Robinson Chirinos and Alex Bregman powered the Houston Astros to a victory against the Washington Nationals in Game 4 of the 2019 World Series, tying the series at 2-2. Game 5? Really? Why had the symptoms - little neck spasms at first - needed to surface on Saturday?
The games mark the first World Series in the nation's capital since 1933.
Houston will look to Verlander to end the World Series, even though he has not pitched up to the high standards he established while winning 225 games, collecting 2011 AL Cy Young and MVP honours and earning eight All-Star selections.
At the same time, Houston can take some comfort in the knowledge that since the World Series switched to the current 2-3-2 format, the two teams-the 1986 Mets and 1996 Yankees-who lost their opening two games at home both went on to win the title.
Paradoxically, however, returning to Houston may not be beneficial to the Astros, just like leaving Washington behind may instead boost the Nationals' chances.
So you're just going to make your pitches, " Cole said. He laboured through five innings in Game 1 of the World Series, allowing two runs and throwing 112 pitches, to get the win. "And that's where I thought I was at a couple days ago".
Max Scherzer walked stiffly into the interview room, a bandage on the back of the Washington star pitcher's neck telegraphing trouble.
George Springer added another two-run shot off Daniel Hudson in the ninth inning. That creates a very tight timeline for him to be ready to pitch a potential decisive Game 7 on Wednesday night.
The worst part for the Nats is the timing.
Urquidy, the Astros' lesser-known rookie right-hander, dominated the Washington Nationals on Saturday, silencing their bats over five scoreless innings of work at Nationals Park. In 1906 the Chicago White Sox took Game 1 and 3-the format at the time saw home field rotate for each game-and lost Game 2 and 4 to the Chicago Cubs, before winning the series in six games. "The way he can command all three, four of his pitches, it's not fun to face". That includes no fewer than a dozen trips to the injured list, with two per year in 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
In the playoffs, Scherzer is 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA in five appearances, four starts.
His pitch total of 3,839, including October, also is the most for him in a year, as are his 17 outings of at least 100 pitches each, going 105, 117 and 114 over his last three games. Just made some minor tweaks in the off-season training program.
Speaking before the game, he said he could not lift his right arm over his head and that his wife had to help him get dressed on Sunday morning before he came to the ballpark.
"I mean, I'm as disappointed as I possibly can be not to be able to pitch tonight".
"Winners come to play when their backs are against the wall. We apologize that we didn't give them more to celebrate", outfielder Adam Eaton said.
"Definitely noticed the kind of roar, I guess, as I went out on the field, which is pretty cool", Ross said.
