Astros ace Justin Verlander has struggled early in games this postseason, and for the third time in his last four starts, Verlander left Houston facing a deficit after the first inning.
Verlander entered Game 2 of the World Series with a first-inning era of 21.0 in his previous three starts, after giving up three runs in Game 4 against the Rays and four runs in Game 5 against the Yankees, both elimination games.
On Wednesday night, Verlander put the leadoff batter on base immediately, issuing a walk on four pitches. According to the Fox broadcast, it was just the third four-pitch walk to a leadoff man in Verlander’s 15-year career.
The Nationals offense quickly capitalized. Adam Eaton singled off Verlander in two pitches, before Anthony Rendon hit a double off the wall in left field to drive in two runs. In just nine pitches, Verlander had allowed a walk, two hits and two earned runs.
Fortunately for the Astros, Verlander has been a buzzsaw outside of the first inning in all of his starts this postseason, and he managed to get out of the first having thrown only 20 pitches.
