Nationals, Juan Soto stun Astros in Game 1 of World Series

Juan Soto and the Washington Nationals stunned Gerrit Cole and the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the 2019 World Series Tuesday night with a 5-4 victory.

Facing a juggernaut Houston Astros team on the road at Minute Maid Park Tuesday night, it was the Washington Nationals who drew first blood in the 2019 World Series, taking Game 1 in stunning fashion with a 5-4 victory.

Juan Soto was the hero for the Nats, going yard in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game at 2-2 and then doubling to deep left in the very next inning to bring home Anthony Rendon and Victor Robles for two more runs. He finished the game 3-for-4 with 3 RBIs.

It was the home team that struck first in Game 1 Tuesday night, as Yuli Gurriel doubled to deep left in the bottom of the first inning for Houston, bringing home Jose Altuve and George Springer for a quick 2-0 lead. Luckily, Washington responded in the bottom of the second when Ryan Zimmerman hit a solo shot to center to cut the deficit in half.

Soto’s single homer in the fourth — which made him the second-youngest player ever with a home run in his World Series debut — tied the game, and in the next inning, Adam Eaton brought home Kurt Suzuki with a single to right that got Robles to second base. Not long after, Soto’s double brought Robles and Rendon home for a commanding 5-2 lead.

The Astros wouldn’t go quietly into that good night, as a patented “Springer Dinger” in the bottom of the seventh inning pulled the home team within two. Springer was again a thorn in Washington’s side in the eighth, with his double to deep right bringing home Kyle Tucker.

However, as much as it felt like the Astros were ready to rally in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs, Daniel Hudson was able to get out of the inning by striking out Yordan Alvarez. Hudson was brought in in the middle of the inning after Springer’s home run on Tanner Rainey. The Nationals were able to hang on for the 5-4 victory, marking Gerrit Cole’s first loss since May 22.

The Nats certainly aren’t out of the woods yet, but getting one of two games on the road before the series shifts back to Washington for Games 3, 4 and 5 is huge. Houston will be back with a vengeance now that its back is up against the wall, but the Nationals couldn’t have asked for a better result in Game 1 — especially in the franchise’s first ever World Series game.

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Game 2 will be Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.