Josh Reddick drives in go-ahead run in World Series Game 3

Former A’s keep making big plays in the Fall Classic.

Yet another former A’s star authored a highlight in the 2019 World Series, though this time it was for the Houston Astros. In Game 1 it was Sean Doolittle saving it for the Washington Nationals, and in Game 2 it was Kurt Suzuki homering in the go-ahead run for the Nats in the 7th inning. In Game 3, it was Josh Reddick coming through.

In the 2nd inning, Carlos Correa doubled for the Astros, and Reddick followed with a flare to left field that fell for a single. That was enough to knock in Correa and give Houston the early lead, which they never relinquished en route to a 4-1 victory. Like with Suzuki in the previous game, more stuff happened after Reddick’s RBI, but it was still the one that put his team ahead for good.

The hit came off Anibal Sanchez, who was starting for Washington. This isn’t the first time Reddick has gotten to Sanchez in the playoffs, as they also met in a couple of A’s/Tigers series.

In the 2012 ALDS, in Game 3, Reddick went 0-for-3 against Sanchez but the A’s won anyway behind a brilliant shutout performance from starter Brett Anderson and relievers Ryan Cook, Doolittle, and Grant Balfour. But then in 2013, also in Game 3, Reddick got another chance against Sanchez and this time he homered in his second at-bat, in an eventual 6-3 A’s win. Of course, Oakland lost both series in the end, but they at least beat Sanchez both times they saw him. Six years later, Reddick helped beat him again with his new team.

The Nats host the Astros for Game 4 tonight, beginning at 5:07 p.m., with a pitching matchup of Patrick Corbin against Jose Urquidy and a Houston bullpen game.

*** More links: Game 3 box score, and Game 3 video highlights ***