The Washington Nationals walloped the Houston Astros 12-3 on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park to take a 2-0 lead in the World Series, and to extend their winning streak to eight games (two vs Dodgers, four vs Cardinals, two vs Astros).
The Nats picked up both wins in Houston, with the series now going to Washington DC. Four of the five remaining games (if necessary; it could of course be over by Game 4) in the series would be played in DC.
And the wins came against elite starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander. Then again, the Nats started an ace-level arm each game themselves, in Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg.
Strasburg allowed two earned runs over six innings in Game 2 to pick up the victory, while the Nats were able to score four runs against Verlander (who exited without getting an out in the seventh inning).
Stephen Strasburg, 95mph Fastball and 83mph Curveball, Overlay pic.twitter.com/blW5rZsJS9
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 24, 2019
The Nats broke the game open with a six-run seventh, and the scoring got started with this Kurt Suzuki solo homer against Verlander.
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, 2019
Kurt Suzuki HR
Victor Robles BB
Trea Turner BB
Adam Eaton sac bunt
Juan Soto IBB
Howie Kendrick RBI IF 1B
Asdrúbal Cabrera 2-run 1B
Ryan Zimmerman RBI IF 1B10 batters. 6 runs. Hang this inning in the National Gallery of Art.@ngadc // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/HXWi6esrQj
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 24, 2019
In the eighth inning, Adam Eaton smoked a two-run dinger to extend the lead to 10-2, and it was followed by an excellent celebration in the Washington dugout.
The Nats are EATON tonight. #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/AYN4DdeG3x
— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2019
The @Nationals home run celebration is everything 😂
10-2 Nats lead! pic.twitter.com/05lLsccNxJ
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2019
Everything is coming up Nats right now, and the series heads to their home for the next three games (again, if necessary). The series gets a day off for travel, before Aníbal Sánchez takes on Zack Greinke in Game 3 on Friday night at Nationals Park.