From Oct. 22 to Oct. 30, 2019, the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros battled to Game Seven of the World Series. For all seven games of this series, the road team won all of the games, meaning the Washington Nationals won games one, two, six, and seven, and the Houston Astros won games three, four, and five. 

Going into this World Series, the Houston Astros were a huge favorite, with sports pundits waiting to call them a dynasty if they had won. The Astros won the 2017 World Series, the first World Series championship, but lost in the 2018 American League Championship Series to the Boston Red Sox. The Astros finished the 2019 season with a 107–55 win-loss record, which was one of the most impressive for the regular season. They won the American League West. 

 In Game One, the Washington Nationals surprised the whole country by winning 5-2 thanks to a 3-run double by Juan Soto. In Game Two, the Washington Nationals shocked every viewer watching this game by winning 12-3, sweeping an incredible win against the Astros. 

Going into Game Three, there was a feeling that the Astros would bounce back. After all, they were considered one of the most talented teams within the last few decades, and they just won 107 games in the regular season. 

On top of that, they had three aces on Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, and Zack Grenike. In Game Three, the Houston Astros won 4-1, and Zack Grenike had a magnificent game, allowing only one run through seven innings. In Game 4, the Houston Astros won 8-1, this time on the back of Jose Urquidy, who allowed one run through five innings. This was very surprising because Urquidy performances in previous games did not live up to his performance in this game. In Game Five, the Astros won yet again, 7-1, this time led by Gerrit Cole. The World Series shifted back to Minute Maid Park, the Astros stadium. 

If the Astros were a huge favorite before the series started, they were an even bigger favorite going into Game Six. They had two chances to win one game. In Game Six, the Astros led 2-1 after the first inning. However, after that, the Nationals scored the last six runs of the game, eventually winning 7-2. 

In Game Seven, there were many surprises, for both the spectators and the players. Leading 2-1, in the 7th inning, A.J. Hinch, the Astros’ manager, decided to pull Zack Greinke, who was pitching the game of his life, after allowing a solo home run to All-Star Anthony Rendon, a decision that ultimately ended up backfiring. Next, A.J. Hinch put Will Harris in the game who immediately allowed a two-run home run. 

Through the 7th to 9th innings, A.J. Hinch decided not to put in Gerrit Cole; instead electing to pitch his not-so-great relievers. The Astros would lose 6-2, a disappointing ending to an otherwise fabulous season. Nationals pitcher, Stephen Strasburg would be named the MVP of the series.

The Washington Nationals’ performance this season was the definition of a miracle. Entering the 2019 campaign, they lost Bryce Harper, one of the best players in the MLB. With a record of 19-31, they had a 0.1% chance of winning the World Series. They ended the season winning 35-16, securing a Wild Card berth. 

In the Wild Card game, they beat the Milwaukee Brewers by coming back from a 3-1 run deficit in the eighth inning. In the next series against the 106-win Los Angeles Dodgers, in a winner-take-all Game Five, they once again came back from a 3-1 run defeat in the eighth inning and won on a walk-off grand slam by Howie Kendrick in the 10th inning to advance. They went on to sweep the red-hot St. Louis Cardinals, and the rest is history.

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