After stunning turnaround, Astros
look to close out Nats
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[October 29, 2019]
HOUSTON -- It required only one
weekend for the Astros to reclaim their identity, to rediscover the
elements that paved the way to their 107-win season and status as
World Series favorites.
That their reversal unfolded so hastily should not have come as a
surprise. The Astros came to life at Nationals Park in Washington
D.C., outscoring the Nationals 19-3 to erase a 2-0 deficit in the
World Series and head back to Minute Maid Park with a 3-2 series
lead in advance of Game 6 on Tuesday.
On the ropes as recently as last Thursday, the Astros came out
punching once the series switched venues and seized momentum almost
as quickly as they surrendered it.
"It's hard to pinpoint one thing, but I love our feel for the moment
and feel for this team," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "Everybody
talks about culture and chemistry, and when you have it, you love
it. When you see it on the other side, you're envious of it. And we
just have a way of playing today."
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Houston will turn to veteran right-hander Justin Verlander (1-3,
4.15 ERA this postseason) to close out the Nationals and secure the
Astros' second championship in three seasons. Verlander will oppose
Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg (4-0, 1.93 ERA), with the
two combatants from Game 2 striving to gain an edge against lineups
familiar with their repertoires.
"Yeah, it becomes more difficult," Verlander said of facing a team
twice in one series. "I think there's adjustments both ways. But I
think those opposing guys, once they've seen you three, four
at-bats, it's a little bit easier for them to make adjustments, and
having seen your off-speed stuff and tracked it. You just need to
execute a little bit better."
Strasburg added: "Really, it comes down to execution of pitches.
Their approaches might change a little bit, but the important thing
is to go out there and pound away and trust your stuff."
For Verlander, a surprising 0-5 with a 5.73 ERA over six career
World Series starts, the aim for Game 6 is simple. He has scuffled
settling into starts this postseason, allowing a total of nine
first-inning runs to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the American
League Division Series, the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the AL
Championship Series and Washington last Wednesday.
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![](../images/102919pics/sports51.jpg)
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) and center fielder George
Springer (4) celebrate after beating the Washington Nationals in
game five of the 2019 World Series at Nationals Park. Mandatory
Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
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Strasburg, meanwhile, faces the challenge of maintaining his stuff
through what will be the final start of an extended campaign. He has
logged a career-high 237 innings this season, 17 more than his
previous high of 220 in 2014 when he paced the National League with
242 strikeouts.
"Yeah, it's definitely uncharted territory," Strasburg said. "And
I'm just trying to continue to do what I've tried to do all year, is
just take it one day at a time and just listen to the body."
Washington plans to keep doing what worked prior to the Astros
regaining their championship form. The Nationals had won eight
consecutive postseason games before falling in Game 3. They went
from upstarts to juggernauts and now, down in the series, are
seeking past magic.
"You know what, I honestly think that our guys -- they just come out
and play," Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. "They don't even
think about any game. You listen to them now when we walked in, and
they're saying, 'Hey, we're going to go to Houston and win that
first game and get to Game 7.'
"I told them the focus is Game 6. We've got Stephen Strasburg on the
mound. I like our chances, you know, keeps us in the ball game. Who
knows what can happen?"
--Field Level Media
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