Bregman breaks out of funk, admires no-doubter
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HOUSTON -- Maybe keeping his bat next to him as he slept wasn’t such an offbeat idea after all.
Astros All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, who said following his 0-for-4, three-strikeout performance in Game 1 of the World Series that he might have to take his bat to bed, walloped a game-tying two-run homer in the first inning off Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg to tie Game 2 on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park.
However, Houston went on to lose, 12-3, and faces a 2-0 Fall Classic deficit as the Series shifts to Washington, D.C. Bregman finished 1-for-4
| Game | Date | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gm 1 | Oct. 22 | WSH 5, HOU 4 | Watch |
| Gm 2 | Oct. 23 | WSH 12, HOU 3 | Watch |
| Gm 3 | Oct. 25 | HOU 4, WSH 1 | Watch |
| Gm 4 | Oct. 26 | HOU 8, WSH 1 | Watch |
| Gm 5 | Oct. 27 | HOU 7, WSH 1 | Watch |
| Gm 6 | Oct. 29 | WSH 7, HOU 2 | Watch |
| Gm 7 | Oct. 30 | WSH 6, HOU 2 | Watch |
Shop for postseason gear: “Felt good," Bregman said. "I felt good in the box all day. Whether I’m 0-for-10 or 10-for-10, every time I walk to the plate I believe I’m going to hit a missile.”
The homer could have put the Astros ahead if the inning had unfolded differently. Jose Altuve doubled with one out and was promptly caught stealing at third base. Michael Brantley followed with a single before Bregman rocketed a 2-2 pitch over the Crawford Boxes.
Bregman turned on an 87.4-mph changeup and sent it 411 feet to left field, with the ball traveling off the bat at 102.7 mph. Before beginning his home run trot, he stopped to admire the majestic blast, which was the eighth of his playoff career, all off All-Stars.
Prior to taking Strasburg deep, Bregman had homered off Chris Sale twice, Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell (in this year’s American League Division Series), Trevor Bauer, Kenley Jansen and Corey Kluber.
Bregman, who blasted 41 home runs in the regular season, entered Wednesday’s Game 2 slashing .231/.412/.385 in 12 playoff games this year, with one homer and four RBIs. He was 3-for-22 with one RBI since the start of the AL Championship Series.
Bregman's three strikeouts in Game 1 of the Fall Classic marked the first time this year he’d struck out three times in a game.