Nats Win World Series In Comeback Game Seven Win
10/30/2019 By Ryan Kanne
Courtesy of MGN Online
The Washington Nationals came back from an early deficit to win Game 7 of the World Series, clinching the franchise’s first World Series title in a 6-2 win. Despite only having two hits through 6.1 innings, the Nationals were able to rally in the seventh inning to score three runs and take the lead for the remainder of the game.
Stephen Strasburg was named the World Series MVP after a 2-0 record and 14 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. His dominance comes at the end of an already impressive postseason run where he went 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA before the World Series. Strasburg also became the only pitcher to go 5-0 in a single postseason.
After letting their former franchise star in Bryce Harper walk away from the team in free agency, the Nationals weren’t expected to reach the postseason, let alone the World Series. A 19-31 record towards the end of May backed up the notion that the Nationals were looking towards the future as opposed to competing this year. Then, the Nationals started to rally.
After going 19-31, the Nationals 74-38 record tied for the best mark in the National League. From one of the worst teams in the MLB, to hosting the NL Wild Card game, the Nationals seemingly miraculous run was not over yet. After being down 3-1 through seven innings, the Nationals scored three runs on an eighth inning single and error to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3.
As a reward for an amazing Wild Card game, the Nationals played the NL leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. After being down 2-1 in the series, the Nationals were able to force a winner take all Game 5 that went to extra innings. In the 10th inning, veteran Howie Kendrick hit a grand slam to clinch the series for the Nationals.
For the first time in franchise history the Nationals advanced to the NLCS, and this year they faced the NL Central Champion St. Louis Cardinals. The NLCS was dominated by the Nationals as they allowed only two runs in the first three games. Game 4 of the NLCS was decided by the first inning as the Nationals scored seven runs before the Cardinals got their second at bats of the game.
Heading into the World Series, the Nationals were once again the underdogs, this time to the Houston Astros. Despite the Astros being the biggest World Series favorites since 2007, the Nationals were able to force a Game 7 after Strasburg shutdown the vaunted Astros lineup.
Going into Game 7, the Nationals were on the verge of making history. Not only were the Nationals facing the biggest World Series favorites in over a decade, they would be the only team in MLB team to win only road games to win the World Series.
With history on the line, and a historic run looking at its end, Howie Kendrick delivered one more magical moment. After a one out walk and a pitching change in the seventh inning, Howie Kendrick just got enough on an outside pitch to launch a two run, game winning home run into the right field foul pole. With one final rally, the Nationals finished a historic run ending in a World Series Championship.