HOUSTON – Stephen Strasburg took a gem into the ninth inning and Juan Soto ran all the way to first base with his bat following a go-ahead home run, the same way Houston slugger Alex Bregman did earlier.
Washington has matched the Astros pitch for pitch, hit for hit, win for win -- even home run celebration for home run celebration.
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Strasburg gutted through without his best fastball to throw five-hit ball for 8 1/3 innings, and now it's onto a winner-take-all Game 7 to decide the first World Series in which the visiting team won the first six games.
Eaton and Soto hit solo homers off Justin Verlander in the fifth, Anthony Rendon had five RBIs, including with a two-run homer in the seventh, and the Nationals beat the Astros 7-2 Tuesday night to tie the Series at three games apiece.
Fired up after a disputed call at first base went against them in the seventh, the Nationals padded their lead moments later when Rendon homered off Will Harris. Washington manager Dave Martinez, still enraged at umpires, was ejected during the seventh-inning stretch, screaming as a pair of his coaches held him back while the crowd sang along to "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Rendon added a two-run double off Chris Devenski in the ninth.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros celebrates his leadoff double against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first 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: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by his teammates after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros celebrates after he hands his bat to first base coach Don Kelly #15 after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first 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: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hands his bat to first base coach Don Kelly #15 after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hands his bat to first base coach Don Kelly #15 after hitting a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros hits an RBI sacrifice fly to score George Springer (not pictured) against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers the pitch against the Houston Astros during the first 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: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros hits an RBI sacrifice fly to score George Springer (not pictured) against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros slides into home plate safely to score a run on a sacrifice fly by teammate Jose Altuve (not pictured) against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros hits a leadoff double against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros slides into home plate safely to score a run on a sacrifice fly by teammate Jose Altuve (not pictured) against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros hits a leadoff double against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals reacts after flying out against the Houston Astros during the first 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 reacts after flying out against the Houston Astros during the first 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 reacts after flying out against the Houston Astros during the first 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: Howie Kendrick #47 of the Washington Nationals reacts after flying out against the Houston Astros during the first 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: Michael Brantley #23 of the Houston Astros catches a fly ball against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals flies out against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Anthony Rendon #6 of the Washington Nationals hits an RBI single against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Adam Eaton #2 of the Washington Nationals hits a sacrifice bunt against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros prepares to pitch to Adam Eaton #2 of the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros prepares to pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros attempts to throw out Trea Turner (not pictured) of the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals beats out the throw against Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Trea Turner #7 of the Washington Nationals beats out the throw against Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first 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: Justin Verlander #35 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning in Game Six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 29, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 29: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros celebrates his leadoff double against the Washington Nationals during the first 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)
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer, boosted by an injection of painkiller, is primed to return from an irritated nerve in his neck to start Game 7, Martinez said before the game. Scherzer was warming up in the seventh before Rendon's homer, then sat down as Martinez became the first manager tossed from a Series game since Atlanta's Bobby Cox in 1996.
Martinez & Strasburg talked about the fact that he was tipping his pitches in the first inning. Also asked about the Turner interference call & his own ejection. #WorldSeries#Astros@KPRC2pic.twitter.com/2f2nDjE7Br
Now the Nationals will attempt their ultimate comeback in a year in which they were written off time after time, hoping for the first title in the 51-season history of a franchise that started as the Montreal Expos and the first for Washington since the Senators in 1924. Zack Greinke will be on the mound for the Astros, who led the majors with 107 wins and are seeking their second title in three seasons.
Visiting teams have won three straight Game 7s in the Series since the Cardinals defeated Texas at home in 2011.
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