So much for home-field advantage.
The Washington Nationals defeated the Houston Astros 7-2 in Game 6 of the 2019 World Series on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park and evened the series at three apiece. The road team has won every game of the series, and Stephen Strasburg made sure that continued with an absolute masterpiece.
That means there will be a winner-take-all Game 7 at the Fall Classic for the third time in four years.
Washington is a single victory away from its first championship in franchise history, while Houston is one win away from its second in three seasons.
Notable Player Stats
- WAS Stephen Strasburg: 8.1 innings, two earned runs, five hits, two walks and seven strikeouts
- WAS Juan Soto: 1-for-5, one home run, one RBI and one run
- WAS Adam Eaton: 1-for-2, one home run, one RBI, two runs and one walk
- WAS Anthony Rendon: 3-for-4, one home run, five RBI, one run and one walk
- HOU Justin Verlander: five innings, three earned runs, five hits, three walks and three strikeouts
- HOU Alex Bregman: 2-for-4, one home run, one RBI and one run
Strasburg, Home Runs Help Nationals Overcome Umpires
If Houston won Tuesday’s game, it would forever be remembered for the call in the top of the seventh inning.
With Washington nursing a 3-2 lead, Trea Turner dribbled one down the third base line. An errant throw to first got away, leading to runners on second and third with nobody out. However, Turner was called out for runner’s interference, kicking off a mind-blowing sequence of events that included a lengthy review for a play that wasn’t reviewable because it was a judgement call and Washington protesting the game.
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
Trea Turner was called out on this play. “That’s a potentially series changing call.” – Joe @Buck https://t.co/E3Po7hSNcR
Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
Here’s the biggest problem with that call: If Brad Peacock doesn’t make a bad throw to first base, Yuli Gurriel isn’t stretched into the baseline. If he’s not stretched into the baseline, Trea Turner doesn’t run into him. So … you penalize Turner for a crap Peacock throw? Huh?
Kyle Schwarber @kschwarb12
Why put the bag in fair territory then! Go and do the softball orange safety bag so we can make it clear where to touch the bag in FOUL territory. Such a bad rule https://t.co/VicFsyi9We
FOX Sports: MLB @MLBONFOX
During the 7th inning stretch, Nationals Manager Dave Martinez was visibly upset with the umpires and was ejected during the exchange. https://t.co/AZ23MusrNN
He was eventually called out, and Nationals manager Dave Martinez was ejected in between innings for vehemently arguing the ruling.
Fortunately for the visitors and anyone with Major League Baseball looking to avoid one of the most controversial World Series finishes in history, Anthony Rendon launched a two-run homer two batters later to give the Nationals critical breathing room in a “ball don’t lie” situation.
His blast came after Adam Eaton and Juan Soto both went deep in the fifth to give Washington the lead for good.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Anthony Rendon sends one deep after the controversial call at first base
