Nationals vs. Astros: Latest World Series 2019 Twitter Reaction

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

Road teams have controlled a unique 2019 World Series. 

For only the third time in history, the first five contests have been captured by road sides, according to MLB Stats: 

MLB Stats @MLBStats

This is just the 3rd time in #WorldSeries history that the road team has won the first 5 games (1906, 1996). No series has ever had the visiting team win the first 6. https://t.co/eLZwI5IHZc

Gerrit Cole‘s seven-inning gem, combined with seven runs from their offense, allowed the Astros to take a 3-2 lead back to Minute Maid Park. 

Outfielder George Springer credited the character of his team to come back from an 0-2 deficit and be on the brink of Houston's second title in three years, per AT&T Sportsnet Southwest. 

“Our team is extremely resilient,” Springer said. “We believe in each other. We believe in the mission. And for us to get down early and then to come here is huge.” 

Springer was one of three Astros to send a ball over the fence in Sunday's Game 5 victory. The 30-year-old's ninth-inning blast was his seventh in the Fall Classic, which ties him with Chase Utley for most round-trippers in a player's first 12 World Series games, per ESPN Stats & Info: 

ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo

George Springer has now tied Chase Utley for the most HR through a player's first 12 World Series games. (h/t @EliasSports) https://t.co/cw8ammTAIC

In total, the outfielder has 15 playoff home runs and a trio of multi-hit outings versus the Nationals. 

Carlos Correa's fourth-inning long ball added to the historic postseason totals he has put together.

As MLB Network pointed out, the shortstop has had plenty of success before hitting age 26: 

MLB Network @MLBNetwork

.@TeamCJCorrea making #Postseason history 🙌

#WorldSeries | #TakeItBack https://t.co/eYy6nU3gDM

The 25-year-old has now hit three of his 11 postseason home runs in the World Series, with two coming against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. 

Sunday's most important home run may have come off Yordan Alvarez's bat. Not only did it give Houston an early lead, it helped break the rookie out of a slump. 

The deep shot to left-center was Alvarez's first playoff home run, and it helped him earn his first three-hit postseason game.

As MLB.com's Brian McTaggart noted, the 22-year-old finally earned the spotlight: 

Brian McTaggart @brianmctaggart

Yordan Alvarez has his World Series moment.

Youth is served.

Alvarez's blast allowed Cole to work with a lead, and he did not give the Nationals a chance to challenge for it. 

The impending free agent fanned nine batters over seven innings while conceding three hits. Cole is now second behind Josh Beckett for most strikeouts in a single postseason, per MLB Stats: 

MLB Stats @MLBStats

.@GerritCole45, you are filthy. https://t.co/5L5IC5pieP

MLB's official Twitter account broke down a few of the right-hander's pitches, including a fastball and curveball that went different directions before landing in the same spot: 

MLB @MLB

The Cole Train runs express and local. 🤢 https://t.co/THlohA6BgD

Washington's pitching strategy was thrown off when Max Scherzer was removed due to neck spasms. 

In his place, Joe Ross started with a scoreless first inning, which led MASN's Dan Kolko to heap praise on the hurler: 

Dan Kolko @masnKolko

Joe Ross: Not intimidated by the moment.

Ross' five-inning performance was not great, but it kept the Nationals in the game, and as 106.7 The Fan's Grant Paulsen noted, the Washington offense did not provide support to the right-hander: 

Grant Paulsen @granthpaulsen

5 innings and 4 runs from Joe Ross is about the best you could have asked for.

Reoccurring theme: The 0 runs scored is the bigger problem.

Juan Soto eventually got the home side on the board through a seventh-inning solo shot, but it was not enough to spark a rally. 

The Washington outfielder is the third-youngest player with multiple home runs in a World Series, per MLB Stats: 

MLB Stats @MLBStats

Youngest players with multiple HR in the #WorldSeries:

Andruw Jones (Age 19)
Mickey Mantle (Age 20)
Juan Soto (Age 21) https://t.co/X32YQWJ6lM

On Tuesday, Stephen Strasburg will try to keep his team's season alive against Justin Verlander, who conceded four runs in Game 2. 

Strasburg was the better hurler in the last game in Houston, and if he is again, we could be headed for Game 7 Wednesday.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90

Statistics obtained from Baseball Reference unless otherwise noted