Astros take World Series Game 5 on Gerrit Cole gem

The Astros swept three games at Nationals Park, taking a one-game lead in the World Series on what may have been the last game as an Astro for Gerrit Cole.

The World Series now moves back to Houston with the Astros owning a three games to two lead over the Washington Nationals. Gerrit Cole pitched a masterpiece in the 7-1 victory putting the Astros in the driver’s seat.

Cole redeemed himself from the Game 1 loss with a gritty and determined performance pitching seven innings of one-run ball. The solo run was a homer by Juan Soto in what may be Cole’s last inning wearing the Astros uniform. Cole gave up just three hits while striking out nine nationals. Even though Cole said he was spent by the end of the game, he was still throwing the ball in the upper nineties after 100 pitches, one hitting the 100 mph mark.

"“I thought his execution was better, and I think when he dotted his pitches it was great,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said. “When he missed, he was barely missing in the right areas. And I think his rhythm, his timing, his use of his pitches got better and better as the game went on.” courtesy of Brian McTaggart of MLB.com."

On the other side of the ball, the Astros were taking care of business the way we were used to seeing in the regular season, getting the timely hits and scoring the runs. Most of the damage came via the long ball with three different Astros hitting two-run homers, Yordan Alvarez in the 2nd inning, Carlos Correa in the 4th, and George Springer capping it off in the ninth. Yuli Gurriel knocked in the other run with a single scoring Springer in the eighth.

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For only the third time in history, the first five games of the World Series were won by the visiting team. The other two being the crosstown battle of the Chicago Cubs and the White Sox in 1906 and the 1996 Yankees and Braves contest.

With the final two games back here in Minute Maid Park and Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke, the Nationals have quite the uphill battle. The momentum has definitely swung in the Astros favor. Let’s just hope it keeps going that way and the Astros can “Take it Back”.