This year’s 2019 World Series matchup between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals had all the potential to be an astounding series. Washington came into this year’s Fall Classic looking to win their second championship in franchise history. Houston on the other hand, continued to show their dominance as a powerhouse team in the AL as they appeared in their 2nd World Series in three years.

Game 1 started the series with a close 5-4 game that was won by the Nationals in nine innings. The pitching matchup between Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole was solid as both pitchers went five innings or more until Cole gave up a one run single to Adam Eaton in the fifth inning that broke the 2-2 tie. It was amazing to see Cole crack under pressure because he had only given one run in his three previous playoff starts (22 ⅔ innings). In that same inning, Nationals outfielder Juan Soto opened the floodgates with an opposite field double that drove in two runs to make it a 5-2 ballgame in favor of the Nationals. The Astros battled back but it wasn’t enough as they could only make up two runs in the late innings against the Nationals bullpen.

Heading into Game 2, the Astros had AL Cy Young candidate Justin Verlander on the hill up against a strong Nationals starter in Stephen Strasburg. Ever since joining the Astros, Verlander’s career has been like fine wine as he has only gotten better with age. But in Game 2 the Nationals gave him all he could handle as he went six innings and gave up four earned runs along with seven hits. After resorting to their bullpen, the Astros night only got worse as the Nats put together a six run 7th inning and put the game out of reach. The game finished with the score of 12-3 and the Nats had a 2-0 series lead as it took a change of scenery and headed to the nation’s capital for the next three games.

Game 3 was an absolute must win game for the Astros in order to make the series close and prevent the Nationals from having a commanding lead in the series. On top of the fact of being down 2-0 in the series, the Astros were playing the next three games far from home, a clear disadvantage. With a weaker pitcher in the Nationals rotation taking the mound, Anibal Sanchez looked to give the Nats a firm 3-0 lead in the series. But Houston’s pitching depth worked out for them in Game 3 as Zack Greinke allowed one run in 4 ⅔ innings pitched and got run support as they put up four runs on 11 hits. Houston took the lead on Sanchez and the Nats in the 2nd inning off of a bloop single by Josh Reddick that scored Carlos Correa from 2nd base. The Astros never looked back as they did not trail throughout the entire game after that. Game 3 finished with a score of 4-1 in favor of the Astros.

With momentum brewing for Houston entering Game 4, it was very possible for the Astros to tie the series. Patrick Corbin and Jose Urquidy faced off in a game that was up for grabs for either team. The Nats struggled to get any offense going in Game 4 as they only scored one run off of four hits. Corbin struggled on the mound, giving up four runs in six innings pitched. The highlight of the Astros night was a grand slam by Alex Bregman, who was in a slump but delivered at the best time. The Astros ripped apart the Nats bullpen as Fernando Rodney and Tanner Rainey both gave up two runs each when they were brought into the game. The Astros picked up a huge 8-1 win to even the series at two a piece heading into Game 5.

Gerrit Cole took the mound in Game 5 looking to redeem himself for the Game 1 loss. Cole was absolutely lights out as he gave up one run and three hits through 7 innings. As the Nationals struggled at the plate, the Astros put up 10 hits and scored a pair of runs in three different innings. The Astros won their third straight game by the score of 7-1. With the series headed back to Houston, it is due or die for the Nats if they wanted to keep their title hopes alive.

In Game 6, Justin Verlander was back on the mound for the Astros. But the Nationals prevailed and came out with a nice 7-2 win in Houston. Stephen Strasburg pitched 8 ⅓ innings and gave up just two runs and five hits. The Nats were down during the game but battled back as Adam Eaton and Juan Soto both hit solo home runs in the same inning. Verlander didn’t put up his best numbers as he went just five innings and allowed three earned runs along with five hits. Heading in to the very last game for the entire MLB season, both teams showed strong potential to lift the Commissioner’s Trophy.

The Nats pulled the biggest win in franchise history in Game 7. Max Scherzer had a solid outing as he went five innings and gave up two runs. After taking out Scherzer, the Nationals bullpen was completely lights out. Patrick Corbin was dealing as he pitched three scoreless innings and set it up for Daniel Hudson in the ninth to secure the World Series for the Nats. The Astros were leading this game going into the late innings but the Nats broke loose as they scored all six of their runs in the 6-2 win in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. Anthony Rendon hit a solo home run off of Zack Greinke to knock him out of the game and really give the Nats a huge chance to win Game 7. Clutch RBI singles came from Juan Soto and Adam Eaton in the late innings and made it easy for Daniel Hudson to close it out in Houston.

This World Series featured something that will probably never happen again. Every game in the series was won by the away team. This has never happened in the history of the MLB, making it a crazy fact and makes the series that much more astounding. This was the first championship in franchise history for the Nationals and the first MLB championship for a Washington franchise since the Senators in 1924.