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World Series: 3 Takeaways from Nationals dramatic Game 6 win

By Jake Mastroianni

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals tosses the bat toward first base coach Tim Bogar #24 (not pictured) after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals tosses the bat toward first base coach Tim Bogar #24 (not pictured) after hitting a solo home run against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 29: Stephen  Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals comes off the field after retiring the side against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 29: Stephen  Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals comes off the field after retiring the side against the Houston Astros during the fifth inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /

Strasburg steadies the ship

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What can you say about the performance from Stephen Strasburg in Game 6?

He was brilliant, clutch, amazing, etc.

When the Washington Nationals needed him most, he stepped up and delivered a gem.

He gave up just those two first-inning runs, and overall surrendered just 5 hits and 2 walks over 8.1 innings with 7 strikeouts.

And I have no doubt he could have gone the distance if the Nationals needed him to.

Again, things were shaky at the start for Strasburg after he gave up a pair of runs in the first inning — just like he did in Game 2.

But after that, it was pretty much lights out.

He had 1-2-3 innings in the second and third and then walked a couple of batters in the fourth before getting a big strikeout.

His biggest jam after the first, and maybe the biggest moment of the game, came in the bottom of the fifth when a double from George Springer put runners on second and third with one out in a 3-2 game with Jose Altuve coming to the plate.

But he got Altuve to strikeout on three pitches, finishing him off with a nasty curveball in the dirt. And then got Michael Brantley to ground out on a sharply hit ball that Turner made a great play on.

This was the performance of a lifetime for Strasburg. And no matter what happens in Game 7, or what Strasburg decides to do after the season, no one will soon forget his Game 6 effort and what he did for the Nationals in this postseason.

He finished the 2019 postseason allowing just 8 earned runs on 30 hits and 4 walks with 47 strikeouts over 36.1 innings pitched (1.98 ERA, 0.937 WHIP).

And he tied the record for most wins in a single postseason with five. I’d say that’s a pretty spectacular postseason performance.

Next. Will Strasburg opt-out of contract?. dark

The Washington Nationals and Houston Astros will play one more time on Wednesday night for a World Series title. It’s expected that Max Scherzer will be on the mound against Zack Greinke.

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