Washington had not won top honors
since the fall classic of 1924
when they were called the Senators.
The Nationals, as the team is known today,
a long shot in the 2019 playoffs and World Series,
faced elimination in five different games,
then rallied from behind in each of them
against the Milwaukee Brewers, the LA Dodgers
and then the Houston Astros in the World Series.
Trailing Houston, 2-0, in the seventh
and deciding game, Washington, who had
only one hit in the first six innings,
scored in the 7th on home runs
by Rendon and Kendrick to go ahead 3-2,
then padded their lead with 3 more runs
in the 8th and 9th and buoyed by
outstanding relief pitching,
outlasted the Astros 6-2,
marking the only World Series
in which neither team won
a game in their home park.
When Daniel Hudson fanned the last Astro,
he tossed his glove in the air and the entire team—
players, coaches and the manager—
rushed onto the infield grass,
hugging and yelling in celebration,
playground boys again.