October 26, 2019 – Astros 8, Nats 1 (World Series Game 4) – Nationals Park

https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-win-game-4-tie-world-series-at-2?game_pk=599374

 

Weather: 63 degrees, Overcast.

Wind: 10 mph, R To L.

Umpires: HP--Hoye, 1B--Barksdale, 2B--Holbrook, 3B--Wolf, LF--Eddings, RF--Cederstrom.

Time: 3:48

Attendance: 43,889

 

The recipe for Game 4 turned out to be almost identical to that of Game 3. The Nats added some sterling defense, but also mixed in an atrocious bullpen meltdown. The main ingredients – excellent Houston pitching blended with Washington’s failure to take advantage of their scoring opportunities – remained the same, as did the final result.

 

The conventional wisdom going into the contest was that the Astros, lacking a fourth starter and therefore needing to make this a “bullpen game”, would be at a decided disadvantage, with the Nats countering with a well-regarded (and well-compensated) veteran like Patrick Corbin. The conventional wisdom turned out to be wrong.

 

Corbin, who had been up and down during the postseason, did get through six innings for the Nats. However, he dug the team into another early 2-0 hole by yielding four consecutive singles with one out in the 1^st inning. He settled down and allowed only one baserunner the next two frames, but faltered again in the 4^th, as Robinson Chirinos homered for the second straight game, this time with a man on base.

 

Meanwhile, rookie Jose Urquidy, with just 41 regular-season MLB innings to his credit, shut down the hosts for five strong innings on only two hits, as the Nats wasted Gomes’ leadoff double in the 3^rd (thanks in part to Corbin’s inability to bunt him over to third). Washington missed its best opportunity to get back in the game in the 6^th after Josh James replaced Urquidy and walked two of the three batters he faced, with the heart of the order coming up. Will Harris took over for the Astros, and Rendon managed an infield single to load the bases (and give the Nats credit for a hit with a runner in scoring position, albeit one that did not actually result in a run). Harris then induced another grounder from Soto that did score Parra as Houston recorded the second out, and then fanned Kendrick to minimize the damage.

 

Any hopes for completing the comeback died a quick death just a half-inning later. Rainey couldn’t find the plate, walking two of the three batters he faced. Rodney then entered with the proverbial can of kerosene, allowing a Michael Brantley single to load the bases, followed by an Alex Bregman grand slam. One out and three walks later, Davey was merciful enough to yank him in favor of Wander Suero, who kept the score at 8-1 by fanning Kyle Tucker. The Nats did manage to produce (and strand) a few more runners, but the meaningful part of the evening was over. The Series was now tied at 2-2, with only one more chance for the Nats to win a game at home before the action returned to Texas.