Nationals top Astros to win 1st World Series
HOUSTON >> Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon homered in the seventh inning as the Washington Nationals overcame a two-run deficit, rocking the Houston Astros 6-2 on Wednesday night in Game 7 of the World Series to win the first title in franchise history.
With all eyes on Max Scherzer and his remarkable recovery after a painkilling injection, these Nationals embraced their shot in a Series when the road team won every game. Even more against the odds: Juan Soto and Washington rallied from behind to win five elimination games this postseason.
Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and the Nats brought the first World Series championship to the nation’s capital since ol’ Walter Johnson delivered the crown for the Senators in 1924.
Kendrick was just 5 for 22 with one RBI in the World Series when he came to the plate in the seventh inning of Game 7. Rendon had just homered off Zack Greinke, cutting the Nationals’ deficit to 2-1.
Juan Soto walked on five pitches and Harris relieved. Kendrick swung past a curveball and drove a cutter on the low, outside corner down the right-field line. George Springer sprinted toward the corner. Harris watched. The crowd was silenced, hoping the ball would be caught or curve foul.
Instead, it bounced off the foul pole screen.
Kendrick shouted his way around the bases after the biggest hit of his 14-year career. He danced in the dugout with his younger teammates, and for one last time this season, Kendrick and Adam Eaton celebrated by shifting gears and slamming the gas pedal in their imaginary car. Forget about over the hill — Kendrick showed he still had plenty in the tank.
He became the second player to hit a home run in a winner-take-all Series game from the seventh inning on that took his team from a deficit into the lead, following an
2019: Washington (NL) 4, Houston (AL) 3
2016: Chicago (NL) 4, Cleveland (AL) 3-x
2011: St. Louis (NL) 4, Texas (AL) 3
2002: Anaheim (AL)
4, San Francisco (NL) 3
2001: Arizona (NL) 4, New York (AL) 3
1991: Minnesota (AL)
4, Atlanta (NL) 3
1982: St. Louis (NL)
4, Milwaukee (AL) 3
1979: Pittsburgh (NL)
4, Baltimore (AL) 3-x
1973: Oakland (AL) 4, New York (NL) 3
1968: Detroit (AL) 4, St. Louis (NL) 3-x
1958: New York (AL)
4, Milwaukee (NL) 3-x
1952: New York (AL)
4, Brooklyn (NL) 3
eighth-inning drive by Pittsburgh’s Hal Smith in Game 7 of the 1960 Series against the New York Yankees.
He’s also the only player 36 or older to hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning
1946: St. Louis (NL)
4, Boston (AL) 3
1940: Cincinnati (NL)
4, Detroit (AL) 3
1934: St. Louis (NL)
4, Detroit 3
1926: St. Louis (NL)
4, New York (AL) 3
1925: Pittsburgh (NL) 4, Washington (AL) 3-x
1924: Washington (AL) 4, New York (NL) 3
1921: New York (NL)
5, New York (AL) 3
1903: Boston (AL) 5, Pittsburgh (NL) 3-x
or later of a winner-take-all postseason game. Of course, he’s done it twice, both this year.
Kendrick singled in the eighth, reaching for the third time.