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In a World Series that has not had any particular drama attached to it, here we are with this series tied 3-3 and Game 7 being played later today.
It is a historic series because it is the first in North America professional sports history where the home team has yet to win a game through the first six games played in a best-of-seven playoff series.
With the Nationals winning Game 6 in Houston, this is now the first postseason series in MLB, NBA or NHL history in which the road team has won the first 6 games.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 30, 2019
Stephen Strasburg threw 8 IP with 2 ER and 7 K; his 47 Ks in 2019 are T-2nd most in a single postseason. pic.twitter.com/AxRmy17zPy
Dodger fans are sad about this nugget has the teams head into Game 7 today.
The Astros had the best record in MLB this year.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 30, 2019
Teams w/the best regular-season record are 12-19 in winner-take-all World Series games all-time
(incl 1 yr where the 2 WS tms tied for best record, so 1 win/loss each)
Those best-record teams are 4-11 at *home* in those games.
Nationals at Astros - World Series Game 6 (Series tied 3-3)
When the Astros came back to take the lead in the bottom of the first inning, that was the first time since Game 1 when the lead changed in a game.
And we have a lead change!
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) October 30, 2019
It's the first in this World Series in 41 innings - since Game 1.
There hasn't been a six-game or seven-game World Series with only one lead change since 1996, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
This caused a little bit of what I call fun but others thought it was in bad form when Bregman carried his bat to first base after he hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning.
This dude @ABREG_1 really carried the bat to 1st base.
— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 30, 2019
Legend. pic.twitter.com/TQqhfSVjUq
After the game, both Astros manager A.J. Hinch and Bregman said it was the wrong thing to do.
A.J. Hinch: Bregman shouldn't have carried the bat.
— Craig Calcaterra (@craigcalcaterra) October 30, 2019
Dave Martinez: Soto shouldn't have done it either.
Alex Bregman: I'm sorry I did that.
Juan Soto: It was awesome Bregman did it so I thought I'd do it too. All of this is fun.
And a little child shall lead them.
Adam Eaton had faced Justin Verlander more than any other pitcher (including postseason) in his career and until Game 6, he had not hit a home run off Verlander.
That was Adam Eaton's 38th career plate appearance against Justin Verlander.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 30, 2019
That's the most times he's faced any pitcher in his career (reg+post).
That was his first home run off of him.
With the game tied 2-2, the now 21-year old Juan Soto took a Verlander pitch over the wall to make it 3-2.
There’s nothing wrong with Alex Bregman and Juan Soto carrying their bats to first base after hitting dramatic World Series home runs. In fact, it’s exactly what MLB claims to want, writes @emmabaccellieri https://t.co/mbQaGwxMpY
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) October 30, 2019
That's Juan Soto's 5th HR this postseason.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 30, 2019
That's the most HR by any player 21 or younger in a single postseason.
Broke a tie with 2003 Miguel Cabrera at 4.
Justin Verlander would leave trailing by a run and when the Astros lost, he took the Game 6 loss.
Justin Verlander's team has now lost each of his last 4 starts in potential series-clinching games (dating to 2017 World Series Game 6).
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 30, 2019
That's the longest such streak in postseason history.
Anthony Rendon extended the lead to three runs when he hit a two-run homer in the 7th inning.
Anthony Rendon hit the baseball over the wall in fair territory.
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) October 30, 2019
There was a man on first base when he did so.
This means that two runs scored.#WorldSeries // #STAYINTHEFIGHT pic.twitter.com/D9hcebYrVP
Just before Rendon homered, this happened.
The 7th inning of Game 6 of the World Series was absolutely ABSURD!
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 30, 2019
Here's everything that happened pic.twitter.com/Rx3w2y5HjP
Meanwhile Stephan Strasburg pitched another great game in the 2019 postseason.
Stephen Strasburg is the 1st P to go 8.1+ IP in an elimination game since Madison Bumgarner in the '16 WC game
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 30, 2019
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
Stephen Strasburg is undefeated this postseason
— Post Sports (@PostSports) October 30, 2019
✅ WC Game
✅ NLDS Game 2
✅ NLCS Game 3
✅ WS Game 2
✅ WS Game 6 pic.twitter.com/AthhMsTNqS
Strasburg also spoke about the first inning and how he may have been tipping his pitches.
Strasburg: No Wiggle vs Wiggle (avoid seeing his grip change) pic.twitter.com/vmPGxJgaQW
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 30, 2019
So we now have one more first, two former Cy Young Award winners facing each other in Game 7 of the World Series.
Max Scherzer (Cy Young winner) vs Zack Greinke (Cy Young winner) for all the marbles.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 30, 2019
This will be the 1st Game 7 in World Series history between 2 starters who already have a Cy Young.@_dadler dug this up earlier & I was hoping ALL DAY the world would get to see it happen!!
How have the Nationals done this postseason when either Stephen Strasburg or Max Scherzer starts for them.
Nationals are 9-0 in Strasburg and Scherzer starts this postseason
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) October 30, 2019
And the Astros could have this waiting in their bullpen.
Gerrit Cole last pitched out of the bullpen during his freshman season at UCLA (May 19, 2009).
— Paul Hembekides (@PaulHembo) October 30, 2019
Baseball needs him pumping 105-MPH seeds in relief tonight.
Cole has pitched in 251 games as a professional (MLB regular and postseason, minor leagues and Arizona Fall League) and he started all of those games. Cole made 35 total starts in 35 games pitched at UCLA in 2010 and 2011.
Tuesday’s scoreboard
Wednesday’s schedule
5:08 p.m. PT: Nationals (Max Scherzer) @ Astros (Zack Greinke)