World Series Recap through 2 Games

            The Washington Nationals went into Houston and took games 1 and 2 of the 2019 World Series. Washington was the surprise team of this year’s postseason. Or were they. With a starting rotation of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Patrick Corbin, the Nationals have one of the most dominant rotations in the majors that helped get them to the World Series. Holding the Astros to 7 runs in the first 2 games, is the biggest reason for the two shocking wins. Houston is known for their high-powered offense. Game 3 may turn out to be the biggest game of this series. If Washington can pull out another win in the first ever World Series game in Washington behind starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez, game 4 will set up Patrick Corbin to help compete the sweep in the World Series.

            Game 1’s unseen hero was Juan Soto. Going 3 for 4 with a double, homerun and 3 runs batted in. Soto was in control of game 1. Houston took control early with a 2-0 lead after the 1^st inning. Washington responded back with a Ryan Zimmerman home run in the second to cut the lead to 1. Juan Soto went yard in the 4^th inning to tie the game at two apiece. The 5^th inning was huge for the Nats as they put up 3 more on Gerrit Cole and took a 5-2 lead after 5 innings in Game 1. The Astros cut into the lead in the bottom half of the 7^th, with a huge home run by George Springer. 1 more in the 8^th cut the Nationals lead to 5-4 heading into the 9^th where Sean Doolittle closed out the Game 1 victory for the Washington Nationals.

            Game 2 pitted Stephen Strasburg for Washington versus Justin Verlander of the Astros. In what was predicted to be a sure thing low scoring game, ended up being quite the opposite. Washington dominated game 2 with a 12-3 thrashing of the Astros. Verlander went 6 innings pitched with 4 earned runs, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Strasburg also went 6 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 walk and 7 strikeouts to his name. Washington took control of the game scoring 5 earned runs off the Astros bullpen, 8 total runs allowed.

            I predict the Astros will win game 3 behind a dominant Zach Greinke. Astros win 5-2, behind home runs from Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa. Game 4 will go to Washington, as they pull ahead with 3 games to 1 lead behind Patrick Corbin. Game 5 will go to Houston to bring the series back to Houston where the Nationals win game 6 to win the 2019 World Series 4 games to 2 bringing Washington D.C. their first World Series victory in history.