Three takeaways from Astros' World Series Game 5 win over Nationals

Drew Nantais

•
Three takeaways from Astros' World Series Game 5 win over Nationals image

The Astros find themselves one win away from their second world championship in three seasons after beating the Nationals 7-1 on Sunday.

Many thought Houston was dead in the water after Washington stole the first two games on the road to take a 2-0 series lead. But the veteran-laden team never folded and stormed back to win all three games in D.C.

The series now shifts to Houston as the Astros turn to former AL MVP Justin Verlander to try and snuff out the Nationals' at home. 

Game 6 is set for Tuesday at 8:07 p.m. ET.

Three takeaways from Astros' World Series Game 5 win over Nationals

Gerrit Cole was once again dominant

Cole's been lights out all postseason, and it was more of the same on Sunday.

The 29-year-old stifled the Nationals' bats all game, allowing just one earned run on three hits in seven innings of work. He also struck out nine and walked only two.

Cole's only mistake all night came with one out in the seventh inning when he gave up a solo shot to Washington's Juan Soto.

With the win, Cole improves to 4-1 this postseason with a 1.47 ERA, 47 strikeouts and 11 walks. 

Max Scherzer was dearly missed by Washington

Mere hours before Sunday's game, Nationals manager Dave Martinez announced that Max Scherzer would not start Game 5 after dealing with shoulder and neck spasms the last two days.

Scherzer was not only one of Washington's best pitchers all season, but he's been one of its best in October. He started Game 1 of the series for Washington and got the win after allowing two earned runs on five hits to go along with seven strikeouts and three walks in five innings of work.

This postseason, the Missouri native has appeared in five games (four starts) going 3-0 with a 2.16 ERA, 34 strikeouts and 11 walks over 25 innings pitched.

There's no telling how this game would have played out had Scherzer started, but the Nationals are hoping he's healthy and available when the series shifts to Houston.

Road team's success continues

So far in the 2019 World Series, the road team is 5-0.

Washington took Games 1 and 2 in Houston, while the Astros took Games 3, 4 and 5 in D.C. 

The last time the road team won the first five games of the World Series was in the 1996 edition between the Yankees and the Braves. New York dropped the first two at home before sweeping the Braves in Atlanta and then clinching the series back home in the Bronx in Game 6.

Houston has all the momentum in the world as it heads home looking to avoid a Game 7, but stranger things have happened, and Washington's not going to go down without a fight.

Drew Nantais