The Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros were tied at 2 entering the seventh inning of the second game of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Both offenses started off strong by putting up two runs in the first inning - Anthony Rendon's two-run double scored Washignton's Trea Turner and Adam Eaton, and Alex Bregman smacked a two-run home run to left field following a single from Michael Brantley.
But when the seventh inning got underway, the Nationals offense opened up the floodgates on Justin Verlander and the Astros pitching staff. Houston manager AJ Hinch pulled Verlander with no outs following Kurt Suzuki's tiebreaking solo home run and a walk issued to Victor Robles.
Kurt Suzuki is the oldest catcher (36 years old) to go deep in a #WorldSeries game since new Cubs manager David Ross in 2016. pic.twitter.com/IImj8xP0sY
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 24, 2019Verlander passed John Smoltz's career mark for postseason strikeouts in the second inning when he struck out Robles to mark his 200th career punchout in the playoffs. Despite the record-setting accolate, Verlander's night ended on a low note and he angrily marched off the field as Ryan Pressly made his way in from the bullpen.
Pressly begun his appearance by walking Turner but then got two outs on a sacrifice bunt by Eaton and a fly-out from Rendon. After intentionally walking Game 1 hero Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick and Asdrubal Cabrera collected singles that drove in three to make it a 6-2 Washington lead.
Asdrubal Cabrera with the dagger pic.twitter.com/cv8lQf2hYu
— Baseball Bros (@BaseballBros) October 24, 2019Following a wild pitch that advanced Kendrick to third and Cabrera to second, Ryan Zimmerman singled and scored both runners, who were aided by a fielding error by Bregman. Hinch got up again and brought in Josh James, who was able to get Suzuki to ground out and finally end the onslaught.
The Nationals now had an 8-2 advantage, but they were not done making life miserable on the Houston pitching staff. Cabrera singled again in the eighth inning to give him three RBI on the night. Home runs from Eaton and Michael A. Taylor extended Washington's lead to 10 entering the ninth inning. Martin Maldonado took Javy Guerra's 92.6-MPH fastball over the left-centerfield wall, but a short while later Jake Marisnick was retired for the final out and the Nationals earned a 12-3 win and a 2-0 series advantage in the fall classic.
Both Verlander and Washington starter stephen Strasburg went six innings on the night. Recording 200 career postseason strikeouts was not the only MLB history mark Verlander set on Wednesday. He also became the first pitcher to lose five World Series decisions.
Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander are the first teammates to each win 20 games during the regular season but lose Games 1 and 2 of a World Series since Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax of the Dodgers in 1965 against the Twins.The Dodgers would recover to win that series in 7 games. pic.twitter.com/iZ7x0eUOcn
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2019On the other side, Strasburg fanned seven while allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk. Over five starts on the 2019 postseason, Strasburg has struck out 40 while walking just two batters.
Stephen Strasburg has a 40/2 (!!) K/BB in five starts this postseason, and a 64/6 (!) in eight career postseason starts.His earned runs allowed in those eight starts:32110000What an absolute dude. pic.twitter.com/d6YcCsxVj1
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 24, 2019Merry #Strasmas to all, and to all a good night.#WorldSeries // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/hwoCtwcnVO
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 24, 2019Following Thursday's travel day, Game 3 at Nationals Park will start at 8:07 pm on Friday night. On the bump, Zack Greinke will oppose Annibal Sanchez. This marks the second World Series start of Sancherz's career. He also started Game 3 of the 2012 World Series with the Detroit Tigers. In two starts this postseason, he owns a 0.71 ERA over 12.2 innings pitched.
