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) — At this rate, AJ Hinch might never issue another intentional walk the rest of his life.Hard to blame the Houston manager for his decision Wednesday night, and the mess that followed in Game 2 of the World Series.But it did seem as though the baseball gods were getting the last laugh.Because right after Hinch ordered an intentional pass for the first time all year — the Astros were the only major league team to go through an entire season without one since they've been tracked — things went awry against Washington."Ironically, I thought it was our best chance to limit their scoring," Hinch said, "and instead it poured gasoline on a fire that was already burning."As soon as clutch-hitting slugger Juan Soto shucked his bat and trotted to first without seeing a pitch from Ryan Pressly, loading the bases with two outs and Washington ahead by a run in the seventh inning, Houston kept flubbing.All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman couldn't corral a grounder, then threw away another.... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — At this rate, AJ Hinch might never issue another intentional walk the rest of his life.Hard to blame the Houston manager for his decision Wednesday night, and the mess that followed in Game 2 of the World Series.But it did seem as though the baseball gods were getting the last laugh.Because right after Hinch ordered an intentional pass for the first time all year — the Astros were the only major league team to go through an entire season without one since they've been tracked — things went awry against Washington."Ironically, I thought it was our best chance to limit their scoring," Hinch said, "and instead it poured gasoline on a fire that was already burning."As soon as clutch-hitting slugger Juan Soto shucked his bat and trotted to first without seeing a pitch from Ryan Pressly, loading the bases with two outs and Washington ahead by a run in the seventh inning, Houston kept flubbing.All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman couldn't corral a grounder, then threw away another.... [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]

Astros first. George Springer walks. Jose Altuve singles to left field. George Springer to second. Michael Brantley strikes out swinging. Alex Bregman strikes out swinging. Jose Altuve steals second. Yuli Gurriel doubles to deep left center field. Jose Altuve scores. George Springer scores. Carlos Correa strikes out on a foul tip.2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 2, Nationals 0.Nationals second. Howie Kendrick grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel. Asdrubal Cabrera pops out to shallow infield to Carlos Correa. Ryan Zimmerman homers to center field. Kurt Suzuki grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 2, Nationals 1.Nationals fourth. Juan Soto homers to center field. Howie Kendrick flies out to right field to Josh Reddick. Asdrubal Cabrera strikes out swinging. Ryan Zimmerman strikes out swinging.1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 left on. Nationals 2, Astros 2.Nationals fifth. Kurt Suzuki walks. Victor Robles singles... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):10:54 p.m.Juan Soto homered onto the train tracks high above the left field wall and hit a two-run double as the Washington Nationals tagged Gerrit Cole and the Houston Astros 5-4 Tuesday night in the World Series opener.Not even a history-making home run by postseason star George Springer and another drive that nearly tied it in the eighth inning could deter Washington.Ryan Zimmerman, still full of sock at 35, also homered to back a resourceful Max Scherzer and boost the wild-card Nationals in their first World Series game.Sean Doolittle pitched a perfect ninth for the save, only the second 1-2-3 inning on a night that Washington relievers were given a three-run lead and just held on.___10:40 p.m.The Houston Astros are closer, but still have some work to do in the ninth inning to avoid losing Game 1 of the World Series at home.Washington held on to a 5-4 lead after eight innings in its first-ever World Series game, after getting... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):10:15 p.m.George Springer greeted Tanner Rainey with a home run leading off the seventh inning, cutting the Houston Astros' deficit to 5-3 against the Washington Nationals in the World Series opener.Springer set a record by homering in his fifth straight World Series game, breaking a record he had shared with Lou Gehrig and Reggie Jackson.Houston loaded the bases when Rainey walked Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman with one out, and Carlos Correa reached on a two-out single to shortstop off Daniel Hudson.Hudson then struck out rookie Yordan Álvarez with the bases loaded.___9:42 p.m.Asdrúbal Cabrera singled to start the sixth but was erased when Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a double play. Gerrit Cole then retired Kurt Suzuki for the third out to wrap up a clean inning after giving up four runs combined in the previous two.Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in the bottom of the sixth and promptly struck out Carlos Correa... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):9:42 p.m.Asdrúbal Cabrera singled to start the sixth but was erased when Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a double play. Gerrit Cole then retired Kurt Suzuki for the third out to wrap up a clean inning after giving up four runs combined in the previous two.Patrick Corbin took over for Max Scherzer in the bottom of the sixth and promptly struck out Carlos Correa before rookie Yordan Alvarez singled to right field. But Corbin struck out Martín Maldonado before pinch-hitter Aledmys Díaz grounded out to end the inning.Scherzer allowed five hits and two runs with seven strikeouts. He threw 112 pitches, which were his most this postseason.___9:25 p.m.Gerritt Cole is pitching in a game without the lead for the first time since Sept. 2. The Houston Astros right-hander hasn't lost a game since May 22.Juan Soto, the 20-year-old for the Nationals already with a big solo homer, added a two-run double off the left field wall in the fifth inning... [More]

HOUSTON (AP) — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):9:25 p.m.Gerritt Cole is pitching in a game without the lead for the first time since Sept. 2. The Houston Astros right-hander hasn't lost a game since May 22.Juan Soto, the 20-year-old for the Nationals already with a big solo homer, added a two-run double off the left field wall in the fifth inning as the Nationals took a 5-2 lead. He got stranded there when shortstop Carlos Correa made a lunging, fully extended catch on Howie Kendrick's liner that was headed toward left field.Adam Eaton's RBI single earlier in the fifth snapped a 2-2 tie.Cole entered Game 1 of the World Series having gone 19-0 in his last 25 starts. He was 3-0 with a 0.40 ERA, allowing only one run over 22 2-3 innings through the AL Division Series and AL Championship Series.The five runs by the Nationals are the most off the right-hander since he gave up six runs over five innings in a 9-4 home loss to the Chicago White Sox on May 22. He had allowed only... [More]