WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Game 5 of the World Series (all times local):
5:36 p.m.
Rookie Yordan Alvarez was back in the Astros’ starting lineup for Game 5 of the World Series against the Washington Nationals.
Alvarez, who hit 27 homers in 87 regular season games, was batting sixth and playing left field. He was the designated hitter in Games 1 and 2 but was benched as the series moved to the NL ballpark.
Catcher Robinson Chirinos, who homered in Games 3 and 4, was benched for the Astros. Martin Maldonado was behind the plate with Gerrit Cole pitching in a repeat of the Game 1 battery.
With scheduled starter Max Scherzer scratched for Washington with spasms near his neck, his preferred catcher Kurt Suzuki was on the bench for the second straight night. Suzuki has a right hip flexor injury, but manager Dave Martinez said he would be available for Game 6. Yan Gomes started at catcher.
Shortstop Trea Turner led off for Washington, followed by right fielder Adam Eaton, third baseman Anthony Rendon, left fielder Juan Soto, second baseman Howie Kendrick, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, left fielder Victor Robles, Gomes and pitcher Joe Ross.
For Houston, George Springer led off and played center field, followed by second baseman Jose Altuve, right fielder Michael Brantley, third baseman Alex Bregman, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, Alvarez, shortstop Carlos Correa, Maldonado and Cole.
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5:25 p.m.
Washington pitcher Stephen Strasburg could tell it was a big game by the pooches.
President Donald Trump was set to attend Game 5 of the World Series at Nationals Park. As part of protocol, the clubhouses were swept as a precaution.
”I think everybody is excited. It’s the president of the United States,” Strasburg said.
”So there’s obviously beefed up security,” he said. ”So usually the dogs that are sniffing in our clubhouse are these nice Labs that are super friendly. And today there was a German shepherd that I didn’t really feel comfortable petting.”
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4:45 p.m.
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer was scratched from his scheduled start in Game 5 of the World Series because of spasms near his neck.
Washington manager Dave Martinez made the announcement 3+ hours before the first pitch Sunday night.
Joe Ross was scheduled to start in place of Scherzer. Gerrit Cole starts for Houston, with the Series tied 2-2.
Martinez said Scherzer felt the spasm near his neck and trapezius muscle on his right side Saturday and woke up Sunday and texted the team trainer that ”he was really hurting.”
Martinez said Scherzer was ”locked up” and ”he was in a bad place.”
”He’s very upset,” Martinez said.
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