In Game 4 of the World Series, the Astros broke things open in the seventh after a couple of questionable strike zone calls helped shift momentum. With the Nationals up by three, Tanner Rainey issued a walk to Kyle Tucker on a borderline 3-1 pitch. Then came a 3-2 count to George Springer, and the umpires called another close pitch a ball. Tucker was running, thinking maybe it would be a strike-three throw-out double play. Instead, Springer took first, and the Astros had something brewing.
Washington went to Fernando Rodney, and things got worse. Michael Brantley blooped a single to load the bases. Then Alex Bregman stepped in and crushed a grand slam to left, putting Houston up 8-5. That moment came with an unexpected reaction. Instead of celebration, camera shots caught Gerrit Cole looking stunned or locked in, barely reacting. He pointed at Verlander, and they exchanged some words and a laugh, suggesting they may have bet on something before the at-bat.
The call behind the plate seemed inconsistent, with both teams impacted by shaky strike calls. But Houston capitalized when it mattered. Bregman’s slam was the exclamation point, and the Astros grabbed control of the series. The mystery around Cole’s reaction stood out, but the scoreboard said enough.