HOUSTON — The Houston Astros were eight outs away from their second World Series title in three years.
But the Washington Nationals weren’t ready to give up.
The Nationals rallied in Game 7 to stun the heavily favored Astros, 6-2, to win their first World Series in franchise history.
“I’ve got a group of heartbroken men in (the locker room) that did everything they could to bring a World Series championship to this city and they fell one win shy,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “I’m proud of these guys and this season.”
It was a season that saw the Astros win a franchise-best 107 games. They won the American League West for the third straight year. They beat the Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS and the New York Yankees in the ALCS on an epic Jose Altuve home run in the bottom of the ninth that will forever live in Astros history.
But they fell one game shy of a championship.
It’s not that they didn’t have their chances in Game 7.
Houston scored first on a Yuli Gurriel solo home run off Washington starter Max Scherzer in the second inning. Carlos Correa followed suit with an RBI single in the fifth to make it a 2-0 game.
And after five innings and series of quality at bats against Scherzer, the Astros chased the three-time Cy Young Award winner. Scherzer gave up two runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked four.
Houston made him work nearly every inning. The Astros batters worked deep in counts, didn’t chase many pitches out of the zone and put men on base. The problem: they couldn’t get the big hits to bring them home.
They left 10 runners on base and were 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
“We put a lot of heat on him. We made him work,” Hinch said. “We had guys on base, we hit the ball hard, we didn’t chase that much. Almost similar to Game 1 in that we made him work to get every out.”
As Scherzer battled, Houston starter Zack Greinke tossed 6 1/3 strong innings where he allowed two runs on two hits.
The Astros traded for Greinke at the trade deadline in July for this exact reason—to help the team win a World Series. It was only fitting he was the starter for Game 7 with the championship on the line.
Greinke, starting his first Game 7 of the World Series, was in total control for nearly every pitch. He mixed a steady dose of offspeed pitches with a four-seam fastball that kept the Nationals hitters off-balance. He had 10 groundball outs, many that were slow rollers back to the mound.
His only real miscue of the night was when Anthony Rendon hit a changeup into the Crawford Boxes to make it a 2-1 Astros lead. It was the Houston native and former Rice Owls’ second home run in as many games, both of which sparked rallies for the Nationals.
Greinke then walked Juan Soto on five pitches in the next at bat and his night was finished.
It was a puzzling move by Hinch because Greinke had only thrown 80 pitches to that point and had been dominant for so much of the game. Rendon made a good swing on the changeup and the walk to Soto came against a guy who can change the game with one swing. Howie Kendrick, who was the next at bat, was 0-for-1 on the night with a walk and having ground into a double play.
Instead, Hinch turned to reliever Will Harris for the second straight night. On Harris’ second pitch, Kendrick hit a cutter off the foul pole in right field to give Washington a 3-2 lead, its first of the game.
"We asked him to do more today than he had done—and pitched deeper into the game—more than we had done than he had done in the entire month of October. I wanted to take him a bat or two early rather than a bat or two late," Hinch said. "Its a decision I'll have to live with, I'll have to think about. And I don't know what would have happened had I left him in."
The Astros bullpen gave up four runs in the final three innings while Washington’s relievers retired 8 of the last 9 Houston batters.
Washington starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg was named the World Series MVP. Strasburg won both his starts and had a 2.55 ERA in the World Series.
The 31-year-old right-hander went 5-0 in the postseason with a 1.98 ERA in 36 1/3 innings.
Hinch said eventually he and the team will look back at the season and be proud of all they accomplished.
After all, they were eight outs away in Game 7 of the World Series from clinching a championship for the second time in three years.
But for now: “This is going to sting for a really long time, and it should,” he said.
Ninth Inning
BOTTOM 9
That's game. The Nationals rally to stun the Astros to win Game 7, 6-2, and win the World Series.
Final: Washington 6, Houston 2
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Brantley: Strikes out to end the game.
Altuve: Strikes out on a 96 mph fastball.
Springer: Pops out to second.
Pitching change: Daniel Hudson replaces Patrick Corbin.
TOP 9
Not the inning the Astros needed there as the Nationals add two insurance runs to make it 6-2. Let’s see what the offense has got in the ninth.
Score: Washington 6, Houston 2
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 errors, 1 left on base
At Bats
Soto: Flies out to center field.
Rendon: Pops out to the infield.
Eaton: Singles to center field; Gomes and Robles score. Washington leads 6-2.
Pitching change: Jose Urquidy replaces Joe Smith.
Turner: Walks to load the bases; Gomes to third, Robles to second.
Robles: Singles to center field; Gomes to second.
Gomes: Grounds into a force out at second, Zimmerman out.
Zimmerman: Singles to center field.
Eighth Inning
BOTTOM 8
The bottom of the Astros lineup goes down in order—not what they needed this late in the game.
Score: Washington 4, Houston 2
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Marisnick: Strikes out swinging on an 83 mph slider.
Chirinos: Grounds out to shortstop.
Correa: Strikes out on a fastball looking well inside and out of the zone.
TOP 8
The Nationals add an insurance run on a Juan Soto single that makes it 4-2. The Astros have their work cut out with six outs to go.
Score: Washington 4, Houston 2
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base
At Bats
Cabrera: Lines out to left field.
Pitching change: Ryan Pressly replaces Roberto Osuna.
Kendrick: Singles off Gurriel's glove at first to right field; Soto to third.
Soto: Singles to right field; Eaton scores. Washington leads 4-2.
Rendon: Flies out to left-center field.
Eaton steals second on a 0-1 count.
Eaton: Walks on seven pitches.
Turner: Grounds out to shortstop.
Seventh Inning
BOTTOM 7
Will the Astros’ lack of clutch hits come back to hurt them? They’ve left 10 runners on base and are 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Score: Washington 3, Houston 2
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 left on base
At Bats
Alvarez: Grounds out to the pitcher to end the inning.
Gurriel: Singles to center field.
Bregman: Grounds out to second.
Brantley: Lines out to center field.
TOP 7
A lot to take in here as the Nationals take a 3-2 lead. Why pull Greinke after 6 1/3 innings and only 80 pitches? Did A.J. Hinch worry he was getting tired with the Rendon solo home run and walk to Soto? Whatever the case, Howie Kendrick jumped on reliever Will Harris on a second-pitch fastball that gave Washington the lead. But will the Nationals’ bullpen be able to hold the lead?
Score: Washington 3, Houston 2
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base
At Bats
Robles: Flies out to right field.
Gomes: Flies out to second base.
Zimmerman: Walks on five pitches.
Pitching change: Roberto Osuna replaces Will Harris.
Harris’ night: 0 innings, 1 run, 2 hits
Cabrera: Singles past a diving Correa playing shallow at shortstop.
Kendrick: Home run! Hits a 91 mph cutter off the foul pole in right field. Washington leads 3-2.
Pitching change: Will Harris replaces Zack Greinke.
Greinke’s night: 6 1/3 innings, 1 run, 2 hits, 3 strikeouts, 2 walks
Soto: Walks on five pitches.
Rendon: Home run! Hits an 89 mph changeup into the Crawford Boxes. Houston leads 2-1.
Eaton: Grounds out to shortstop.
Sixth Inning
BOTTOM 6
What a win for the Astros. They chase Max Scherzer after five innings Scherzer’s final stat line: 5 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks. He threw 103 pitches (58 strikes). Houston made him work all night—working deep counts, extending innings with two outs, lots of stressful innings.
Score: Houston 2, Washington 0
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Altuve: Grounds into a double play to end the inning.
Springer: Strikes out on a slider in the dirt.
Marisnick: Singles to left field.
Offensive substitution: Jake Marisnick replaces Josh Reddick.
Pitching change: Patrick Corbin replaces Max Scherzer.
Scherzer’s night: 5 innings, 2 runs, 7 hits, 3 strikeouts, 4 walks
TOP 6
That’s another 1-2-3 inning for Greinke who is dominating this game. He needed eight pitches to get out of that inning. That's his third eight-pitch inning of the game.
Score: Houston 2, Washington 0
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Turner: Strikes out looking at an inside fastball.
Robles: Grounds out to first base.
Gomes: Flies out to center field.
Fifth Inning
BOTTOM 5
Carlos Correa comes up with a big two-out RBI single to make it a 2-0 game. The Astros offense has done a good job of extending innings with two outs. After Gurriel grounded into a force out, Alvarez walked setting up Correa’s run-scoring hit. It’s another high-stress inning for Scherzer, who’s thrown 103 pitches through five innings (58 strikes).
Score: Houston 2, Washington 0
1 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on base
At Bats
Chirinos: Strikes out an 83 mph changeup to end the inning.
Correa: Singles past a diving Rendon at third base; Gurriel scores, Alvarez to third. Houston leads 2-0.
Alvarez: Walks on five pitches; Gurriel to second. That’s Scherzer’s fourth walk of the game.
Gurriel: Grounds into a force out at second; Brantley out at second.
Bregman: Strikes out on a 95 mph fastball at the top of the strike zone.
Brantley: Singles past the shift to right field.
TOP 5
After facing his first real test of the game, Greinke stayed in complete control. He walked Kendrick on a fastball that was just out of the strike zone. After a sacrifice bunt by Cabrera, Greinke got Zimmerman to pop out to end the inning. Through five innings, Greinke has been able to use all his pitches to hit the strike zone. This inning his pitches included:
- 66 mph curveball
- 90 mph fastball
- 83 mph slider
- 72 mph curveball
- 64 mph curveball
Score: Houston 1, Washington 0
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base
At Bats
Zimmerman: Pops out to first to end the inning.
Cabrera: Sacrifice bunt; Kendrick to second.
Kendrick: Walks on six pitches.
Soto: Strikes out on a check swing on a low changeup.
Fourth Inning
BOTTOM 4
Another wasted opportunity there for the Astros. Reddick hits a two-out single, Springer walks on four pitches and Jose Altuve can’t bring them home. They’re now 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and have stranded seven runners.
Score: Houston 1, Washington 0
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Altuve: Lines out to center field to end the inning.
Springer: Walks on four pitches; Reddick to second.
Reddick: Singles past the shift to right field.
Chirinos: Strikes out swinging on 86 mph slider out of the zone.
Correa: Grounds out to second.
TOP 4
Zack Greinke is on top of his game right now. Get this. He’s faced the minimum number of batters through four innings, he’s had four ground outs back to the mound—five if you count a grounder catcher Robinson Chirinos fielded. And through four innings, he hasn’t faced any real trouble by the Nationals offense. This is why the Astros traded for him at the trade deadline.
Score: Houston 1, Washington 0
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Rendon: Strikes out swinging on an 89 mph on the inside of the plate.
Eaton: Grounds out back to the pitcher.
Turner: Grounds out to the pitcher.
Third Inning
BOTTOM 3
Yordan Alvarez nearly broke this game open when he sent a 96 mph fastball to the warning track in center field for what could have been a 3-run homer. But this isn’t a game of could-have-beens. Houston leads 1-0 and Scherzer is at 55 pitches through three innings.
Score: Houston 1, Washington 0
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 left on base
At Bats
Alvarez: Flies out to the warning track in center field to end the inning.
Gurriel: Flies out to right field.
Bregman: Walks on six pitches; Altuve to second.
Brantley: Lines out to left field.
Altuve: Singles to left field.
TOP 3
Greinke is cruising. He needs eight pitches—again—to shut down the Nationals in order. He’s doing a good job at mixing his offspeed pitches with his fastball to keep the Washington hitters off balance. The Nats have one hit and have managed more softly hit ground balls in the infield that lead to easy outs for the Astros defense.
Score: Houston 1, Washington 0
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Victor Robles: Flies out to center field.
Yan Gomes: Lines out to center field.
Ryan Zimmerman: Grounds out to the pitcher.
—
Sheriff Reddick Reporting for Duty
—
Second Inning
BOTTOM 2
The Astros jump on Scherzer on Yuli Gurriel’s solo shot to leadoff the inning. But they left a solid opportunity to build on that lead with two runners on and no outs. Robinson Chirinos couldn’t lay down a bunt and popped out in foul territory. And with runners in scoring position, George Springer lined out to left field to end the inning. Still, Houston made Scherzer work that inning.
Score: Houston 1, Washington 0
1 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Springer: Lines out to left field on a 3-0 fastball to end the inning.
Josh Reddick: Grounds out to first; Alvarez to third, Correa to second.
Robinson Chirinos: Pops out into foul territory on a bunt.
Carlos Correa: Singles to right field; Alvarez to second.
Yordan Alvarez: Singles to right field.
Yuli Gurriel: Home run! He sends an 87 mph slider down in the zone into the Crawford Boxes. Houston leads 1-0.
TOP 2
After giving up a leadoff single to Juan Soto, Greinke makes a great pitch to jam Howie Kendrick who grounds into a double play.
Score: Washington 0, Houston 0
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Asdrubal Cabrera: Grounds out to first.
Howie Kendrick: Grounds into a double play back to the pitcher. Greinke makes a nice pitch on an 86 mph changeup that jammed Kendrick up in the zone.
Juan Soto: Singles to right field.
First Inning
BOTTOM 1
There doesn’t appear to be an ill effect from Max Scherzer’s neck and back spasms after his scratch in Game 5. His fastball touched 98 mph and he has good movement on his breaking pitches. He lost Michael Brantley on five pitches on a two-out walk, but got Alex Bregman to fly out to right field to end the inning.
Score: Washington 0, Houston 0
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on base
At Bats
Alex Bregman: Flies out to right field to end the inning.
Michael Brantley: Walks on five pitches.
Jose Altuve: Grounds out to shortstop on a 97 mph fastball.
George Springer: Flies out to center field.
TOP 1
That’s a quick, stress-free inning for the Astros and Zack Greinke, who throws eight pitches and shuts down the Nationals in order.
Score: Washington 0, Houston 0
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on base
At Bats
Anthony Rendon: Grounds out to third to end the inning.
Adam Eaton: Grounds out to the catcher.
Trea Turner: Lines out to third base.
Play Ball!
Matthew McConaughey makes the "Play ball!" annoucement before Game 7, while Astros legends Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggo threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Pregame
When the Astros traded for Zack Greinke at the trade deadline in July, they did it with the intent of winning their second World Series in three years.
How fitting is it that Greinke takes the mound tonight in Game 7 against the Washington Nationals with a championship on the line.
“Yeah, it’s going to be a big game,” Greinke said. “A little excited about it. But we’ll see.”
The Nationals forced a deciding final game, do or die, win or go home, (insert old sports cliché here), with a 7-2 victory Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park. The road team has won every game this series.
Now, both teams' seasons come down to 27 outs.
Greinke is making his first career start in Game 7 of the World Series.
He's had his share of success against the Nationals in his career. In 10 starts, he’s gone 6-1 with a 1.32 ERA.
The Nationals turn to Max Scherzer, their ace and three-time Cy Young Award winner. Scherzer was scratched from his start in Game 5 due to neck and back spasms. He said a cortisone shot he received has healed the pain and he’s ready for tonight.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said the team is upbeat and ready for the big game.
"Happy to be here in the sense that we're at home. We get Game 7 of the World Series in front of our fans," Hinch said.
Here’s what you need to know about tonight’s game.
First Pitch
7:07 p.m. at Minute Maid Park.
Astros legends Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell will throw out the ceremonial first pitches. Matthew McConaughey will make the “Play ball!” call.
How You Can Watch
T.V.: FS1
Radio: SportsTalk 790 AM
Online: Right here—follow our live blog with play-by-play and in-game analysis.
Starting Pitchers
Washington’s Max Scherzer (3-0, 2.16 ERA postseason) vs. Houston’s Zack Greinke (0-2, 5.30 ERA)
Scherzer picked up the win in Washington’s 5-4 Game 1 victory. Greinke tossed a no-decision in Houston’s 8-1 win in Game 3.
Starting Lineups
Game 7 History
Tonight’s game marks the 40th time in MLB history the World Series has gone to a Game 7. The last time the road team won? The Astros in 2017 when they beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-1.
Noteworthy
- It isn’t the only time a road team has won all six games in the MLB. It’s also the first time in over 1,400 best-of-7 series in the MLB, NBA and NHL that the road team has won every game.
- With his two doubles in Game 6, George Springer now has five career games in the World Series with multiple extra base hits. He joins Babe Ruth, Duke Snider and Lou Gehrig for the most in MLB history.
- Jose Altuve snapped his 25-game postseason streak of reaching base safely after going 0-for-3 in Game 6.
- Max Scherzer has a 2.96 ERA and 34 strikeouts in six career potential clinching games, according to MLB Stats.
Quoteworthy
“If I told you the series was going to be 3-3 going to a Game 7, I don’t think there’s a person in the building that would have assumed that all road teams were going to win. We’ve just got to make sure that last one is not the same.” — Astros manager A.J. Hinch
So, What Was Up With That Game 6 Call?
You know the one: Washington’s Trea Turner was called out for interference as he stepped on the first base bag as Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel tried to make a catch. Here’s video to refresh your memory.
The umpires gathered, spent a painstaking amount of time reviewing a call that was later determined could be reviewed, and ultimately ruled Turner out.
The call got Nationals manager Dave Martinez so fired up he was later ejected. But MLB executive Joe Torre and the Major League Baseball Umpires Association said it was the right call.
“The call was the fact that he interfered with Gurriel trying to catch the ball,” Torre said.
You can read more about the call and the rule here.
The play ultimately didn’t have much of an effect on the game. Two batters after Turner was called out, Anthony Rendon hit a two-run home run to give the Nationals a 5-2 lead.
Kate Upton Isn’t Having It
Kate Upton, the model and wife of Astros pitcher Justin Verlander fired back at critics on Twitter after she joined the conversation about that controversial call.
“He wasn’t within the base path. Those who don’t know the rule you HAVE to run inside the 2 lines. Not sure why the review is taking so long...” Upton said in a tweet.
Later, she tweeted: “I LOVE talking about sports and reading all of the dumb misogynist comments. It reminds me that women need to keep fighting for equality. It’s 2019 but feels like the 1950s. #feminist”
On This Day in Astros History
The Astros broke ground on what would become Minute Maid Park in 1997. The stadium’s original name was the Ballpark at Union Station.
Scenes from Game 6
Fast Facts
Five things you might not know about:
- Jose Altuve, including how he often finds himself in the spotlight—but he doesn’t like being there.
- Gerrit Cole grew up cheering for this team. Hint: It wasn’t the Astros.
- George Springer isn’t the only superstar athlete in his family—just ask his wife and sisters.
- Alex Bregman and the reason behind why he wears #2.
- Carlos Correa and his proposal heard 'round the world.
- Yuli Gurriel and how he got his nickname.
- Yordan Alvarez and this accomplishment that surpassed Shoeless Joe Jackson.
- Justin Verlander and his journey to the Astros.
- Josh Reddick and his love for wrestling.
World Series Schedule
Game 1: Washington 5, Houston 4 (Washington leads 1-0)
Game 2: Washington 12, Houston 3 (Washington leads 2-0)
Game 3: Houston 4, Washington 1 (Washington leads 2-1)
Game 3 recap: Victory! Astros come to life with 4-1 win over Nationals
Game 4: Houston 8, Washington 1 (Series tied 2-2)
Game 5: Houston 7, Washington 1 (Houston leads 3-2)
Game 6: Washington 7, Houston 2 (Series tied 3-3)
Game 6 recap: Nationals force deciding Game 7 with 7-2 win over Astros
Game 7: Tonight, 7:07 p.m., Houston
Extra Bases
Love the Astros and podcasts? Subscribe to Extra Bases with KHOU’s Jason Bristol and former major league scout Jeremy Booth who discuss all things Houston Astros and Major League Baseball.
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