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The Astros jumped out to a two-run first-inning lead. With Gerrit Cole on the mound for Houston, things did not look bright for the Nationals. However, Max Scherzer stopped the bleeding there, pitching four scoreless innings. Meanwhile the Astros chipped away with solo tallies in the second and fourth before stringing together hits totalling three runs in the fifth. To help their bullpen, the Nationals turned to Patrick Corbin to pitch one inning in the sixth. Tanner Rainey then entered the game and immediately showed why the Nats do not trust most of their bullpen giving up a solo homer and issuing two walks while only recording one out. Washington then turned to Daniel Hudson and Sean Doolittle for four outs each to secure the win. While the Astros managed to push one more across in the eighth, it was not enough.
Juan Soto Leads Nats Over Cole
Juan Soto went 3-for-4 in Game 1 of the World Series, including an all-important two-run double off of Cole in the decisive fifth inning. In the game, the Nationals were forced to stretch their reliable pitching thin, while the Astros received seven innings from Cole and the Houston bullpen only needed one inning each from Will Harris and Joe Smith. While the Nationals now have stolen home field advantage and developed significant momentum, it still remains to be seen how the bullpens are going to shape this series being defined by star-studded starting pitching.
How Stephen Strasburg’s Freshman Year Changed Everything (The Athletic)
You would never know it by looking at him now, but as a freshman at San Diego State University, the hurler was an awkward, 250-pound misfit, unable to make it through team workouts without puking. Things got so bad he considered quitting the team and going to work at a local hardware store. He didn’t quit though, and now he is one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors.
Nationals Convinced They Can Beat Anybody (The Athletic)
The Washington Nationals entered the World Series convinced that they have what it takes to beat anyone. On Tuesday night, they stunned the world by beating Gerrit Cole and the Houston Astros and stole home field advantage in the series for themselves.
MLB Investigating Incident with Houston Executive
Major League Baseball is launching an investigation of Houston assistant general manager, Brandon Taubman, regarding comments made towards a group of female reporters following the Astros’ winning of the ALCS. It was reported by Sports Illustrated that Taubman went off on a profanity laced tirade in support of Robert Osuna, the relief pitcher the Astros acquired in 2018 during the time he was serving a 78-game suspension for domestic violence issues.