That’s all folks
The 2019 Major League Baseball season comes to a stunning conclusion as Washington win their first title with four victories on the road against a supposedly superior Houston Astros team.
On behalf of fellow live-blogger Hunter Felt, we’d like to thank everyone for joining us for the 115th World Series: it’s been a pleasure to help you follow along. And so wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and good night.
Read all about it...
MVP
Stephen Strasburg, who was infamously held out of the 2012 playoffs to protect his young arm, comes full circle, celebrating a World Series title and an MVP award for his two victories in the Fall Classic.
It’s low hanging fruit, but I’m hungry.
Bryce Harper really is a man of his word. He sacrificed himself to bring a #WorldSeries to Washington. pic.twitter.com/3fqqHanz79
— Andrew Hockridge (@drew_hockridge) October 31, 2019
We stayed in the fight, we won the fight...the biggest thing for us is never quit. We were down 19-31, we didn’t quit then and we weren’t going to quit now!
Dave Martinez, Nationals manager
Trophy time
The Nationals owners, the Lerner family, are talking about how their dream came true during the traditional post-World Series win cringe-worthy interview. Now MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is doing the same before handing the trophy off to Mike Rizzo and Dave Martinez, kicking off another celebration by the Nats.
Congratulations to every single home team fan who bought an expensive ticket to see them in a World Series game and ended up heading home depressed. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
That’s no way to end it?
How it ended
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, THE @NATIONALS ARE #CHAMPS. pic.twitter.com/a45onBXNqy
— MLB (@MLB) October 31, 2019
What is it about this team FOX TV’s Ken Rosenthal asks Max Scherzer.
One through 25, everybody, the energy, the camaraderie...everybody believed in each other.
Now, who will be MVP? Soto? Rendon? Strasburg?
In front of a stunned crowd in Houston, the traveling Nats brass, including GM Mike Rizzo, celebrate all around.
It’s the first title in DC since the American League Senators in 1924 and the first for the team that began life in Montreal in 1969.
This is a team that were expected to be trounced by a team deemed superior, one seeking to put their stamp on baseball history with a second title in three seasons.
But the Nats beat Cole, Greinke and Verlander, not to mention Kershaw. They won all four World Series games on the road after starting a season without their departed franchise player and opening with a 19-31 record.
It is certainly one of the most improbable titles in some time.
Updated
Nationals 6-2 Astros, Final
Michael Brantley strikes out swinging!
THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS HAVE UPSET THE HOUSTON ASTROS IN A SEVEN-GAME WORLD SERIES WIN FOR THE AGES!
Nationals 6-2 Astros, bottom 9th
Now Altuve strikes out and the Astros are down to their final out!
Nationals 6-2 Astros, bottom 9th
Well, here goes nothing for Houston as they face Daniel Hudson, who comes on in relief for Corbin.
And Springer promptly pops out to Cabrera!
Washington are two outs away!
Nationals 6-2 Astros, top 9th
Soto flies out to center and here come the Astros needing a rally for the ages to get back into this game. The heart of their order is due up.
Updated
Nationals 6-2 Astros, top 9th
Rendon pops it up and Correa makes the catch on the infield. Two down for Soto.
Nationals 6-2 Astros, top 9th
The count is full to Rendon.
From the House of Hunter
And the Nationals have decided that they don't want any more drama tonight. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
Nationals 6-2 Astros, top 9th
Turner is at third base after a Marisnick throwing error. So it’s first and third and here comes Rendon with just one out!
RUNS! Nationals 6-2 Astros, top 9th
Eaton hammers a base hit right up the middle! Two more are coming in for DC and the Nats are up four and on the precipice of a first World Series title!
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 9th
All that pitching, all that firepower, all those wins, have landed Houston on the cliffs edge.
Hinch comes out top get Smith, and it’s Urquidy, the hero of Game 4 (where has he been?), coming out now to face Eaton.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 9th
Smith walked him.
And so the reckoning has arrived for Houston.
Bases loaded and one out for Adam Eaton and Rendon on deck.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 9th
The count is full - we’re eight pitches in!
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 9th
Turner, who has done very little offensively this World Series, hitting .161 while playing well at shortstop, is up.
He’s in the hole 1-2.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 9th
Gomes bounces in front of the pitcher - Smith has it and fires to first for one, the throw to first is not in time. So Gomes reaches on a fielders choice, and it’s one out and one on for Robles, who singles to center!
Gomes moves up to center, and it’s two on and one one now for Turner. Dangerous is this.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 9th
Sidearm pitcher Joe Smith is in and greeted with a base hit by Ryan Zimmerman. Naturally they cannot allow any more runs to score or that dome is gonna empty out lightning fast.
Gomes is next.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, bottom 8th
It’s 2-2 on the Astros center fielder and Corbin strikes him out swinging!
Three scoreless innings out of the pen for Patrick Corbin, and the Astros have three outs left with the top of their lineup due up in the bottom of the ninth inning!
Nationals 4-2 Astros, bottom 8th
Chirinos, a ground ball deep into the hole, but the catcher is a tortoise, and Turner has plenty of time to get him. Two down and here comes Marisnick, inserted for defense earlier, to try and get something going.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, bottom 8th
Correa watches strike three pass on the inside corner. He has a word with home plate umpire Jim Wolf as he heads back to the dugout as frustration in Houston mounts.
Robinson Chirinos is next.
Nationals 4-2 Astros, bottom 8th
The good news: Houston, who have left 10 runners on base tonight, are a bloop and a blast away from tying this up.
But they’re running out of outs as Correa steps in to face Corbin, who is still in there!
The count is 2-2...
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 8th
Cabrera lines out to retire the side.
It could have been worse, but an important run is in for DC as Hinch insisted on pitching to Soto in a huge spot with first base open.
Makes a ton of sense!
Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 8th
Kendrick lines a shot off the glove of Gurriel and into right field! It moves Soto to third and here comers Hinch to get Osuna!
It’s unraveling in a quiet Houston dome, as watchers party inside Nationals Park in DC.
Ryan Pressly in in to face Cabrera.
RUN! Nationals 4-2 Astros, top 8th
They pitched to him and Soto made them pay - a base hit to right field scores Eaton and the Nats have that insurance run they wanted.
Why on earth would you let him beat you? Because Kendrick hit a home run off the foul pole? No. That is bad managing. Sorry.
Hinch is not having a good game.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 8th
Rendon hits it high but shallow - Marisnick is under the ball in center field and has it for the second out.
Two down, and Soto is up now.
I would not touch him here with a base open.
Chrinios comes out to chat with Osuna before this key at-bat begins.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 8th
Eaton is running, and sliding into second. The throw is high and that’s a stolen base! And Eaton is no sprinter - he stole that off Osuna for sure.
So that’s a key maneuver because now there is a runner in scoring position as DC seek that insurance run.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 8th
The count is full to Eaton and it’s inside for ball four.
It’s a big walk because Rendon, who started the Nats resurgence with a solo shot off Greinke in the seventh, is at the plate looking for more.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 8th
Turner bounces to short, easy for Correa and that’s the first out. Eaton is next.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 8th
Winter is coming...but not yet.
Osuna is still on, he’s facing Turner while Gerrit Cole warms up in the Houston bullpen.
The count is full to Turner.
From the House of Hunter
And now the Astros tie it up in the bottom of the 7th and this ends up going 14 innings. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
How unfair of me to post this now...
Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 7th
A little bouncer to the left side of the infield. Corbin leaps off the mound and has the ball - he’ll have to hurry to get Alvarez. He throws, in time!
That’s the third out. Two scoreless innings for Corbin in relief!
Houston are down to their final six outs!
Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 7th
Gurriel loops a pitch from Corbin into center field and Houston have a two-out base runner with the quite capable Alvarez stepping in.
It’s likely Corbin’s last hitter. Daniel Hudson is up and warming in the Nats bullpen.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 7th
Bregman can only offer a harmless ground ball to second base. It’s easy for Cabrera who fires to first for the out.
Here’s Gurriel with two outs. He was a hero, putting Houston up earlier in this game, a blast that is now gone and forgotten, unless...
Updated
Nationals 3-2 Astros, bottom 7th
The organ appeals to the Houston faithful who try to get behind their men, down a run, late in Game 7.
“Let’s go Astros...”
It’s a voice lacking force however: A hit from Brantley would change all that.
It’s not coming from the Astros outfielder here - he pops out to left, and that’s the first out of the inning.
Now Bregman is up at the plate. He’s playing with a heavy heart as his grandfather passed earlier today.
Seventh inning stretch
Let’s go old school for the last seventh inning stretch of the season. Everybody up!
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Houston’s fans try to rally their shocked ballclub. Goes skies a pitch to the right side of the infield. Altuve has it for the second out and now it’s up to Victor Robles, who has just three hits this World Series.
He flies out to right, and this inning is over. And what an inning it was - Nats up!
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Osuna comes high and tight to Gomes who leans out of the way just in time. Now Gomes fouls off a ball and it’s 1-2. Big at-bat right here.
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
So here’s Zimmerman with one on and one out facing Osuna, who was so wrapped in controversy along with Houston’s brass, earlier in the series.
And Osuna promptly walks Zimmerman.
So now this could get extremely ugly with two on and one out, and Houston need a ground ball badly. Gomes is up.
The line on Zack Greinke
Baseball is cruel. Life is not fair. Greinke was absolutely incredible, and now he’s not the pitcher of record.
Just like that.
6.1IP 2H 2R 2ER 2BB 3SO 1HR
And he was better than this...
Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
Cabrera singles to center and AJ Hinch is coming out to get Harris! This is a stunning development!
Osuna enters, and I don’t know if I want my closer in down a run in the seventh, but what choice is there?
HOME RUN! Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th
KENDRICK HITS A BALL OFF THE FOUL POLE IN RIGHT FIELD!
NATS LEAD!
That’s unbelievable! After being stymied for seven innings, Washington rally in the seventh and the Astros are how down in a game they totally controlled moments ago!
It’s quiet in Houston!
This is when we talk about all the runners the Astros stranded throughout this game!
Maybe this is why it’s Harris and not Cole?
Gerrit Cole has made 1 career relief appearance in college OR professional baseball (that's NCAA, MiLB, MLB).
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 31, 2019
May 19, 2009 for UCLA against UC Irvine.
Cole pitched the bottom of the 10th in an extra-inning loss, allowing the game-tying and winning run (1 was unearned). https://t.co/Bmpqi5Obqf
Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 7th
Soto should have been punched out on a called third strike low in the zone, but the ump missed it and now it’s a favorable 3-1 count.
He walks, and here comes the Astros manager and he’s carrying a hook.
Harris will come in and Greinke leaves to a raucous ovation in Houston and is greeted warmly in his dugout.
So, no Cole, because he doesn’t want him coming in with a man on?
HOME RUN! Nationals 1-2 Astros, top 7th
Rendon gets one back for Washington! The slugging third baseman destroys a Greinke pitch and sends it to deep left and the NATS HAVE LIFE!
That ball was pummeled as Rendon does it again!
Here comes Soto as the dance party ensues in the DC dugout.
It’s a one-run game 7
Updated
Nationals 0-2 Astros, top 7th
So after pinch-hitting for Reddick, Marisnick stays in to field in a defense first formation - he’ll play center while Springer moves to right field.
Adam Eaton is up, and the count is even at 2-2. The lefty swings and bounces to short - that’s routine for Correa and the outfielder is out by a step. One down, here’s Rendon.
Nationals 0-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Ground ball to second. Cabrera has it, he steps on second for one out and fires to first in time to get Altuve! That’s a huge double play and we head to the seventh.
Time to count Nats outs!
Nationals 0-2 Astros, bottom 6th
Check swing on a ball in the dirt: did he go?
Yes he did!
Now there’s one down for Altuve.
Nationals 0-2 Astros, bottom 6th
The pinch-hitting Jake Marisnick greets Corbin rudely, slapping a base hit to left to start the sixth.
Now here comes the heart of the Houston lineup, which is why that first out was so important.
Springer is up.
The line on Max Scherzer
Well, Dave Martinez went a little too far with Max if you ask me. Two runs in five innings after not being able to feed yourself a few days ago is a great story, but in Game 7, considering how your opponent is dealing, the leash can’t be that long.
5IP 7H 2R 2ER 4BB 3SO 1HR
Yes, he showed guts, but let’s be honest: he danced through the rain drops all night and probably got more than a bit lucky.
Nationals 0-2 Astros, top 6th
There’s someone dressed as an astronaut waving a giant face of Zack Greinke, and he deserves all of that of that pomp. He’s through six after Turner watches strike three go by. Just one hit for Washington and just 67 pitches for Greinke.
He is everything I thought he wouldn’t be. I feel like I need to apologize.
Zack, I am sorry. Please forgive me.
Oh, here comes Patrick Corbin for Washington.
Nationals 0-2 Astros, top 6th
Robles, a check swing bouncer down the first base line. Gurriel is there, has it and steps on the bag.
Too easy.
Top of the lineup now, here’s Turner who is 0-2.
Nationals 0-2 Astros, top 6th
Gomes is first pitch swinging and he pops to center. The Brazilian flips his bat disgusted as Springer makes the catch for the first out.
Gotta at least make Greinke work a little bit.
Robles is next.
Nationals 0-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Chirinos strikes out! Washington survive further damage.
But a valuable run comes in, and with Greinke cruising and Cole lurking in the Astros bullpen, that is a valuable run indeed.
From the House of Hunter
Well at least Dave Martinez is keeping his bullpen fresh for Game 8. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
Yeah, what is this 1919?
Nationals 0-2 Astros, bottom 5th
He looks safe to me but they’re still reviewing the call in New York. The question is, did Alvarez come off the bag during the slide?
The umps say no.
So now it’s first and third and two outs for Robinson Chirinos.
Scherzer is still in there. Man, that is crazy. This is Game 7!
RUN! Nationals 0-2 Astros, bottom 5th
Correa rips a ball down the right field line, that’s a fair ball - it just bounced off of Rendon’s glove and went into foul territory! Gurriel comes around to score - Alvarez slides into third - SAFE!
They’re going to review that, but did Martinez tempt fate once to often?
Updated
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Correa checks and holds on a ball away to make it 1-2. Then Scherzer comes inside and misses which evens the count.
Updated
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Scherzer is quickly ahead on Correa 0-2...fans are up in Houston!
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Alvarez, a huge cut on a 3-0 count makes it 3-1 before the Cuban draws a walk.
So another situation with runners in scoring position fro Houston, which they have yet to cash in on.
Where is Corbin? This is bananas.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Ground ball to short - Turner runs to his right, slides, has it and throws to second for one - throw on to first, not in time. Two down on the 6-4 force play as Gurriel beats the throw and keeps the inning alive for the slugging Cuban Alvarez.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Woosh! Scherzer zooms a fastball past Bregman! He’s approaching 90 pitches now and has been resilient. Pretty amazing performance considering the whole not being able to raise his right arm thing.
One down for Gurriel.
From the House of Hunter
I don't want the Astros to win but I would be happy to see Greinke get a win. There has to be some sort of baseball rule loophole to make this work. We've seen weirder judgment decisions this series. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Bregman has just laced two foul balls. He is just missing, but down in the count 0-2.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 5th
Brantley leads off with a base hit through the shift on the right side.
And Gerrit Cole is getting up in the Houston bullpen. Why do the Astros have someone up before Washington?
Bregman is next.
Updated
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 5th
Zimmerman pops up on the right side of the infield - Gurriel is there and Greinke has five shutout innings on just 59 pitches.
If you’re a Houston fan, what else do you want (besides a hit with a runner in scoring position)?
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 5th
Zimmerman is laughing because home plate umpire just blew a call on a ball outside and he’s down in the count 0-2. Good sport is that Zimmerman.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 5th
Now Greinke is behind in the count 2-1 - Cabrera...bunts?
It advances the runner, and I don’t mind a bunt, but that is a bit odd considering Cabrera is a professional hitter.
But when the pitcher is cruising, you need to get that runner in scoring position, I suppose. Can Zimmerman bring him in and tie up this ballgame?
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 5th
It’s not blow you away stuff but he’s putting it where he wants to at various speeds and spins. Full count now to Kendrick...
It’s a borderline ball, that probably caught the bottom of the strikezone if we’re being honest.
So that’s a rare baserunner for the Nats and here comes Asdrubal Cabrera with one out to try and make something of it.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 5th
What else can Greinke do tonight? He’s facing Soto, who has the only hit for the Nats and he’s already up 0-2 before throwing a fastball low.
He’s got no heartbeat does this Greinke, and now he gets Soto to chase: did he go?
He didn’t, but the umps say he did! Strike three!
It’s slightly unfair, but it’s that kind of night for Greinke, who has it all going.
Spelling lesson...
If you're struggling to spell Greinke, remember the old saying we were all taught as children.
— Bat Flips and Nerds (@batflips_nerds) October 31, 2019
"i before e except in Greinke."
You're welcome.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 4th
Now a ball in the dirt that Gomes blocks well. Altuve is up in the count 2-1. Then Altuve pops out to center and Robles puts it away!
Huge sigh of relief that you can hear from DC, even if you’re really far away.
Houston are now 0-6 with runners in scoring position, which is the sort of number that only gets remembered if you lose.
Scherzer is through four and has thrown 76 pitches. Patrick Corbin must stretching, somewhere, surely.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 4th
A 96MPH fastball at the knees evens the count at one. Huge at-bat here in this ballgame.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 4th
Trouble...Springer walks on a ball that looked like a strike.
So from two outs and nobody on, to two outs and two on with Altuve coming up.
Maybe it’s just me but I would have someone warming in the bullpen. I’m sure it’s just me.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 4th
Reddick beats the shift, parking the baseball in right field. It’s a dangerous two-out baserunner because it gives George Springer an opportunity.
He’s 0-2 tonight: is the third time a charm?
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 4th
Correa grounds out to second as Scherzer crosses the 60 pitch mark and we’re getting to the point where you’re pretty happy as a Nats fan that your injury-challenged ace is holding up reasonably well.
Chirinos is next and Scherzer is up in the count 0-2 before earning his first strikeout of the night on a slider in the dirt.
Perhaps he’s loosening up?
Here’s Reddick with two down.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 4th
Full count and Rendon wings awkwardly through an inside fastball and Greinke is cruising in the spotlight of a Game 7!
Now, can Scherzer answer in the fourth? (I’d get somebody up).
From the House of Hunter
Greinke looks good. The Nationals are seriously lucky to be only down a run. Scherzer is clearly not right. And there's nobody warming. OTHER THAN THAT things look bright for Washington. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 4th
Greinke continues to deal and gets Turner to bounce back to him on one of those 70MPH curveballs. Also, Greinke, a great slide to his left to make that play. One down for Eaton, and now he bounces back to Greinke!
He’s doing it all on his own! Greinke leaped up to make that play on a high bouncer. Fantastic athleticism from the hurler who is an out away from facing the minimum through four - but he’ll have to get past Rendon.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 3rd
It’s 2-2 to Alvarez.
Scherzer, from the stretch, and Alvarez gets into one! It’s high and far - Robles is backing up, he’s on the warning track and under it - Robles makes the catch!
It’s long, loud out ends this third inning in Houston with the Astros stranding two!
Scherzer teeters but ultimately holds steady. He’s on 55 pitches.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 3rd
Scherzer’s 50th pitch is skied to right - that’s easy for Eaton. Two down, and the runners do not advance.
Here comes the power threat Alvarez.
I still think Washington should have someone up, but I’m a notoriously nervous blogger.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 3rd
It’s in the dirt - Bregman walks.
That means first and second for Gurriel who had the bomb separating these two teams tonight.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 3rd
Scherzer falls behind in the count 3-0 before delivering a fast ball for strike one. Now he throws over to first, not once, but twice, for a check on Altuve, who is dancing off first.
Then Scherzer fires a heavy fastball at 96 to even the count...
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 3rd
Brantley dumps one into left: it’s dying but Soto has a beat on it and runs it down for the first out.
Now the ultra-dangerous Bregman steps in to face Scherzer, which should have Nats fans quite nervous.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 3rd
Altuve connects and launches a base hit just over the stretched arm of Turner at shortstop. It’s a leadoff runner for Houston who Brantley stepping to the plate.
When do Washington get someone up? I wouldn’t mess around here.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, top 3rd
Zimmerman hits a 2-1 lollipop breaking ball right back to the pitcher, easy for Greinke, and that’s one out.
Here’s Gomes of Sao Paulo who is quickly down in the count 0-2 before popping out harmlessly to center.
It’s up to Robles, who is 3-21 in the World Series. He gives a Greinke cutter a ride - Springer is back on his horse in center field before getting under it and ending the Nats third.
That’s three shutout innings from Greinke who has thrown just 28 pitches. Efficient!
Kathy conspiracy writes:
Have not heard anyone else speculate about this, but I’ve wondered if Trump chose game 5 because he had a fantasy of an adoring crowd cheering him after the death of al baghdadi, which he must have known was planned for the night before. (writing from Vermont. Go Nats)
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 2nd
Scherzer falls behind 3-0 to Springer before lining a shot to left! Soto is falling to his knees, sticking out his glove, and HE’S GOT IT!
Wow! Tremendous work from Soto, saving a run right there with that timely catch!
Dicey inning for Scherzer but it could have been significantly worse.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 2nd
Chirinos...bunts? Does he do that often? I suspect not, he pops out in foul territory as Gomes makes the catch on the left side.
Chirinos has some pop, and that strikes me as odd.
Now Reddick grounds out to first, but advances the runners to second and third.
Now Scherzer is a George Springer away from getting out of this without further damage.
A bunt? SMH!.
Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 2nd
Correa pokes a ball intro right and it’s first and second with nobody up. FOX tv in the US are showing lots of cutaways of Nats pitching coach Paul Menhart , which means trouble for DC.
HOME RUN! Nationals 0-1 Astros, bottom 2nd
Yuli Gurriel takes a Max Scherzer slider WAY OUTTA HERE over the left field wall as the Astros dugout and fans erupt!
That was a no-doubter
Houston on top early, and now Alvarez follows with a base hit to right...Scherzer needs to steady this thing fast - and remember, he doesn’t have his personal catcher Suzuki behind the plate.
Nobody out and a man on for Correa.
Updated
Hot take
I hope Juan Soto hits a home run through the window of George Will's penthouse that lands in a plate of spaghetti and splatters all over his suit and his boss who is over for dinner throws his napkin down in disgust and doesn't give him the Henderson account
— Justin Klugh (@justin_klugh) October 30, 2019
From the House of Hunter
I predict that the Astros win but not before the Nationals make their lives as difficult as possible until the very end. Because some days that's the closest thing to a victory that you can pull off. @LengelDavid
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 31, 2019
Updated
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 2nd
Lined shot by Cabrera and a nifty pick at first from Gurriel - he makes it look easy, and strolls over to first base to complete the play and the inning. That’s two, convincing, shutout innings from Greinke, which clearly I was not expecting.
Credit to him.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 2nd
He’ll respond with a 1-6-3 double play! Greinke is cool, calm and steady thus far. And a good throw from the five-time gold glove pitcher to Correra the shortstop on that DP.
Two down, here is Asdrubal Cabrera, who just hits.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 2nd
Juan Soto is on first with a leadoff base hit to right field. He’s now 8-24 in this series, with three home runs of course. How will Greinke respond? Here’s Kendrick.
Over there
It’s late in the UK but there’s plenty of eyes on the World Series...
STRONG!
— Bat Flips and Nerds (@batflips_nerds) October 31, 2019
Is anyone else joining us in a disgusting sugar rush? https://t.co/xJnJFIh5TQ
Colo(u)rs
@LengelDavid I'm staying neutral on this one pic.twitter.com/Wv0SEw9H2O
— Ringo B (@TheRealRingo) October 31, 2019
Updated
Nationals 0-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Bregman is jammed by a 96MPH fastball and he pops harmlessly to right field for the final out of the inning, a relatively easy one for both hurlers.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Ah - Brantley draws a two-out walk, adding intrigue into what looked to be a clean inning for Scherzer. Now here comes Bregman, the bat-carrying MVP candidate to try and put his stamp on Game 7.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Two pitches into his duel with Altuve, the second baseman bounces out to short for the second out of the inning.
Yes, just like Greinke, the man is sharp. Brantley is next.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, bottom 1st
Springer: a fly ball, routine for the center fielder Robles. There’s one down, and a short sample size reveals that Scherzer is in fine form. But it’s early, and is Altuve.
Nationals 0-0 Astros, bottom 1st
So how will Scherzer respond, having been unable to put on his underwear just days ago.
He’s down in the count 2-0 to George Springer before dropping in a slider for the first strike. Then he fires cheddar on the inner half of the plate at a nasty 96MPH. The 2-2 is a breaking pitch outside, and the count is full.
The fans are up early in Houston!
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st
Rendon is first pitch swinging and bounces to third - easy for Bregman, who fires to Gurriel at first base for the out.
It’s a 1-2-3 start for the veteran hurler: here come the Astros!
Nationals 0-0 Astros, top 1st
The 36-year-old Greinke gets ahead 1-2 on Eaton. So far he’s mixing in a steady does of breaking pitches with his fastball that lives in the low 90’s.
Now Eaton bounces out in front of the catcher - Chirinos picks it up, and throws to first for the out.
Two down for the slugging Rendon.
First pitch
The road team is up 20-19 overall in Game 7’s. How will this one end?
Greinke opens with a strike before Turner lines a shot to Bregman who makes the play!
Some sharp fielding straight away in Houston.
One down - here’s Eaton.
Emails
Nick from Portugal writes:
Really looking forward to this one. Hoping the Nationals can come through tonight...expecting a very tight low scoring game. Love the Astro’s stadium...crazy design. Big shout to all baseball fans tuning in from Europe
And Daniel Strauss has something to say about Bregman and Soto’s bat carrying “controversy”...
Fie on the fuddy-duddies, I say let the kids carry their bats. After Jose Bautista broke the bat-flip, we’ve needed a new hero to usher in a new age. I’m glad that Bregman’s Game 4 grand slam Statue of Liberty bat salute wasn’t it, but man, the bat carry is some upper-deck grandstanding that we can all get behind.
I stand with you Daniel! Carry it all the way home!
Prediction time
As I wrote earlier, I do not trust Greinke in this spot, especially at home, where the Astros have been at a distinct disadvantage! Having said all that, it will be close, and extra innings, 6-4 to the Nationals, who take their first World Series title in a thrillah!
@LengelDavid Gm7 prediction: if the Nationals get to Greinke early it’s their game to loose. Wsh Pen not been used much so if Scherzer can get to the 5th and Corbin steps in as LR, Nats win. Their SP has been more solid than HOU this series. Never rule out stros bats tho!
— JD Donovan (@itsjd4real) October 30, 2019
National Anthem
This means we’re getting close to first pitch...
Cody Johnson is singing the national anthem: I haven’t heard of him, which means he’s probably the most popular singer on the planet. It was definitely what I imagine to be a Texas-like version, which is sensible considering, well, they’re in Texas.
Classy. Not spectacular, and a little off, but classy, and finished off with a “go Astros!”
I’ll give it a 7/10.
Tweet it out...
@LengelDavid I think the team with the best regular season record should get away field advantage
— Ringo B (@TheRealRingo) October 30, 2019
Amusing Ringo!
As we all know, this is the first time in the history of MLB, the NBA and the NHL that away teams have won the first six games of a seven game series.
About last night
Alex Rodriguez didn’t like the call, saying that it threatened to undermine this World Series.
His former teammate Phil Hughes had an amusing reply.
https://t.co/B29jnsrqxs pic.twitter.com/momWWWJWEv
— Phil Hughes (@PJHughes45) October 30, 2019
So did former Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper by the way.
Next @roughnrowdy for @barstoolsports! Davey vs. The Umpires in this series. #natsvsastros pic.twitter.com/9OLAatwcj9
— Bryce Harper (@bryceharper3) October 30, 2019
Harper was talking about Barstool Sports’ “Rough ‘N Rowdy” celebrity boxing series, and was thinking, perhaps Martinez, his former manager, fight the umpires. He was certainly up for it.
Anyway, we know Bryce is watching, probably in a large house with a lot of imported Italian marble, on a very big TV, perhaps with his feet up on a Restoration Hardware couch.
He told the Athletic earlier this month:
Those are the guys I played with and came through the organization with … I wish them nothing but the best. And that’s real. I have no hard feelings toward them, or Mike Rizzo, or anything like that. You know, they’re a great team. And that’s why they are where they are.
All Astros on deck
As always in Game 7, traditional rules regarding pitchers rest do not apply. That means we could see Gerrit Cole, who pitched on Sunday, tonight. The soon to be free agent ace was hit a bit in Game 1 when he took the loss, but rebounded to toss seven innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts in Game 5.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports here in the US says his limit is about two innings and could be in a closer role if Houston’s manager AJ Hinch has to use their usual closer, Roberto Osuna, earlier in the game.
Also, don’t forget about Jose Urquidy, who came out of nowhere to toss five stellar innings in Houston’s Game 4 win in Washington.
Juan Soto
The now 21-year-old has thgree home runs in the World Series, which is more than hall of famers like Mike Schmidt, for example.
And if you think Nats fans are excited about their wunderkind, just check out this clip from a pair of his former coaches.
Two of Juan Soto's childhood coaches reacting to his Game 6 HR. Incredible 🙏
— Bleacher Report MLB (@BR_MLB) October 30, 2019
(via @MLBDominicana) pic.twitter.com/wi73SrIZoZ
Zack Greinke
One of the reasons that Houston acquired Zack Greinke was for a potential Game 7 of the World Series. And well, here we are: Greinke is getting set to start in a bid to bring a second title to Houston in three seasons.
The Dodgers, one of Greinke’s old teams, did a similar thing with Yu Darvish in 2017, trading for the Japanese-Persian hurler in mid-season to bolster their chances in the playoffs. Darvish infamously didn’t get out of the second inning against the Astros in Game 7, allowing five runs, four earned. It was ugly.
Can Greinke outdo Darvish in a similar spot? Well, Greinke has been inconsistent in the playoffs, sliding somewhere between champagne and BabyCham. Greinke was good in his last outing against Washington, allowing just one run in seven innings. But against the Rays he allowed six runs in 3.2 innings pitched. In 2017, while with the Diamondbacks, he was shelled in starts v Colorado and Los Angeles.
Overall, as good as Greinke has been throughout his career, I just don’t trust him in a spot like this, and expect something Darvish-ish.
Beware.
Mad Max
So we’ve all heard the cliche about players who are so good that they could get out of bed and score 40 points or throw for 300 yards. Well, here is Max Scherzer’s chance to bounce off the mattress and pitch his team to a World Series title.
On Sunday Nats ace couldn’t move his neck and was suffering painful back spasms that saw him pulled from his role as Game 5 starting pitcher. Just days later, with the help of a fairly accurate cortisone shot, Scherzer is preparing to put the fortune of his ballclub on his balky back in a Game 7.
As if that wasn’t enough for Washington Nationals fans to worry about, his semi-personal catcher Kurt Suzuki, continues to be sidelined with a hip flexor issue. How did Scherzer pitch this year with Gomes catching? Well, in 12 starts his ERA was 4.09. How did Scherzer throw to Suzuki? Significantly better: in 16 starts his ERA was 2.08.
On top of all this, who knows how far he can go. ESPN TV in the US spoke with Nats manager Dave Martinez a few moments ago and spoke about his pitcher.
We’ve been communicating throughout all of this, we’re going to keep communicating...he gets it, he understands, he has a great game plan, we’ll see how far he goes.
You’d have to guess that starters Patrick Corbin and Anibal Sanchez Nats bullpen would be available early if Scherzer is off his game.
Hola!
Hello everybody and welcome to our Game 7 coverage! We’re all fired up for a high stakes MLB season finale.
Some eight months after pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, we are finally down to the last day of the 2019 baseball season, and a Game 7 between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros.
It’s the final game of a Series that’s been suddenly supercharged after a controversial umpire call that got folks talking baseball and lit up twitter.
In the seventh inning of Game 6, Sam Holbrook called out the Trea Turner for interfering with first baseman Yuli Gurriel’s ability to handle the throw: a contentious ruling that threatened the Nats’ bid to pad their one-run lead.
Then, Anthony Rendon stepped in slammed a two-run home run that provided Washington with all the breathing room they needed, while also saving MLB from the embarrassment of an entire offseason dedicated to reviewing the horrific call, over and over and over...and over.
But ball don’t lie justice has worked out for everybody except Houston, bringing a bright light to a Series that was threatening to become one of the more mundane encounters in its 115 year history.
Now we’ve got a Game 7 and a marquee pitching match-up between two former Cy Young Award winners: Max Scherzer for Washington v Zack Greinke for Houston.
There’s plenty of storylines to address between now and first pitch, but for now, settle in, get your popcorn ready, tweet your predictions to @LengelDavid, and get ready for a seventh game to decide a season.
Stand by for more baseball history. Stick with us!
We’re about an hour from the first pitch. Here’s a couple of newsy notes to pass along from the managers’ pre-game pressers.
- Houston manager AJ Hinch said Game 6 starter Justin Verlander, who took the loss in last night’s game to fall to 0-6 in seven career World Series starts, won’t be available tonight. Said the Astros skipper: “All hands on deck means most hands on deck.”
- Hinch said he spoke three times with Alex Bregman on Tuesday night about the third baseman carrying his bat to first base after hitting a home run in the first inning. Bregman apologized for the move after the game and the Houston manager shared what he told him about it. “It’s just not how we do things and not something that was necessary,” Hinch said. “It was an emotional reaction. I love the way he plays and it doesn’t diminish what he brings to the table, but it was unnecessary.”
- Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki, who’s missed the last three games while dealing with a hip flexor strain, was scratched from the starting lineup. The 36-year-old was initially listed in the starting lineup but was replaced again by Yan Gomes just under three hours before the first pitch.
The starting lineups!
The lineups for tonight’s game are out. No major surprises here ... but there could be plenty of those ahead. The stratospheric stakes and the lack of a need to conserve arms for later outings, since there is no tomorrow, have frequently made for strange happenings in Game 7s. Starters tend to be kept on tight leashes and it’s not unusual to see top-of-the-staff aces making relief appearances that you’d never see in any other game. Basically, don’t be surprised if you see Gerrit Cole or Patrick Corbin getting loose in the bullpen if Scherzer or Greinke run into early trouble.
Washington Nationals
1 SS Trea Turner
2 RF Adam Eaton
3 3B Anthony Rendon
4 LF Juan Soto
5 DH Howie Kendrick
6 2B Asdrúbal Cabrera
7 1B Ryan Zimmerman
8 C Yan Gomes
9 CF Victor Robles
P Max Scherzer
Houston Astros
1 CF George Springer
2 2B Jose Altuve
3 LF Michael Brantley
4 3B Alex Bregman
5 1B Yuli Gurriel
6 DH Yordan Alvarez
7 SS Carlos Correa
8 C Robinson Chirinos
9 RF Josh Reddick
RHP Zack Greinke
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Minute Maid Park for tonight’s World Series finale between the Astros and Nationals. A total of 2,466 games have been played this Major League Baseball season and it all comes down to one more: Houston’s Zack Greinke v Washington’s Max Scherzer in the first ever showdown between former Cy Young Award winners in Game 7 of the Fall Classic – and the most delicious pitching matchup in a seventh game since the Yankees’ Roger Clemens and the Diamondbacks’ Randy Johnson faced off in 2001.
History suggests Houston’s home-field advantage is all but meaningless in tonight’s one-off with the visiting team having won in 20 of the previous 39 times the World Series has gone the full distance. That’s doubly true with this particular, peculiar matchup: the first time in 1,420 best-of-seven playoff series across MLB, the NBA and the NHL in which the road team has won the first six games.
First pitch is at 7.08pm local time or a little over 90 minutes from now. We’ll be back with the lineups in short order.
David will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s what fans thought about the recent booing controversy in Game 5:
