After a shaky start, the Washington Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg settled in and dominated the Houston Astros, pitching 8 1/3 innings in a 7-2 win that forced the World Series to a decisive Game 7.
With the victory, the former San Diego State standout improved to 5-0 in the 2019 post-season. He’s the first pitcher to do so since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001.
Strasburg gave up two runs in the 1st inning, including a home run to Astros third baseman Alex Bregman. He surrendered three hits and two walks the remainder of the game.
Stephen Strasburg is the first pitcher to go 8 innings and win an elimination game in the #WorldSeries since Orel Hershiser in 1995 https://t.co/wux9axHgXb pic.twitter.com/2pUok4Sr8c
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 30, 2019
In a post-game interview, Strasburg indicated he may have been tipping his pitches early and that it “burned me there in the first.”
He conferred though with pitching coach Paul Menhart, corrected the problem and then stymied the Astros. He added that he was satisfied with his performance as long as he gave his all.
“I can live with results as long as I do that,” Strasburg said.
The Nationals’ Anthony Rendon, who drove in five runs on three hits, was awed by his teammate.
“Watching him come into his own, especially during the post-season, it’s been amazing,” he said.
The Nationals had been on the ropes. After winning the first two games in Houston, they managed only three runs total as they lost three straight at home to trail in the series.
Strasburg prevailed over Astros starter Justin Verlander, who fell to 0-6 in his career World Series starts.
The Nationals will start Max Scherzer in Game 7 Wednesday, though he was unable to pitch Sunday due to back and neck spasms. Zack Greinke, formerly of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Diamondbacks, will take the hill for the Astros.
Strasburg attended SDSU from 2008-2009, where he played for the late Tony Gwynn. He became part of the Aztec Hall of Fame in 2014.
Stephen Strasburg is the 1st P to go 8.1+ IP in an elimination game since Madison Bumgarner in the ’16 WC game
He’s the 1st to do it in an elimination game of any *series* since the Adam Wainwright in the ’13 NLDS
He’s the 1st to do it in the #WorldSeries since Al Leiter in ’00 pic.twitter.com/uGYcJx5FcP
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 30, 2019
– Staff reports
Updated at 9:50 p.m. Oct. 29, 2019
