Heading into tonight’s Game 6, you could say that the Washington Nationals’ backs were up against the wall.
After winning the first two games of the World Series in Houston against the mighty Astros, the Nationals went home to Washington D.C. and lost three straight games to the 2017 World Series champions, putting themselves on the brink of heartbreaking elimination.
Not about to go down without a fight, the Nats went into the 7th-inning of Game 6 with a one-run lead when Trea Turner hit a chopper down the third baseline. As the throw to first was made, Turner came in slight contact with the first baseman’s glove and was called out.
"That's a potentially series changing call." – Joe @Buck pic.twitter.com/E3Po7hSNcR
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2019
Turner subsequently lost his mind, audibly calling out Joe Torre, Major League Baseball’s chief baseball officer, who was sitting nearby.
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) October 30, 2019
But while the Nats ultimately didn’t get the call, in classic ball-don’t-lie fashion, Anthony Rendon smashed a two-run home run to the moon during the next at-bat.
– Anthony Rendon, probably pic.twitter.com/3iPLAXNRMl
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2019
Despite the 5-2 lead, Nationals manager Davey Martinez was far from calm about the previous screw job, as he immediately got into a heated confrontation with the umpires during the middle of the 7th, resulting in his subsequent ejection.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 30, 2019
While none of this is necessarily “good for the game”, it’s fantastic for the sport of baseball, as moments of human drama like these are what ultimately fuels our love of sports.
If the Nationals see out tonight’s game, Game 7 will be played tomorrow night in Houston, with former Cy Young winner Zack Greinke set to take the mound for the Astros in the deciding game.
— BroBible (@BroBible) October 30, 2019
Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Contact him on Twitter @eric_ital or via email eric@brobible.com
