Nationals take 2-game lead over Houston in World Series

The underdog Washington Nationals stunned the highly favored Houston Astros for a second straight game Wednesday with a 12-3 victory in Game 2 of the World Series.

The win puts the Nationals up 2 games to none, with three home games ahead of them.

An early Washington lead was quickly tied with a Houston home run in the first in and the game knotted at 2 runs apiece with Justin Verlander on the mound for the Astros, but a six-run seventh inning broke the game open.

Nationals starter Stephen Strasburg kept Houston’s offense at bay, and Astros sluggers George Springer and Carlos Correa went a combined 0 for 9 on the night.

By winning the first two games at Minute Maid Park, the Nationals may have effectively nullified home field advantage for the Astros, and will play the next three games in Washington.

Zack Greinke will get the start for Houston in Game 3, against Washington’s Anibal Sanchez.