HOUSTON _ So, about that narrative that the "real" World Series took place in the American League Championship Series between the Astros and Yankees?
The Nationals, behind five laborious innings by ace Max Scherzer, gutted out a one-run victory in Game 1 as a somewhat emphatic rejoinder.
Then they completely annihilated the Astros in Game 2, a 12-3 victory in front of a stunned sellout crowd of 43,357 at Minute Maid Park that suddenly has the Nationals two wins away from a title no one saw coming.