World Series

A healthy swing by Jorge Soler powered the Atlanta Braves to a smashing start in the World Series.

HOUSTON -- Almost out of contention in May, champs in October.Howie Kendrick, Anthony Rendon, and the Washington Nationals completed their amazing comeback journey — fittingly with one final, late rally on the road.In Game 7 of the World Series, no less.Kendrick and Rendon homered in the seventh inning as the Nationals overcame a two-run deficit, rocking the Houston Astros 6-2 Wednesday night to claim the first title in franchise history.With all eyes on Max Scherzer and his remarkable recovery after a painkilling injection, these Nationals truly embraced their shot in the first Series when the road team won every game.Even more against the odds: Juan Soto and Washington rallied from behind to win five elimination games this postseason, an unprecedented feat.Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin and the Nats brought the first World Series championship to the nation's capital since ol' Walter Johnson delivered the crown for the Senators in 1924.This franchise started out as the Montreal Expos in 1969 when the major leagues expanded beyond the border, putting a team with tricolor caps at jaunty Jarry Park.

WASHINGTON -- 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.

WASHINGTON -- José Altuve doubled twice and scored both times, Zack Greinke repeatedly worked out of trouble, and the Houston Astros showed they were not going to go quietly, beating the Nationals 4-1 Friday, Oct. 25 to cut their deficit to 2-1 in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.Houston can even things in Game 4 on Saturday night, Oct. 26 at Nationals Park.

LOS ANGELES — The Latest on Game 4 of the World Series (all times local):9:08 p.m.Steve Pearce hit a tying homer in the eighth and a three-run double in the ninth, and the Boston Red Sox rallied from a four-run deficit in the seventh inning for a 9-6 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday night and a 3-1 World Series lead.The improbable surge all started with pinch-hitter Mitch Moreland's three-run homer in the seventh, shortly after Yasiel Puig's three-run homer in the sixth had put the Dodgers up 4-0.Pinch-hitter Rafael Devers singled in Brock Holt with the tiebreaking run in the ninth, with also included Xander Bogaert's RBI single.Craig Kimbrel gave up Enrique Hernandez's two-run homer in the bottom half before getting the final three outs.Chris Sale starts for the Red Sox on Sunday against Clayton Kershaw, tying to close out Boston's fourth title in 15 seasons.8:19 p.m.Thanks to Steve Pearce, we're tied again in the late innings at Dodger Stadium.

LOS ANGELES  — The Latest on the World Series (all times local):11:42 p.m.The longest game in postseason history is headed to a 16th inning at the World Series.Boston and Los Angeles are tied 2-all after 15 innings and more than six hours of play in Game 3.During the bottom of the 15th, the game surpassed the Giants' 18-inning, 6-hour and 23-minute win over Washington in the 2014 NL division series.The Red Sox nearly got another run in the 15th against Kenta Maeda, the Dodgers' sixth reliever.

MILWAUKEE -- First things first of course...