Washington Takes 2-0 Lead In The World Series With Rout Of Houston
First Washington got to Gerrit Cole where they got five earned runs off a pitcher who in his previous outings went 19-0 in his last 25 starts with a 0.40 earn run average.
On Wednesday night Washington got to yet another one of Houston’’s aces in Justin Verlander.
Each team put up a pair in a first inning highlighted by a two-run double from native Houstonian and Rice University product Rendon off Justin Verlander and Bregman's two-run blast off Strasburg. “according to https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-win-world-series-game-2-take-2-0-lead
The score remained 2-2 up to and through that missed opportunity for the Astros in the sixth, when Strasburg was backed into a corner but punched his way out. The Nationals intentionally walked Yordan Alvarez to put two on with one out. Strasburg got Carlos Correa to pop out harmlessly to second, then he struck out Tucker to end that aforementioned eight-pitch at-bat “according to https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-win-world-series-game-2-take-2-0-lead
catcher Suzuki, who earlier had contributed a key caught stealing of a streaking José Altuve at third base, did some punching of his own with the solo swat high above the wall in left-center off Verlander’s 100th pitch, the Nats went up for good.”according to https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-win-world-series-game-2-take-2-0-lead
The inning erupted from there: A Victor Robles walk to chase Verlander and bring in reliever Ryan Pressly. A Trea Turner walk and a sac bunt from Adam Eaton to move the runners up. Hinch made the truly uncharacteristic decision to intentionally walk the red-hot Juan Soto to load the bases, but all that did was set up Howie Kendrick's infield single that ate up Bregman at third to score one run, an Asdrúbal Cabrera single that scored two and a ground-ball single from Ryan Zimmerman that scored another two.”according to https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-win-world-series-game-2-take-2-0-lead
Add it all up, and the Nats had taken an 8-2 lead and, effectively, the ballgame, though they kept adding on in the eighth and ninth, further asserting themselves on this October stage. They join the 2004 Red Sox, '05 White Sox and '14 Royals as the only teams to win eight straight in a single postseason, and they head home not just to play the first World Series game in Washington since 1933, but to try to win the District’s first World Series title since '24.”according to https://www.mlb.com/nationals/news/nationals-win-world-series-game-2-take-2-0-lead
While Washington took a 2-0 lead in the World Series Houston meanwhile is in an 0-2 hole.
Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki led off the seventh inning of a tied Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday night with an improbable clutch homer off ace pitcher Justin Verlander. Then came the bad news for the Astros. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-issue-first-intentional-walk
In a flurry of walks, weak-contact hits, a throwing error and -- believe it or not -- the first intentional walk of the season issued by Houston manager AJ Hinch, the Nationals blew open a tight game by scoring six runs in the seventh inning and 10 over the final three frames to blast the Astros, 12-3, at Minute Maid Park and take a 2-0 lead in the Fall Classic. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-issue-first-intentional-walk
Suzuki’s 381-foot homer to left field off a Verlander fastball to start the seventh put the Nationals ahead 3-2, but it was still very much a winnable game at that point. Washington’s suspect bullpen was going to have to cover the final three innings, but the turmoil that ensued rendered that challenge meaningless.”according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-issue-first-intentional-walk
Verlander was pulled after walking Victor Robles, and reliever Ryan Pressly came in and promptly walked Trea Turner. Adam Eaton bunted them into scoring position, and Pressly came within an out of escaping when he got Anthony Rendon to fly out. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-issue-first-intentional-walk
With the bases now loaded, Kendrick hit a grounder 83.5 mph off the bat, but third baseman Alex Bregman couldn’t get a handle on it as he moved to his left. Had he fielded it, he would have been able to throw out Soto at second base to end the inning, but instead a run scored on what was ruled an infield hit.”according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-issue-first-intentional-walk
Asdrúbal Cabrera followed with a two-run single that was hit 75.7 mph off the bat, and Ryan Zimmerman hit a 62.8-mph dribbler down the third-base line that Bregman fielded and threw wide of first base. Suddenly, it was 8-2 Nats with only one ball hit harder than 84 mph. “according to https://www.mlb.com/astros/news/astros-issue-first-intentional-walk
Both teams will now have a day off before game three in Washington D.C. on Friday night where Washington will look to extend their in the series while Houston will look to get back into the series.