Brantley's big hits help Astros win Game 3 of World Series

WASHINGTON (AP) — Michael Brantley pulled up a chair and waited.

Hours after his two big hits propelled the Houston Astros to victory in Game 3 of the World Series, the veteran outfielder put his foot up and listened as a young teammate expressed confidence about his chance to make a mark on this Fall Classic. Brantley waited more than a decade to play this deep into the postseason. What's a few more minutes?

Brantley wondered a lot through the years — and the injuries — if he'd get this opportunity. Healthy at the most important time, Brantley isn't letting it go to waste, hitting two run-scoring singles Friday night to help Houston beat the Washington Nationals 4-1 and cut its World Series deficit to 2-1.

"It means a lot," Brantley said. "Any time you get to help your team win a game, especially in the World Series of this magnitude, a lot of hard work pays off. I didn't get here by myself."

After waiting so long to play on this stage, Brantley went 2 for 4 and was a big part of the Astros reversing their dreadful trend with runners in scoring position. Manager AJ Hinch could have put hot-hitting rookie Yordan Álvarez in left field hoping for a timely hit or two, but he stuck with the sure-handed Brantley.

He was steady as ever.

Brantley singled off starter Aníbal Sánchez in the third and fifth innings and was intentionally walked in the sixth so he couldn't do more damage. He's 5 for 12 in the World Series, which is becoming a showcase of the 32-year-old as a professional hitter.

He blooped an 0-2 pitch from Sánchez into left field for Houston's first run of the night and perfectly timed a 3-1 changeup to lace a single to right and restore a two-run lead.

"He's been playing the game for a while, and I've been watching him when I was growing up," Astros...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Brantley-s-big-hits-help-Astros-win-Game-3-of-14564113.php