Astros second. Yuli Gurriel homers to left field. Yordan Alvarez singles to right field. Carlos Correa singles to right field. Yordan Alvarez to second. Robinson Chirinos pops out to Yan Gomes. Josh Reddick grounds out to first base to Ryan Zimmerman. Carlos Correa to second. Yordan Alvarez to third. George Springer lines out to left field to Juan Soto.1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 1, Nationals 0.Astros fifth. Michael Brantley singles to right field. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Yuli Gurriel reaches on a fielder's choice to shortstop. Michael Brantley out at second. Yordan Alvarez walks. Yuli Gurriel to second. Carlos Correa singles. Yordan Alvarez to third. Yuli Gurriel scores. Robinson Chirinos strikes out swinging.1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Astros 2, Nationals 0.Nationals seventh. Adam Eaton grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel. Anthony Rendon homers to left field. Juan Soto walks. Howie Kendrick homers to right field. Juan Soto scores.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:50 p.m.Howie Kendrick and Anthony Rendon homered in the seventh inning as the Washington Nationals overcame a two-run deficit and rocked the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night in Game 7 to claim the first World Series title in franchise history.With all eyes on Max Scherzer and his remarkable recovery following an injection, the Nationals embraced their shot in a Series where 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 Walter Johnson delivered the crown for the Senators in 1924.___10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):10:22 p.m.The Washington Nationals added to their lead going into the ninth inning of Game 7 after another hit by their young slugger.Juan Soto's RBI single in the eighth inning extended Washington's lead over the Houston Astros to 4-2.Houston will have the top of its order coming up in the bottom of the ninth, needing at least two runs as they try to win their second World Series title in three years.Washington, with the Nationals in their 15th season, will try to take a World Series title with the visiting team winning every game.Soto, who turned 21 last Friday, has two hits in the Series finale and 18 this postseason, with only one player younger than him matching that. Miguel Cabrera had 18 hits as a 20-year-old rookie for the World Series champion Marlins in 2003.___9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9:53 p.m.Anthony Rendon homered off Zack Greinke and Howie Kendrick followed with a go-ahead, two-run drive against Will Harris in the seventh inning, giving the Washington Nationals a 3-2 lead over the Houston Astros in Game 7.Greinke cruised through six innings with a one-hit shutout, needing just 67 pitchesWith Washington trailing 2-0, Rendon drove a changeup into the left-field Crawford boxes with one out in the seventh, then Juan Soto walked on five pitches.Harris relieved and Kendrick swung past a curveball, then drove a cutter to the opposite field, where it hit off the screen attached to the right-field foul pole, stunning the crowd at Minute Maid Park.Yuli Gurriel singled off Patrick Corbin with two outs in the bottom half but became the Astros' 10th stranded runner when Yordan Álvarez grounded out.___9:16 p.m.Zack Greinke put up another zero in the sixth while Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9:16 p.m.Zack Greinke put up another zero in the sixth while Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in Game 7 with Houston leading the Nationals 2-0.Greinke breezed through a 1-2-3 sixth inning. He has allowed just one hit, walked one and has thrown 67 pitches in this efficient outing.Pinch-hitter Jake Marisnick led off Houston's sixth with a single. But Corbin struck out George Springer before Jose Altuve grounded into a double play to end the inning.___9 p.m.Zack Greinke is providing quite an assist for the Houston Astros as they try to clinch their second World Series title in three seasons.Houston leads the Washington Nationals 2-0 through five innings, and finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position.Greinke has allowed only two runners, giving up a single in the second inning and a walk in the fifth. The five-time Gold Glove-winning pitcher and former Cy Young winner, a trade deadline acquisition for... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):9 p.m.Zack Greinke is providing quite an assist for the Houston Astros as they try to clinch their second World Series title in three seasons.Houston leads the Washington Nationals 2-0 through five innings, and finally got a hit with a runner in scoring position.Greinke has allowed only two runners, giving up a single in the second inning and a walk in the fifth. The five-time Gold Glove-winning pitcher and former Cy Young winner, a trade deadline acquisition for the Astros this year, already has five fielding assists — the most by a pitcher in a World Series game since Greg Maddux's five while throwing eight scoreless innings for Atlanta against the Yankees in Game 2 in 1996.Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second with a homer off three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.The Astros have had runners every inning, with seven hits and four walks. But they were 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position until Carlos Correa's... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):8:29 p.m.Houston's Zack Greinke pitched one-hit ball through four innings against the Nationals in World Series Game 7, facing the minimum 12 batters as the Astros maintained their 1-0 lead.Washington's Max Scherzer kept escaping trouble, failing to pitch a 1-2-3 inning but holding the Astros to 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. Houston stranded seven runners.A five-time Gold Glove winner, Greinke induced four comebackers, including one he turned into a double play following Juan Soto's leadoff single in the second, Greinke needed just 41 pitches for his first 12 outs.Scherzer allowed five hits and three walks but just the one run, on Yuli Gurriel's home run leading off the second. He threw 76 pitches,After Josh Reddick's two-out single in the fourth, George Springer walked on four pitches and José Altuve flied out to center.___8:10 p.m.Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke both threw scoreless third innings in Game... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):7:44 p.m.The Houston Astros have taken a 1-0 lead in Game 7 and missed a chance to add more runs off three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.Yuli Gurriel led off the Astros second with a homer into the Crawford Boxes in left field, sending the orange-clad crowd into a frenzy.Rookie slugger Yordan Alvarez and shortstop Carlos Correa followed with sharp singles. But Robinson Chirinos popped out on an attempted sacrifice bunt before Josh Reddick grounded out. The inning ended on George Springer's liner that was caught just off the ground by left fielder Juan Soto.With Scherzer and Zack Greinke on the mound, it is the first time Cy Young winners have matched up in Game 7 of a World Series. Neither has a strikeout through the first two innings.Greinke has allowed one hit while throwing 12 of 20 pitches for strikes. Scherzer, the Game 1 winner who missed his Game 5 start because of an irritated nerve near his neck, has... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):7:25 p.m.Washington and Houston were scoreless after a hitless first inning in Game 7.Zack Greinke need just eight pitches to retire Trea Turner on a lineout, Adam Eaton on a squib in front of the plate and Anthony Rendon on a groundout.Averaging 97 mph with his fastball, Max Scherzer retired George Springer on a flyout and José Altuve on a groundout, walked Michael Brantley, then got Alex Bregman on a flyout. Scherzer, recovered from an irritated nerve near his neck with the help of a cortisone injection, threw 15 pitches.___7:11 p.m.Texas-born actor Matthew McConaughey kicked off Game 7 of the World Series by declaring: "Let's play ball." Wearing the same orange jersey the team was wearing Wednesday night, McConaughey worked the packed crowd into a frenzy by asking: "Houston are you ready," when he took the microphone.Earlier, two of Houston's famed Killer B's, Hall of Famers Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell threw... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on Game 7 of the World Series (all times local):5:30 p.m.Umpires apparently wouldn't have gotten much of an argument from Astros manager AJ Hinch if that disputed interference call hadn't been made in Game 6.Nationals leadoff hitter Trea Turner was ruled out on interference with the first baseman when running on his slow roller that was fielded by pitcher Brad Peacock in the seventh inning. The game was stopped for about 10 minutes, including about 4 ½ minutes with the umpires on headsets discussing the situation, before Turner was called out and another runner was returned to first base."That one I wish common sense prevails," Hinch said before Game 7, when asked if he would like to see the base running rule altered. "I actually side with Turner on this one, that I didn't think that he was getting in the way of anything. It was an errant throw."___4:55 p.m.Nationals manager Dave Martinez says Game 7 starting pitcher Max Scherzer has told him that he feels great... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — All of Justin Verlander's illustrious accomplishments mean little right now.Not those 225 wins, not the 3,006 regular season strikeouts, not the record 202 postseason Ks. Not the eight All-Star selections, not the 2011 Cy Young Award and Most Valuable Player prize.Verlander dropped to 0-5 in World Series games Wednesday night as the Washington Nationals routed the Houston Astros 12-3 for a 2-0 Series lead. That skid on baseball's biggest stage is dragging the right-hander's reputation down like ballast sinking a ship to the bottom of the sea.Never before has a pitcher lost his first five World Series decisions."We don't dwell on win-loss record anymore, right?" he said with a smile, a reference to modern analytics by one of the sport's most knowledgeable players. "I'd like to win a couple. Hopefully, I'll have another opportunity."He wound up flat on his back in the fourth inning, slipping on Ryan Zimmerman's grounder and firing the ball off his own left leg . Verlander could... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):11:10 p.m.Stephen Strasburg outdueled fellow ace Justin Verlander, overcoming a shaky start to give the Washington Nationals a 12-3 victory Wednesday night and a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series.Kurt Suzuki hit a tiebreaking homer in what became a messy six-run seventh inning and the Nationals are headed back to Washington.The Nationals have won 18 of 20 overall with the last two over Cy Young favorites Gerrit Cole and Verlander.Game 3 is Friday night when Aníbal Sánchez opposes Houston's Zack Greinke.___10:50 p.m.The Washington Nationals are three outs away from a 2-0 lead in the World Series before even playing a game at home.Adam Eaton pulled a deep two-run homer down the right field line in the eighth inning, and Asdrúbal Cabrera had an RBI single as the Nationals stretched their lead to 11-2 going into the ninth.Unless there is a huge comeback for the Astros in the ninth, the Nationals will become the 56th team... [More]

Nationals first. Trea Turner walks. Adam Eaton singles to left field. Trea Turner to second. Anthony Rendon doubles to deep left field. Adam Eaton scores. Trea Turner scores. Juan Soto strikes out swinging. Howie Kendrick flies out to shallow right field to Josh Reddick. Asdrubal Cabrera strikes out swinging.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Nationals 2, Astros 0.Astros first. George Springer strikes out swinging. Jose Altuve doubles to deep left field. Michael Brantley singles to center field. Alex Bregman homers to left field. Michael Brantley scores. Yuli Gurriel grounds out to third base, Anthony Rendon to Ryan Zimmerman.2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Astros 2.Nationals seventh. Kurt Suzuki homers to center field. Victor Robles walks. Trea Turner walks. Victor Robles to second. Adam Eaton out on a sacrifice bunt to shallow infield, Ryan Pressly to Jose Altuve. Trea Turner to second. Victor Robles to third. Anthony Rendon flies out to center field to George Springer.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):10:50 p.m.The Washington Nationals are three outs away from a 2-0 lead in the World Series before even playing a game at home.Adam Eaton pulled a deep two-run homer down the right field line in the eighth inning, and Asdrúbal Cabrera had an RBI single as the Nationals stretched their lead to 11-2 going into the ninth.Unless there is a huge comeback for the Astros in the ninth, the Nationals will become the 56th team to win the first two games in a World Series. The last 11 teams to do that have gone on to win the title, including Boston last season — and 44 of 55 overall (80 have gone on to be champions.The Nationals entered the game on their best 19-game stretch in team history, going 17-2 since Sept. 23.___10:21 p.m.Things only got worse for the Astros after Justin Verlander left.Verlander gave up Kurt Suzuki's tiebreaking homer to lead off the seventh and was done after walking Victor Robles.In came reliever Ryan Pressly,... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):10:21 p.m.Things only got worse for the Astros after Justin Verlander left.Verlander gave up Kurt Suzuki's tiebreaking homer to lead off the seventh and was done after walking Victor Robles.In came reliever Ryan Pressly, whose right knee has been giving him trouble for months. What followed was a messy display of baseball, perhaps the poorest of the season for the Astros, and at the worst time.Washington wound up scoring six times in all and taking an 8-2 lead, helped by a grounder that Alex Bregman couldn't handle cleanly and another ball the All-Star third baseman threw away.One other notable thing: The Astros issued their first intentional walk of the year. Manager AJ Hinch went the whole season without calling for one but put rookie Juan Soto on with two outs and runners on second and third.It was 3-2 at that point. Soon, the Nationals were up by six and fans were starting to file out of the stadium.___9:55 p.m.Justin Verlander... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):9:55 p.m.Justin Verlander is done two batters into the seventh inning, and the Houston Astros ace won't get his first World Series victory.The right-hander departed Game 2 with the Astros down 3-2 to the Nationals, who are looking to take a 2-0 series lead.Manager AJ Hinch made the pitching change after Kurt Suzuki opened the seventh with a tiebreaking homer and Verlander then walked No. 9 hitter Victor Robles.Verlander entered the game 0-4 with a 5.67 ERA in his first five World Series starts, with Houston and Detroit.___9:45 p.m.Kurt Suzuki homered in the top of the seventh to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead Wednesday night in Game 2.The Astros had threatened against Washington's Stephen Strasburg in the sixth when Yuli Gurriel doubled with one out and Yordan Álvarez took two balls, then was intentionally walked.Carlos Correa hit a humpback liner to second, dropping to 8 for 49 in the postseason. Kyle Tucker pinch hit for Robinson... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):9:10 p.m.Game 2 of the World Series remains tied at 2-2 after five innings — like it has been since both teams scored in the first.Even while getting runners on base every inning, the Nationals have gotten only one of them past first off Justin Verlander since Anthony Rendon, the third batter of the game, had a two-run double.After Trea Turner had a leadoff single in the Washington fifth, Adam Eaton grounded into a double play. Shortstop Carlos Correa fielded the hard grounder right near second, stepped on the bag and threw to first.Verlander has thrown 56 of his 83 pitches for strikes. His five strikeouts have pushed his postseason career total to an MLB-record 201, and he has walked two.Washington starter Stephen Strasburg has six strikeouts without a walk. He has allowed only three more hits since Houston had three consecutive one-out hits in the first. He has thrown 56 of 86 pitches for strikes.___8:41 p.m.Justin Verlander... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):8:41 p.m.Justin Verlander and Stephen Strasburg both have settled in nicely through four innings. They haven't given up a lot since each gave up two runs in the first.Aiming for his first World Series win, Verlander at least ensured his place on future blooper reels. Rushing to field Ryan Zimmerman's tapper toward the third base side, he slipped — he tried to make a throw, but it hit his left leg and harmlessly bounced away, giving Zimmerman an infield single.The veteran pros each smiled. Even in a tense matchup, it's still a kid's game.___8:25 p.m.Houston threatened in the third inning, putting runners at the corners. Shortstop Trea Turner bobbled and then bounced his throw to first for an error on José Altuve's two-out grounder and Michael Brantley singled to right.Alex Bregman grounded to shortstop on the next play for a forceout.Washington's Stephen Strasburg gave up four hits in the first three innings, striking out four... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):8:25 p.m.Houston threatened in the third inning, putting runners at the corners. Shortstop Trea Turner bobbled and then bounced his throw to first for an error on José Altuve's two-out grounder and Michael Brantley singled to right.Alex Bregman grounded to shortstop on the next play for a forceout.Washington's Stephen Strasburg gave up four hits in the first three innings, striking out four and walking none. He threw 58 pitches: 25 two-seam fastballs, eight four-seamers, 15 curveballs and 10 changeups.Houston's Justin Verlander was at 51 pitches through three innings throwing 24 fastballs, 18 sliders, eight curveballs and one changeup. He allowed four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.Washington's Juan Soto, playing his last game as a 20-year-old, doubled with two outs in the third for the Nationals' fourth hit. Soto was stranded when Howie Kendrick popped out, dropping the Nationals to 1 for 5 with runners in scoring... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):7:55 p.m.Justin Verlander has become the first pitcher with 200 career strikeouts in the postseason.The Houston Astros starter has four strikeouts through the first two innings against the Nationals, and the game is tied at 2-2.After the first three Nationals in the game reached base, and two of them scored, Verlander struck out four of the next six.John Smoltz, the big right-hander who was working the game on the Fox television broadcast, had been the postseason leader with 199 strikeouts.Washington starter Stephen Strasburg has three strikeouts through the first two innings.___7:50 p.m.Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers are both second-time winners of the Hank Aaron Awards that recognize the most outstanding offensive performer in each league.Yelich took home the National League honor for the second year in a row. Trout also won the American League's award in 2014.The awards... [More]