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World Series: Takeaways from Nationals historic Game 7 win

By Jake Mastroianni

HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the second inning in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Max Scherzer #31 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the second inning in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Howie  Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 30: Howie  Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals hits a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning in Game Seven of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 30, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

That magical seventh inning

There’s been something about that seventh inning in this World Series for the Washington Nationals.

The Nationals scored 12 runs in the seventh inning in this series (six of them came during that comeback in Game 2).

And once again in Game 7, it was the seventh inning that was the turning point for the Nationals offense.

Let’s not forget that Zack Greinke had held the Nationals offense to just 1 hit and 1 walk through 6 innings in this game. He had the Nationals hitters all off balance.

But he made one mistake to Anthony Rendon leaving a ball over the middle of the plate — literally the only ball he threw over the middle of the plate all game — and Rendon didn’t miss.

He hit a solo home run to cut the Astros lead to 2-1, and it felt like somebody had opened the gates.

Juan Soto followed with a walk, and then came the biggest moment of the game — maybe in Nats history.

Howie Kendrick, the NLCS MVP, took Astros reliever Will Smith opposite field for a 2-run home run off the foul pole to give the Nats the lead.

That at-bat changed everything in this game as the Nats offense exploded after that scoring a run in the eighth and two in the ninth.

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