The Houston Astros handed the ball to Gerrit Cole, and he gave them a firm grip on the World Series.
Cole looked exactly like the stud who dominated baseball most of this season, bouncing back from a Game 1 clunker to pitch the Astros to a 7-1 win Sunday night and a 3-2 lead.
Minus ailing ace Max Scherzer, the Nationals were no match in this Washington wipeout.
Rookie Yordan Álvarez and Carlos Correa hit early two-run homers off emergency starter Joe Ross as Houston won its third straight at Nationals Park. Scherzer beat Cole in the opener, but was scratched just 3½ hours before game time because of an irritated nerve near his neck that could finish him for the Series.
President Trump attended the game. Though the appearance came at a high-profile moment of his presidency, he drew loud boos and jeers when introduced to the crowd.
At the end of the third inning, ballpark video screens carried a salute to U.S. service members that drew cheers throughout the stadium. When the video cut to the President and first Lady Melania Trump, and the loudspeakers announced the Trumps, cheers abruptly turned into a torrent of boos and heckling. Chants of "Lock him up!" broke out in some sections.
Trump appeared unfazed and continued waving. Later, some fans behind home plate held a sign reading "VETERANS FOR IMPEACHMENT." Another banner appeared during the game: "IMPEACH TRUMP!" The president was on hand for seven innings before heading back to the White House.
With the road team winning every time so far in the series, Houston heads home with a chance to claim its second title in three years. Game 6 will be Tuesday night at Minute Maid Mark.