Yuli accounts for early offense vs. Max

HOUSTON -- The Astros’ offense, which sputtered through the American League Championship Series, got off to a quick start in the World Series when first baseman Yuli Gurriel rocketed a two-run double off the left-field wall in the first inning of a 5-4 Game 1 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday night.

Gurriel, who hit a three-run homer in the first inning of Game 6 of the ALCS against the Yankees on Saturday night, hit a high fastball from Nationals starter Max Scherzer off the left-field wall to score George Springer and José Altuve. Opponents were 0-for-17 this postseason against Scherzer with runners in scoring position before Gurriel’s hit.

The first two batters of the game reached against Scherzer, with Springer drawing a walk and Altuve ripping a single into left field. Scherzer came back to strike out Michael Brantley and Alex Bregman before Gurriel delivered the first key hit of the World Series.

During the regular season, the Astros were 26-0 in games in which they scored two or more runs in the first inning, and they entered the World Series 2-0 in such games this postseason.

Gurriel would go 2-for-5 in Game 1, adding a two-out single in the third inning. He struck out to end the fifth inning -- the first time he had struck out in 49 plate appearances this postseason.