Nationals Opener And Other World Series Notes

20 year old Juan Soto drove in 3 runs while Adam Eaton singled in the “go ahead to stay” run, in a 3 run top of the 5th, to lead the Washington Nationals nee Montreal Expos, to a (5-4) win OVER the Houston Astros, in the franchise’s first World Series game.

Tonight in game 2 Houston starts Justin Verlander, nary a World Series win in 5 such starts (0-4) record, vs Stephen Strasburg , in a bid to square the 20th straight World Series and 22nd overall with Joe Buck as the lead television broadcaster.

After three teams (’66 Dodgers, ’70 and ’72 Reds) in a 7 year period (’66-’72), lost the first two of the World Series at home and lost said series, only the ’99 Braves have “suffered” such a fate.

The Astros, way too big a favorite in the games so far (9 to 5 tonight) and series itself, hope to become just the second team to lose both the LCS and World Series opening games at home and still capture the crown. (’83 Orioles are the other).

No team has done so since best of 7 LCS play began in 1985.

Juan Soto, pictured above delivered the big hit in Washington’s “10 teams to 8” game win, hit a tying home run in the decisive 5th game at L.A. and now stars in the World Series opener.