Astros Hold Narrow Lead vs. Nationals: Live Score and Updates


Astros Hold Narrow Lead vs. Nationals: Live Score and Updates

The Houston Astros will host the Washington Nationals for Game 6 of the 2019 World Series. Houston holds a three-games-to-two advantage in the Series and could clinch its second championship in three years with a win tonight.

The game, scheduled for 8:07 p.m. Eastern, will be broadcast on Fox and can be streamed online at FoxSports.com.

The first inning is a distant memory, with Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg absolutely dealing.

Verlander needed just four pitches to dispatch Yan Gomes (groundout to second) and Trea Turner (fly to center). He walked Adam Eaton, bringing Anthony Rendon to the plate, and after a lengthy 10-pitch at-bat, Verlander walked him as well. But the two-out jam did not last long, as Verlander got Juan Soto to ground out to second to end the threat.

Strasburg started off the bottom half of inning by striking out Josh Reddick on a changeup that Reddick nearly toppled over trying to connect with. George Springer grounded out harmlessly to third and Jose Altuve grounded out to Asdrubal Cabrera in shallow center field to end the inning.

Both aces appeared to be settling in nicely in the second, with Stephen Strasburg countering Justin Verlander’s overpowering effort with one defined by efficiency.

In the top half of the inning, Verlander struck out Asdrubal Cabrera with a 95-mile-per-hour fastball, got Ryan Zimmerman to fly out to left and then finished the 1-2-3 inning with a five-pitch strikeout of Victor Robles.

In the bottom half, Strasburg quickly retired Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa and Robinson Chirinos, all on groundouts. He needed just seven pitches.

In a battle of ace starters, both faltered some in the first, but Stephen Strasburg fared worse and the Nationals are trailing the Astros, 2-1.

With Justin Verlander pitching for Houston in the top of the first, Washington’s leadoff batter, Trea Turner, was called out at first after a soft grounder to third — only for a review to prove that he had beaten Alex Bregman’s throw. Adam Eaton executed a perfect sacrifice bunt, sending Turner to second, and that extra base proved crucial as Anthony Rendon took advantage of the shift, singling to center through a gigantic opening at second base, bringing Turner home for a 1-0 Washington lead.

Juan Soto flied out to left for the second out and Howie Kendrick popped out to second to end the inning.

Given a lead to work with, Strasburg couldn’t hold it. George Springer doubled to lead things off and got to third by way of a wild pitch. He easily scored, sliding headfirst mostly for style, on a sacrifice fly to left by Jose Altuve, making it 1-1.

After Michael Brantley struck out looking on a beautiful changeup from Strasburg, Alex Bregman made it a 2-1 game with a 355-foot homer to left. Yuli Gurriel also hit a ball deep to left, but Juan Soto tracked it down for the third out.

Soto appeared to have injured himself at least slightly on the play.

Astros

1. George Springer CF

2. Jose Altuve 2B

3. Michael Brantley LF

4. Alex Bregman 3B

5. Yuli Gurriel 1B

6. Yordan Alvarez DH

7. Carlos Correa SS

8. Robinson Chirinos C

9. Josh Reddick RF

Justin Verlander P

Nationals

1. Trea Turner SS

2. Adam Eaton RF

3. Anthony Rendon 3B

4. Juan Soto LF

5. Howie Kendrick DH

6. Asdrubal Cabrera 2B

7. Ryan Zimmerman 1B

8. Victor Robles CF

9. Yan Gomes C

Stephen Strasburg P


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