tying run stranded at second. In the ninth, Doolittle struck out Alex Bregman before Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa popped out to end the game.
Perhaps we should’ve known. These Nats beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team that’s supposed to be suiting up in their third consecutive World Series. Then Washington thoroughly embarrassed the St Louis Cardinals, another blue-blooded National League outfit.
Now they’ve walked into a loud and hostile room and walked out with a win. Aggressive managing from Dave Martinez helped: the Nats skipper summoned an inning from starter Patrick Corbin in the sixth to protect that lead. It may or may not impact their starting pitching plans for the rest of the Series, but the move worked and sent out a message to anyone still wondering if the Nats thought this Series was just gravy.
Now it’s the Astros, who came in as the biggest World Series favorites since 2007, who need to steady their yacht as they face the Nat’s stingy ace, Stephen Strasburg, who’s excelled in his seven postseason games. They’ll throw another ace, Justin Verlander, who is making his 29th postseason start and did get touched up some by the Yankees last round.
All shall be revealed shortly as we head into our coverage of Game 2 of the 115th World Series. Until then, please feel free to weet thoughts, feelings and predictions at me @lengeldavid
Stick with us, more to come...
David will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how Game 1 developed:
