Nationals hold off Astros to win World Series opener
Gerrit Cole trudged slowly off the mound, wiped the sweat from his upper lip and took a handshake and pat on the backside from manager AJ Hinch.
Walking away without a lead – not something Cole and the Houston Astros are used to. Certainly not what they expected at home in the Major League Baseball World Series opener.
The Washington Nationals roughed up Cole for five runs in seven innings yesterday, beating Houston 5-4 to jump ahead in the best-of-seven series.
Cole suffered his first loss since May 22. Set to cash in as a free agent this off-season, he had won a single-season record 19 consecutive decisions. His postseason prior to yesterday was nearly perfect: 3-0 record, one run allowed, and 32 strikeouts in 222⁄3 innings.
In his first World Series appearance and ninth post-season game, the 29-year-old righthander gave up his most runs since the White Sox tagged him for six in that May 22 loss.
‘‘He’s been so good for so long that there builds this thought of invincibility and that it’s impossible to beat him,’’ Hinch said. ‘‘So when it happens it is a surprise to all of us.’’
The Astros gave Cole a lead with a two-run first, but a shot by Ryan Zimmerman an inning later cut the lead to one. Cole didn’t even turn around to watch where that one landed, simply throwing his right hand up and preparing for the next pitch.
Houston still had the lead when Juan Soto, 20, knocked a fastball from Cole onto the train tracks atop left field. Soto struck again in the fifth, lining a two-run double that stretched Washington’s edge to 5-2.
Along with team-mate and game two starter Justin Verlander, Cole is a favourite for the AL Cy Young Award. He led the league with a 2.50 ERA, and he allowed just seven home runs over the last two months of the regular season.
No lineup had connected for two home runs against him since Colorado on August 7, a span of 11 starts.
Cole struck out six, his lowest total since punching out four on August 1 against Cleveland.
After leading the majors with a career-high 326 strikeouts, he never looked so dominant yesterday.
His slider – a swing-and-miss machine this post-season – lacked bite. He threw the pitch 27 times and got just three whiffs.
‘‘These guys are really tough to put away,’’ Hinch said. ‘‘They don’t strike out a lot. And they proved tonight they’re putting the ball in play.’’
Cole allowed a single in a scoreless sixth and struck out two in a sharp seventh. By then his fate was all but sealed and instead of helping Houston take advantage of home-field advantage from their 107-win season, his uncharacteristic outing left the Astros in a hole as they chase their second title in three seasons.