What an amazing World Series this has been. Both teams have been dominant on the road and not one game has been won by the home team.
After being blitzed 19-3 in the their three home losses, the amazing Washington Nationals won an iconic Game 6 by a 7-2 count over Justin Verlander and the Astros.
It has been a historic journey for these Nationals who were 19-31 in May and looked dead in the water.
Manager Dave Martinez didn’t flinch though. He knew he had some key injuries–namely one to shortstop Trea Turner. Once Turner returned to his lineup this team has been the best in baseball this season.
How ironic it is Trea Turner was the player involved in biggest play of this World Series when he was called out for runner interference in the seventh inning of what was then a 3-2 game in favor of the Nats.
It was a horrible call. It could have decided this World Series. But it didn’t. Martinez went berserk and fought for his player. He went to war for his player. He got ejected. But the message was clear: “I’ve got your back. You have mine.”
What happened next will forever go down in baseball history. Anthony Rendon who had struggled in this series went yard to left center for a two run homer. Rendon would bat again in the ninth and add a two run double for the final margin of 7-2. On the night—Rendon had three hits and four RBIs.
Normally, he would clearly be the star of the game. But on this historic night he shared honors with Steven Strasburg who made it to one out in the ninth inning before he gave the ball to Doolittle. Strasburg with the exception of giving up a first inning home to Bregman was as good as any starting pitcher could be in this era of the live ball.
He was dominant with his fastball, changeup, and curve. He made Jose Altuve look mortal. He made Altuve chase pitches out of the strike zone in clutch situations.
Juan Soto and Adam Eaton homered as well. Washington’s two, three, and four spots in the lineup all homered on this historic night.
They had the back of Dave Martinez. He had their back. He has had their backs this entire season and his ball club knows it.
Can you imagine Billy Donovan ever doing what Martinez did last night?
I can’t because Billy Donovan is the Ward Cleaver of the NBA. It’s not in his DNA as a coach. He’s too nice. Sam Presti can only hire nice coaches. OKC is the nicest franchise in all of pro sports. They develop their players who can shoot and then either trade them or don’t sign them. Little did David Stern know Oklahoma City would be the premier AAA level affiliate for the NBA with their pleasant coach and Trump faux Christians in the stands.
Tonight is Game 7. This won’t be about Martinez as much as it will about Max Scherzer and teammates. Scherzer, Ryan Zimmerman, and Howie Kendrick are the vets who know this may be their last chance at a world championship.
It may not be Rendon or Soto tonight. It might be someone at the bottom of the lineup, but all season long in this remarkable journey of redemption a player has stepped up for Martinez.
I won’t be watching the Thunder game live. The Thunder are anecdotal in this season of trading and tanking.
I’ll be glued to the flat screen to see if these Washington Nationals can complete their journey with a fourth win on the road in Houston.
It doesn’t get any better than this as a baseball fan.