World Series Game 6 final score: Anthony Rendon powers Nationals to Game 7 showdown with Astros

Joe Rivera

World Series Game 6 final score: Anthony Rendon powers Nationals to Game 7 showdown with Astros image

The two most magical words in sports: Stephen Strasburg.

The Nationals righty struggled through the first inning of Tuesday night's World Series Game 6, but after that, he locked down the Astros and locked up a date for Game 7 on Wednesday night.

His lone blemishes were a solo shot to Alex Bregman and a José Altuve sac fly in the first inning, the only two runs that Houston would scratch across in a 7-2 Nationals win.

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Game 6 had a bit of everything. It had some early fireworks, some clueless umpires and even an ejection. It wasn't without controversy, either, when Trea Turner supposedly interfered with a throw made to first by Brad Peacock. It was no matter: after the smoke cleared, Anthony Rendon deposited a two-run home run into the left field stands. Rendon finished the game with a home run, a double and five RBIs.

Now, the Astros and Nationals are set for a winner-take-all Game 7 on Tuesday to decide the absolute best in the world.

Buckle up.

Sporting News covered scoring plays, highlights, updates and more from World Series Game 6 below.

(All times Eastern.)

World Series 2019: Astros vs. Nationals Game 6 live score, highlights, updates

Astros: 2
Nationals: 7

11:46 p.m. END OF GAME: Chirinos pops out to second to end the game. We're going to have a Game 7.

11:41 p.m.:  Carlos Correa with a two-out double. Just missed a homer in left by a few inches. Man.

11:38 p.m.:  After 8 1/3 innings of two-run baseball, Stephen Strasburg is coming out of this game. Sean Doolittle coming in.

11:33 p.m. END TOP NINTH:  Juan Soto lines out to left field to end the inning. 

11:32 p.m. WASHINGTON SCORING PLAY: Anthony Rendon with a two-run double to right field off of Chris Devenski. Nationals now lead 7-2. 

11:29 p.m.:  Trea Turner with a two-out double.

11:20 p.m. END OF EIGHTH:  Stephen Strasburg, at over 100 pitches, gets Alex Bregman to pop out to end the inning. He could come out for the ninth.

11:13 p.m. END TOP EIGHTH:  Ryan Pressly with a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth. Astros coming up.

11:04 p.m. END OF SEVENTH:  George Springer flys out to right field to end the inning. Nats up by 3.

11:03 p.m.:  So, back to our regularly scheduled programming. Stephen Strasburg is in the seventh inning and is an out away from getting through. Admirable performance tonight.

10:55 p.m. END TOP SEVEN:  Juan Soto lines a ball to first base to end the inning.

10:54 p.m. WASHINGTON SCORING PLAY: Anthony Rendon connects on a two-run home run, giving the Nats a 5-2 lead in the seventh. Just dropped it into the Crawford Boxes.

10:52 p.m.:  Controversy: Trea Turner is ruled out on runner's interference at first base. Turner was, in fact, not out of the baseline, and the out is called. This looks like the Astros are being rewarded for a poor throw from pitcher Brad Peacock. Ugly, gross, disgusting mess for MLB umpires. 

10:39 p.m.:  Yan Gomes gets on with a leadoff single.

10:33 p.m. END OF SIXTH:  Strasburg gets Correa to swing for his sixth strikeout of the night. He's looked better as the eve has gone on. Nats still up 3-2 entering the seventh.

10:29 p.m.:  Bregman legs out an infield hit to start the home half of the sixth.

10:24 p.m. END TOP SIXTH:  Victor Robles is out on a called Strike 3 that was about three inches outside. Not great.

10:21 p.m.:  Brad Peacock is now in this game for Justin Verlander, and got the first two outs of the sixth. Victor Robles up.

10:15 END OF FIFTH:  Michael Brantley with a liner to Trea Turner on a hop. Turner throws to first for the out. Rally over.

10:13 p.m.:  Altuve strikes out, second out of the inning.

10:10 p.m.:  George Springer belts his second double of the game, and now the Astros are set up, second and third, one out in the fifth.

10:06 p.m.  Josh Reddick with a one-out single. George Springer up.

10:02 p.m.:  Juan Soto did this after hitting his home run.

9:58 p.m. END TOP FIFTH:  Howie Kendrick pops it up to end the inning. 

9:55 p.m. WASHINGTON SCORING PLAY: Juan Soto absolutely hammers a pitch to the right upper deck to give Washington the 3-2 lead in the game. What a blast.

9:50 p.m. WASHINGTON SCORING PLAY: Adam Eaton drills a ball to right field on the solo shot. Nats tie it up in the fifth.

9:45 p.m. END OF FOURTH:  Strasburg battles back from 2-0 to get Correa swinging, ending the Houston threat in the fourth.

9:41 p.m.:  Strasburg issues back-to-back walks with two outs in the fourth. Two on, two out for Carlos Correa.

9:30 p.m. END TOP FOURTH:  Verlander gets Robles to swing, while Yan Gomes flys out to left on the first pitch he sees. Squandered opportunity for the Nationals.

9:27 p.m.:  Two on, one out for the Nationals in the fourth. He's at 71 pitches. 

9:19 p.m.:  Howie Kendrick with a leadoff single.

9:16 p.m. END OF THIRD:  A 1-2-3 inning for Strasburg in the third. Recovered nicely after the rough first.

9:05 p.m. END TOP THIRD:  Two, two-out walks amount to no avail, as Juan Soto grounds to second and ends the inning.

9:02 p.m.:  Verlander issues a walk to Rendon, and now Juan Soto is up with two outs.

8:59 p.m.:  Verlander issues a two-out walk, just seconds after that last update. Still two outs in the third.

8:52 p.m.:  Verlander seems to have settled in and is mowing down Nationals hitters.

8:46 p.m. END OF SECOND:  Stephen Strasburg gets three ground-ball outs in the second. We move to the third.

8:39 p.m. END TOP SECOND:  Justin Verlander with an easy 1-2-3 second with two Ks in the frame. 

8:32 p.m. END OF FIRST:  Juan Soto catches a deep fly ball off the bat of Gurriel to end the inning. Soto comes up limping after the catch.

8:30 p.m. HOUSTON SCORING PLAY: Alex Bregman drops a home run into the Crawford Boxes to give Houston the 2-1 lead in the first.

8:26 p.m. HOUSTON SCORING PLAY: José Altuve with a sac fly to left field and this game is very quickly tied up. Strasburg with just four pitches and the game is tied. 

8:24 p.m.:  Wild pitch and Springer is now on third.

8:23 p.m.:  First pitch from Strasburg to Springer is taken off the wall in left for a double. Good start for the Astros.

8:20 p.m. END TOP FIRST:  Two pop ups by Juan Soto and Howie Kendrick end the Nats half of the first.

8:16 p.m. WASHINGTON SCORING PLAY: Anthony Rendon with a little poke through the right side of the infield and Turner scores from second. Good start for the Nats. 1-0 Washington. 

8:11 p.m.:  We are five pitches into this game and the umpires already missed a horrendous call at first base. Wonderful.

8:08 p.m.:  First pitch from Verlander to Trea Turner is a high, high ball and we're underway. 

7:55 p.m.:  National anthem just finished up, and we're just about set for baseball at Minute Maid Park.

Joe Rivera