93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
(AP) – Washington has a World Series championship for the first time since the 1924 Senators beat the New York Giants.
Anthony Rendon (rehn-DOHN’) and Howie Kendrick belted huge home runs in the seventh inning as the Nationals rallied to take Game 7, 6-2 over the Astros in Houston. Winning pitcher Patrick Corbin gave the Nats three solid innings of shutout relief to close out a series in which the road team won every game.
Astros starter Zack Greinke (GREHN’-kee) cruised through the first 6 1/3 innings, allowing just one hit and one walk until the dam burst. Rendon belted a solo homer got the Nationals within 2-1 before Howie Kendrick slammed a two-run blast off reliever Will Harris two batters later.
It was yet another big postseason hit for Kendrick, who was the MVP of the NL Championship Series after slamming a tiebreaking grand slam in extra innings to give the Nats the fifth and deciding game of the division series against the Dodgers.
Juan Soto doubled Washington’s lead with an RBI single in the eighth, one inning before Adam Eaton’s two-run single put the Nats in complete control.
Houston managed just two of their nine hits after Washington starter Max Scherzer left the game. Scherzer needed 103 pitches to complete his five innings of work, yielding seven hits and four walks but just two runs. The three-time Cy Young Award winner made a quick recovery after being scratched from Game 5 due to a nerve irritation near his neck.
It’s the first World Series crown for the Nationals in franchise history, including their time as the Montreal Expos from 1969 through 2004. The Nats had never won a playoff series before this year. Their playoff run occurred despite a 19-31 start to the campaign.
Yuli Gurriel (YOO’-lee gur-ee-EHL’) hit a solo homer for the Astros, who were seeking their second championship in three seasons.
Stephen Strasburg was named the MVP of the series after going 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA. Strasburg was outstanding in helping the Nationals win Game 6 and extending the Fall Classic to the limit.
