Suzuki sparks 7th-inning burst, Nats take 2-0 lead over Astros
Baldwin grad’s go-ahead homer helps Washington sweep in Houston, 12-3
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The Associated Press and The Maui News
Kurt Suzuki waited his whole life -- including 13 seasons in the majors -- to play in the World Series.
Finally on baseball's biggest stage, the Baldwin High School graduate delivered.
Suzuki hit a tiebreaking homer in what became a messy six-run seventh inning, Stephen Strasburg outdueled fellow ace Justin Verlander, and the Washington Nationals ran away with their eighth straight win, a 12-3 victory over the Houston Astros on Wednesday to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the World Series.
With the teams tied 2-2, Suzuki -- who entered the game just 1-for-23 this postseason -- led off the seventh with a moon shot off Verlander into the left-field stands to silence the crowd at Minute Maid Park.
"He's given us good at-bats all year," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Suzuki, who went yard 17 times this season. "He got a good pitch to hit, and he put a good swing on it."
Suzuki also threw out Jose Altuve trying to steal third base in the first, likely saving a run because Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer later in the inning.
Verlander, so good in the regular season, fell to 0-5 in six World Series starts. He gave up seven hits and four runs, and was lifted after walking a batter following Suzuki's home run.
He struck out six to become the career leader in postseason Ks with 202 -- another impressive statistic on a stellar resume that's still missing that elusive World Series win.
Ryan Pressly, who left Game 6 of the ALCS with a knee injury, took over and didn't look right from the start.
He walked Trea Turner before manager AJ Hinch called for his first intentional walk of the season when he gave Juan Soto a free pass to load the bases with two outs. Howie Kendrick, Asdrubal Cabrera and Ryan Zimmerman followed with successive singles to bust this one open, putting the Nationals up 8-2. As those hits were piling up and run after run crossed the plate, many in the stunned sellout crowd of 43,357 began streaming for the exits.
Hinch was asked what happened in the seventh inning.
"Where would you like me to start? The leadoff homer? That's what happened," he said.
Adam Eaton and Michael A. Taylor also homered late to pad the lead.
Verlander and Strasburg both settled in after each allowed two runs in the first inning, and neither pitcher allowed the hitters to string much together until things fell apart for Houston in the seventh.
Making his Series debut, Strasburg allowed the two-run homer to Bregman in the first before throwing five shutout innings to improve to 4-0 this postseason. He allowed seven hits and struck out seven.
Martinez was asked what's allowed Strasburg to be so good this postseason.
"One, he has the confidence to do it and two, he's become a premier pitcher, a big-game pitcher," Martinez said. "He doesn't get rattled."
Game 3 is Friday when Anibal Sanchez opposes Houston's Zack Greinke in the first World Series game in the nation's capital since 1933.
"Probably going to be a little frigid, might be a little cold, so bring your jackets and your beanies," slugger Anthony Rendon said.
Washington Houston
ab r h bi ab r h bi
Turner ss 4 2 1 0 Sprngr cf-rf 5 0 0 0
Eaton rf 4 2 2 2 Altuve 2b 5 0 3 0
Parra ph-rf 1 0 0 0 Brantley lf 4 1 2 0
Rendon 3b 4 0 1 2 Mrisnick cf 1 0 0 0
Soto lf 3 2 1 0 Brgman 3b 4 1 1 2
Kendrick dh 5 1 2 1 Gurriel 1b 4 0 1 0
Cabrera 2b 5 1 2 3 Alvarez dh 3 0 1 0
Zmrmn 1b 5 0 2 1 Correa ss 4 0 0 0
Suzuki c 5 1 2 1 Chirinos c 2 0 0 0
Robles cf 3 2 0 0 Tucker ph 1 0 0 0
Taylor cf 1 1 1 1 Maldonado c 1 1 1 1
Rddick rf-lf 3 0 0 0
Totals 40 12 14 11 Totals 37 3 9 3
Washington 200 000 631--12
Houston 200 000 001-- 3
E--Turner (1), Rendon (1), Bregman (1). DP--Washington 0, Houston 1. LOB--Washington 8, Houston 9. 2B--Rendon (1), Soto (2), Altuve (1), Gurriel (2). HR--Suzuki (1), Eaton (1), Taylor (1), Bregman (1), Maldonado (1). S--Eaton (1).
IP H R ER BB SO
Washington
Strasburg W,1-0 6 7 2 2 1 7
Rodney 1 0 0 0 1 0
Rainey 1 0 0 0 0 1
Guerra 1 2 1 1 0 0
Houston
Verlander L,0-1 6 7 4 4 3 6
Pressly 2⁄3 3 4 3 2 0
James 1 2 3 1 1 3
Rondón 1⁄3 1 0 0 0 0
Devenski 1 1 1 1 0 1
Verlander pitched to 2 batters in the 7th, James pitched to 6 batters in the 8th.
WP--Pressly.
Umpires--Home, Doug Eddings; First, Gary Cederstrom; Second, James Hoye; Third, Lance Barksdale; Right, Alan Porter; Left, Sam Holbrook.
T--4:01. A--43,357 (41,168).
*****
World Series
All times HST • All games on FOX
(x-if necessary)
Wednesday's Result
Washington 12, Houston 3, Washington leads series 2-0
Friday's Game
Houston (Greinke 8-1) at Washington (Sanchez 11-8), 2:07 p.m.
Saturday's Game
Houston at Washington, 2:07 p.m.
Sunday's Game
x-Houston at Washington, 2:07 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 29
x-Washington at Houston, 2:07 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 30
x-Washington at Houston, 2:08 p.m.