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How the Astros Won Game 5 of the World Series - The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals returned home last week after winning two games in Houston, riding a wave of expectation that they might be the ones to bring their city its first World Series win on home soil in 86 years.

The last major league team from Washington to win a World Series game at home was the old Senators, who won Game 3 of the 1933 Fall Classic at Griffith Stadium before losing the Series to the New York Giants.

The Nationals, who brought major league baseball back to Washington in 2005 after a 33-year absence, had three cracks at producing the joy of a home World Series victory this weekend, three chances to move to within a game of becoming the city’s first World Series champions since 1924. But they could not do it.

In the latest game of a quirky World Series in which the visiting team has captured all five games, the Houston Astros won Game 5, 7-1, at Nationals Park, and they are the ones on the verge of winning what would be their second championship in three years.

Gerrit Cole returned to form for Houston by pitching another magnificent game, while Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa and George Springer provided the bulk of the offense, each hitting a two-run homer.

Now the Astros will send Justin Verlander, who is 0-5 in the World Series in his career, against Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals in a marquee matchup for Game 6 on Tuesday in Houston.

Game 5 was also supposed to be a classic pitching duel, with Cole facing Max Scherzer — the top aces for both teams. But Scherzer woke up with severe back spasms and had to be scratched late in the afternoon from the most important game in Nationals history.

“I’m as disappointed as I possibly can be not to be able to pitch tonight; it’s Game 5 of the World Series,” Scherzer said before the game on Sunday.

Scherzer won Game 1 in Houston, and the Nationals are 5-0 in games he pitched in during this postseason. Even though the Astros had Cole, the Nationals had complete confidence that Scherzer could replicate the outcome in Game 1.

But he had been dealing with spasms in his upper-back and neck for a couple of days. He received treatment on Saturday and was hopeful the condition would improve in time for Sunday’s game.

Unfortunately for the Nationals, he could not even get out of bed on his own on Sunday, he said. He added that he needed his wife to help him get dressed. When he got to the park, he received a cortisone shot, but that was only intended to help him recover in time to start a potential Game 7, or perhaps pitch in relief in Game 6 on Tuesday, if necessary.

“I can tell you now he’s very upset,” Nationals Manager Dave Martinez said. “He wants to be out there with his teammates. But hopefully we can get him back here for either Game 6 or 7.”

The starting assignment instead went to Joe Ross, a right-handed swingman who pitched in 27 regular season games this year, including nine starts. But he had only pitched once in the postseason, out of the bullpen in Game 3. His last start before Sunday was on Sept. 29.

But his teammates and the fans in Washington lent their full support to Ross, who received loud cheers when he was announced before the game (that was not the case for President Trump, who attended the game in a suite behind home plate and was booed loudly when he was announced during the third inning).

The fans also supported Ross before he took the mound, chanting, “Let’s go, Joe,” as he warmed up in the bullpen. But Ross could not hold down the Astros hitters.

Alvarez drove a 95-mile-per-hour fastball into the first row of seats in left center field. Yuli Gurriel, who had singled in the at-bat prior, scored on the blast and the Astros led, 2-0.

They would double their lead two innings later after Alvarez singled to right field and Correa, after fouling off three pitches, lofted a shot into the left-field stands. After Game 4 on Saturday, Correa noted that the Astros had played better in Games 3 and 4 after two dismal performances in Houston to open the series. Springer added a third homer off Daniel Hudson in the ninth to provide the final margin of victory.

“We really want that championship,” Correa said Saturday, “and we have to go out and play like it.”

Cole pitched seven terrific innings, allowing three hits: two singles and a home run to Juan Soto in the seventh, Soto’s second homer off the right-hander in the series. Later in the inning, Cole thought he had struck out Ryan Zimmerman looking at a pitch to end the frame. It was called a ball and Cole had to stop himself from running toward the dugout, demonstrating his displeasure with home plate umpire, Lance Barksdale.

But one batter later, Barksdale called Victor Robles out on a strike-three pitch that looked even farther outside than the one to Zimmerman. The fans booed lustily once more, but Cole was out of the inning and it was his last batter of the night, and likely his last for the season.

It was the kind of performance the Astros had expected from Cole in Game 1. He was not as sharp that night, giving up five runs in seven innings — including home runs to Zimmerman and Soto — and took his first loss since May 22.

But for the Astros, the chances of that happening again were slim.

“Gerrit’s not really the guy who is going to lose twice in a row,” Astros outfielder Josh Reddick said after Game 4 on Saturday. “We have a lot of confidence in that.”

Now the Astros have a firm grasp on momentum, and as they head back to Houston, they hope it can carry them to the first victory for a home team in this series — and to another title.

James Wagner provided live updates and analysis from Game 5 as it happened:

Here’s what you need to know:

George Springer smashed a two-run homer off Daniel Hudson. It was Springer’s 15th career postseason homer, extending his Astros record. Second place in team history: Jose Altuve, with 13. Springer’s blast was measured at 435 feet. The Astros have out-homered the Nationals, nine to six, this World Series.

Ryan Pressley completed the game with a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Off to Houston.

The Astros padded their lead with a double by George Springer off reliever Daniel Hudson and then run-scoring single by Yuli Gurriel.

Gerrit Cole’s night is done after seven terrific innings. He allowed just one run — a Juan Soto home run — on three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts. He fired 110 pitches — the fifth time this postseason he has thrown at least 104 pitches and logged at least seven innings. Joe Smith took over and spun a scoreless inning.

In the top half of the inning, Sean Doolittle pitched around a single and a walk for a scoreless frame. A double play certainly helped.

The bottom half of the frame reinforced two truths: Juan Soto and Cole are very good at baseball.

Cole threw his trademark high-90s fastball up in the strike zone and Anthony Rendon couldn’t resist, flying out to left field. (Yordan Alvarez, by the way, is out of the game, replaced by better defenders given the Astros’ lead.)

But when Cole threw a 99-mile-per-hour fastball down the middle to Soto, the young slugger didn’t miss it. He sent it over the left-center field fence to trim the Nationals’ deficit to 4-1. Soto has now homered off Cole — to the opposite field, no less — this postseason. He joined Joey Gallo as the only batters to hit multiple home runs off Cole this year.

The Nationals Park booed again in the seventh inning, this time at the home plate umpire Lance Barksdale when he rung up Victor Robles on a called third strike that was outside the strike zone. Barksdale heard more boos as the teams traded places on the field in the next frame.

Ross’s night is done at 78 pitches and five innings. Tanner Rainey relieved him and threw a 1-2-3 innings with fastballs as hard as 100 miles per hour. It was his third and best appearance of the World Series.

Yuli Gurriel has played phenomenal defense at third base this series. He robbed Trea Turner of a hit down the first base line with a nifty stop of a grounder and dive toward the bag. That is the second time he has done that to Turner this series. It helped Cole get through the sixth inning without any issue.

Ross hasn’t pitched all that poorly. The Astros’ lineup is simply that good, and they clobbered his mistakes. After walking George Springer for the second time this game, he got Jose Altuve to ground into his second double play of the game.

Cole, on the other hand, needed six pitches against the bottom of the Nationals’ batting order. He is at 69 pitches for the night.

The Astros silenced Nationals Park momentarily when Carlos Correa, who had been quiet at the plate this series, blistered a ball to left field for a two-run homer. Ross coughed up a single to Yordan Alvarez and then jumped ahead 0-2 on Correa. But Correa battled, taking a close slider for a ball and fouled off two pitches. It was stellar plate discipline from Correa, who crushed a 2-2 slider over the meat of the plate.

In the bottom half of the inning, Cole pitched around Anthony Rendon, who walked, for a scoreless frame. The curveball on the outer edge of the plate that froze Adam Eaton for a called third strike should be featured in a baseball instructional video.

Jose Altuve is now 9 for 22 (.409) this postseason. His nine hits are the most of any player in this World Series. He was the only base runner of the third inning.

In the bottom half of the inning, Cole tossed a 1-2-3 frame. He is through three scoreless innings on 42 pitches.

Once the inning ended, President Trump was shown on the scoreboard. Flanked by staff in a suite behind home plate, Trump smiled and clapped. But there was a resounding round of boos from the crowd at Nationals Park. A distinct chant of “Lock him up!” broke out in the upper deck.

Starting Yordan Alvarez, the Astros’ usual designated hitter, in as a left fielder proved to be a key decision by Manager A.J. Hinch. Since the series shifted to Washington, both teams lost the designated hitter. Alvarez, who struggled in the A.LC.S. but looked better at the plate this round, is known for his bat, not his nimbleness in the field.

After using Alvarez as a pinch hitter the previous two games in Washington, Hinch kept him in to face Ross on Sunday. Alvarez clobbered an opposite-field two-run homer to give the Astros a 2-0 lead. Ross threw a low sinker to the low outside corner, but Alvarez powered the ball into the left-center field seats.

Hinch said he had targeted this game for Alvarez “because Gerrit would get so many strikeouts, there’s less balls in play and less opportunity for something crazy to happen in the outfield.” Additionally, Hinch said, “I didn’t want to go three games without having his bat in the lineup for multiple at-bats.”

In the bottom half of the inning, Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick singled off Cole. But Cole used his usual magic to strike out Ryan Zimmerman and get Victor Robles to ground into a double play.

Given a tough assignment — filling in for three-time Cy Young Award winner Scherzer in the World Series — Ross fired a powerhouse first inning. He accomplished something that Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and Scherzer struggled to do in the World Series: a scoreless first inning. Ross tossed 14 pitches. He walked George Springer, the leadoff hitter, but used his power sinking fastball in the mid 90s to get a inning-ending ground ball double play from Michael Brantley.

Cole was no slouch himself. He threw 17 pitches to get three outs. He hit 99 miles per hour with his fastball and threw a slider at 92. Good luck hitters.

NATIONALS

1. Trea Turner SS

2. Adam Eaton RF

3. Anthony Rendon 3B

4. Juan Soto LF

5. Howie Kendrick 2B

6. Ryan Zimmerman 1B

7. Victor Robles CF

8. Yan Gomes C

9. Joe Ross P

ASTROS

Opting for offense over defense, the Astros started Yordan Alvarez, their usual designated hiter, in left field.

1. George Springer CF

2. Jose Altuve 2B

3. Michael Brantley RF

4. Alex Bregman 3B

5. Yuli Gurriel 1B

6. Yordan Alvarez LF

7. Carlos Correa SS

8. Martín Maldonado C

9. Gerrit Cole RHP

  • The World Series starts again on Sunday with Game 5 at Nationals Park. It is tied at 2-2, so the entire 2019 season essentially comes down to a three-game series between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals. Game 5 is key: Of the 45 times the World Series has been tied at 2-2, the winner of the fifth game has gone on to win the title 30 times.

  • Game 5 was supposed to be a rematch of Game 1’s premier pitching matchup: Gerrit Cole of the Astros versus Max Scherzer of the Nationals. In that game, Scherzer and the Nationals prevailed, 5-4, and the Astros lost a game started by Cole for the first time since July 12.

    But around 4:30 p.m., Nationals Manager Dave Martinez made a stunning announcement: Scherzer would not start because of spasms in his neck and his upper back, near his throwing arm. Joe Ross, a former starter who pitched mostly out of the bullpen this season, would take the mound instead. Ross threw 19 pitches over two strong innings in Game 3 on Friday.

    As a result, the Nationals will have to lean on one of their weaknesses: their bullpen. Scherzer had been receiving treatment but woke up on Sunday “really hurting,” Martinez said. Scherzer is known as one of the most competitive players in baseball — he pitched with a bloody and broken nose earlier this season — so his spasms most likely are very serious to force him out of a World Series game.

    Martinez said he hoped Scherzer could come back and pitch in relief in Game 6 on Tuesday if the season was on the line. But if there was a Game 7, Martinez said he would turn to Scherzer. Stephen Strasburg is slated to start Game 6.

    “He’s really upset about it,” Martinez said of Scherzer. “I’ve never seen — believe me — I’ve never seen Max this quiet. He’s very quiet.”

    But General Manager Mike Rizzo expressed confidence in Ross. “He’s got good stuff and he got his feet wet the other night, so that’ll help him, that’ll help the nerves a little bit,” Rizzo said. “But you do an emergency start in Game 5 of the World Series against the Houston Astros, he’ll have to control his emotions and not be amped up and just follow the game plan and see what happens. It could be a good story, man.”

  • Beyond tying the series, the Astros’ win on Saturday night brought another encouraging development for Houston (and a worrying one for the Nationals): the return of Alex Bregman’s bat. Bregman, the star third baseman who had the Astros’ second-highest on-base-plus-slugging percentage (1.015) during the regular season, entered Game 4 batting .208 in the postseason, with just one hit in the first three World Series games.

    But he emphatically broke out of his slump on Saturday, going 3 for 5 with five R.B.I. — most of them coming on a grand slam in the seventh inning. As David Waldstein reported today, Bregman chalked up his big game to the extra work he did in the batting cages on Saturday.

    “He’s always working on something,” Josh Reddick, the right fielder, said. “I don’t know how he could work any harder. He probably takes a tee and a Wiffle ball into his hotel room for all I know.”

  • The Nationals are 0-2 since a trophy presentation staging rehearsal at Nationals Park during the off day between Games 2 and 3. Even though it is understandable that such an exercise would be done at a stadium that had never hosted a World Series game before, superstitious fans have interpreted the practice as some sort of jinx. M.L.B. plays a major role in the hosting of World Series games and planning elements like the trophy presentation.

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