World Series Game 2: Washington Nationals v Houston Astros – live! – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

Well the Nationals just walked into Houston and ripped two games away from a team that was meant to waltz to a second title in three seasons. Not so fast. Washington have won eight straight playoff games and 18 of their last 20 overall. The end result is that they are heading home, knowing that taking two of three games will bring the franchise its firstWorld Seriestitle.

We will have more live game action on Friday night in addition to more traditional coverage. Until then, thank you for reading, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon or goodnight.

Nationals 12 – 3 Astros, bottom 9th

Springer chops to the left side of the infield and Rendon throws it away. The E5 extends the inning.

Now Altuve has a base hit, and the Astros are content to waste all our time.

Here is Jake Marisnick off the bench.

Martin Maldonado hits a home run over the Fuddruckers sign in left, and I thought Fuddruckers were no longer with us. The train does its thing, which is admirable and sad at the same time.

Now Reddick grounds out to second and the Astros are down to their final out.

Nationals 12 – 2 Astros, bottom 9th

Javy Guerra is in, and he entices a fly ball to center out of Correa. One down.

Nationals 12 – 2 Astros, top 9th

Parra skies to center. Inning over. Houston have three outs left.

Michael Taylor with another blast, which leads to yet another celebration in the dugout. There’s lots to admire with these Nats, including their consistency.

Turner strikes out, and Parra enters off the bench.

Nationals 11 – 2 Astros, top 9th

Suzuki grounds out to cheers that are quite loud. Do they do Bronx cheers in Houston?

Nationals 11 – 2 Astros, bottom 8th

Rainey goes 1-2-3 after striking out Alvarez. To the ninth!

Nationals 11 – 2 Astros, bottom 8th

Oh, Rainey is in pitching now. I was getting cookies, which I think are allowed at this stage.

There’s more “all they gotta do is get back to Cole and Verlander” type stuff from Smoltz, who clearly doesn’t get what is happening right now.

Gurriel flies out to center, two down. Here’s Alvarez.

Nationals 11 – 2 Astros, bottom 8th

Bregman flies to right.

Nationals 11 – 2 Astros, top 8th

Altuve makes a great tumbling stop at second to retire Zimmerman and end the inning.

Nationals 10 -2 Astros, top 8th

Kendrick singles, Soto moves to second, and Hinch is out to get James. We are in extensive gar-bage time, and it’s ugly.

Hector Rondon is in to face Cabrera.

Down 0-2

FOX TV in the US tells us that there are just three teams to lose the first twoWorld Seriesgames at home and comeback to win it. They are:

1985 Kansas City Royals

1986 New York Mets

1996 New York Yankees

So I am saying there’s a chance, but that’s not a pretty picture if you live in Houston.

Nationals 10 – 2 Astros, top 8th

Rendon strikes out, Soto walks.

Adam Eaton just put one in the seats leading to yet another cabaret in the DC dugout.

Houston, it would seem, have more than just one problem. They are getting creamed at home and now face a long flight to DC knowing their sure thingWorld Seriestitle is anything but. A wild turn of events.

Nationals 8-2 Astros, top 8th

Robles strikes out but reaches on a past ball so he’s on first. Here’s Turner, who strikes out without reaching first.

Eaton is next.

Nationals 8-2 Astros, bottom 7th

Strasburg is being hugged by four Nationals and deservedly so. Meanwhile, Altuve is popping out harmlessly to short. Two down for Brantley.

Analyst John Smoltz is on FOX TV in the US giving “all Houston has to do …” type of advice to the Astros. But what he doesn’t seem to understand are the RPM’s on the the buzzsaw they’ve just run into. The Nats have barely lost since May and don’t look like starting now. Vegas need to look in the mirror.

Brantley grounds out to first, inning over.

Nationals 8-2 Astros, bottom 7th

Reddick walks, then Springer bounces into a 5-4 force out. One down with a man on for Altuve.

Verlander

6IP 7H 4R 4ER 3BB 6SO 1HR

Not what they were looking for out of Verlander says Captain Obvious

Strasburg

6IP 7H 2H 2ER 1BB 7SO 1HR

He was phenomenal after his rocky first, and held on through a tough sixth inning well over 100 pitches. Terrific outing.

Nationals 8-2 Astros, bottom 7th

So here’s Fernando Rodney, which means Martinez is feeling really good about his chances. He faces Reddick to open the home seventh.

True story …

Nationals 8-2 Astros, top 7th

Suzuki started this inning with a blast, and finishes it with a ground ball out to second. This inning is finally over, one that may live on in infamy for Houston and their fans!

A roller to third, Bregman will have to hurry, he’s got it and he throws it away! Two more are coming in for DC! What a nightmare inning, and especially so for Bregman! He needs to put that ball in his pocket but instead, he airmailed it!

Here comes Hinch to get Pressly. Josh James will enter.

What a mess in Houston!

Cabrera: a line shot, right up the middle, and two more runs come in for the Nats!

Turner is in, so is Soto! What an inning for Washington and it’s crickets in Houston!

Zimmerman steps in with two on and two out.

Man, Bregman had to make that play … that’s an E-5 even if they didn’t score it that way.

Ground ball to short, Bregman runs to his left and he can’t get it! Robles scores and the Nats have a two run lead! He’s gotta make that play!

And the bases are still loaded for Cabrera!

Oh boy …

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Rendon skies to center – is it deep enough?

It is not! They won’t run on Springer and that’s just what Houston needed. That is also the argument agains the sac bunt.

Anyway, now they intentionally walk Soto, which is absolutely the right move, and they will take their chances with Kendrick.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Conservative: Eaton lays down a sac bunt that advances the runners. Am I allowed to like that move?

Here’s Rendon – swallow hard Houston.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Ball four! Two on, no outs. Here’s Eaton.

They are reviewed, but you’re not alone in this department.

Nationals 3-2 Astros, top 7th

Now Robles walks and here comes AJ Hinch to speak to Verlander.

That will do it for Verlander, who had it for five innings tonight, but not in the first and not in the seventh. He is on the hook ands here comes Pressly in relief: heis operating with something of a balky knee.

Tough sledding ahead, here comes Turner.

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Oh nasty! Strasburg floats a full-count curveball over the plate and Tucker can’t handle it! Strike three – huge stones from Strasburg, who is almost definitely done after 114 pitches. Great for Martinez to stick with him through late game trouble – old school!

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Full count: the merry-go-round will be in motion!

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Check swing, did he go? Yes! It’s 2-2 to Tucker … ************

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Broken bat, little fly ball a little north of second base and Strasburg survives Correa.

Here’s Tucker, who will pinch hit for the catcher Chirinos. Pitching coach Paul Manhart is on the hill to chat with Strasburg.

Tucker had a big hit last night as the Astros rallied in the eighth.

Two on, two out. How will it end?

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Full count!

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Alvarez is intentionally walked to face Correa, which, despite the righty, righty thing, strikes me as a lotta bit crazy, regardless of his struggles.

Two on, one out. Here we go!

Nationals 2-2 Astros, bottom 6th

Gurriel laces a shot down the third base line, just fair! He’s at second base with a one out double and with Strasburg approaching 100 pitches, the wheels begin to turn for Nats manager Dave Martinez.

Here’s Alvarez trying to cash in.