Right-handed reliever Will Harris entered the seventh inning of Game 7 in the World Series Wednesday night having allowed just one earned run in 9.2 innings over 11 appearances during the 2019 postseason. In his eight year MLB career Harris has recorded a 2.84 ERA and he’s been even better in five seasons with the Astros. In 2019, Harris had a career-best 1.50 ERA in 60 innings.
So, you can pound your first on the table all you want and yell at the top of your lungs how Houston manager A.J. Hinch should have gone with Gerrit Cole, but the truth is Harris was exactly who the Astros wanted out there to protect a one-run lead.
Hell, Harris even made a good pitch on the 0-1 count, but sometimes baseball happens. Hinch and Harris will be raked over the coals, but you simply have to give all the credit to Nationals utility man Howie Kendrick, who once again put Washington ahead with a big home run.
This time, on the biggest stage of the sport.
This might tough to accept for Astros fans because you always want something to place the blame on, but they just got beat. Simple as that. It happens and it really sucks for them and it’s really awesome for the Nationals.
And how about Patrick Corbin. After Max Scherzer gave up two runs in five innings, Corbin came in and shut down the Astros, pitching three scoreless innings.
Before Kendrick hit the go-ahead homer, Anthony Rendon hit a solo shot off Zack Greinke. Juan Soto came through with another clutch RBI and Adam Eaton gave the Nationals more breathing room with a two-run single in the ninth. Daniel Hudson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth.
The Nationals are your 2019 World Series champions and boy did they earn it.
