Before Game 4 of the 2019 World Series, the last American League player to hit a grand slam in the Fall Classic was Paul Konerko in 2005. The last third baseman to do so was Ken Boyer in 1964. On Saturday, Alex Bregman knocked out both of those records with one swing, taking Fernando Rodney deep in the seventh with a bases-clearing knock:
Bregman’s slam was just the 20th in World Series history and the first of his postseason career to date. He lifted the Astros to a sizable seven-run lead over the Nationals, giving them the kind of run insurance they needed as they looked to pull even in the series.
Immediately after giving up the home run, Rodney issued back-to-back walks to Yuli Gurriel and Carlos Correa and was eventually replaced by Wander Suero, the Nationals’ third reliever of the night.
The Astros currently lead the Nationals 8-1 in the seventh.
