• It was already 4-0 Astros when Domonic Smith doubled off of Houston’s starter Framber Valdez, took third base on an Alex Call fly ball, and scored on a groundout by CJ Abrams to get the Washington Nationals on the board, down 4-1, in the fifth inning of the 2nd game of 3 this week in Minute Maid Park.
Valdez held the Nationals to the one run on five hits in seven strong, striking out six without walking anyone in a dominant 95-pitch, 61-strike outing.
• Going up against closer Ryan Pressly in the top of the ninth, with the score still 4-1, Joey Meneses reached on an error by Alex Bregman at third base, and scored on a double to right field by pinch hitter Corey Dickerson, 4-2 Astros.