By Andrea Morris and Benjamin Gill
The Washington Nationals beat the Houston Astros again on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the World Series. The game was close for much of the evening until the Nats finally broke away late in the game to win it 12-3.
It comes after the Nationals just defeated the Astros 5-4 Tuesday night in the first game of the 2019 World Series, thanks in large part to a stellar performance by 20-year-old phenom Juan Soto.
It’s been a historic run for the Nationals so far, marking the first time the team has ever won any World Series games. A focus on faith and prayer has been central for several of the key Washington players, including Soto. Throughout the season, numerous photos showed Soto kneeling on the field with fellow Nationals star Victor Robles, praying before games.
During Game One of the World Series, Soto hit a home run out to the train tracks at Minute Maid Park in Houston, becoming the fourth player to homer in a World Series game before age 21. He also hit a two-run double to the left-field wall in the top of the fifth inning, knocking in Robles and Anthony Rendon for two RBIs.
According to CNS News, earlier this year, as the team climbed closer to the World Series, Soto explained that he and his family asked God for His help. “We just prayed before the game. And we told Him that we just need His help. You know, go help, and right now and get the opportunity and just, get on it,” Soto said.
In a powerful Instagram post in Spanish back when Soto homered to help the Nats defeat the Dodgers in the playoffs, Soto wrote a Bible verse saying, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you James 4:10”
The 20-year-old left fielder has also described in interviews how honored he is to be a major league ballplayer. “It’s a blessing from God, to be here in the big leagues and play baseball like I have. I never thought I’d be this talented of a player,” he said.
Of course, baseball is a team sport, and the Nats wouldn’t be where they are today without amazing contributions by other faith-filled players, like third baseman Anthony Rendon.
In Game 2, Rendon smacked a 2-run double near the beginning of the game to rally his team. Despite his incredible skill and his great love of baseball, Rendon says his faith actually comes first.
“I want to be known as a Christian baseball player and I’m still trying to grow into that. But in the end, I want to be more Christian than baseball player,” he said.
“If I just try to stay in the Word and try to surround myself with good people and have good community, I think that will just guide me on that path,” Rendon added.
Returning from an injury to help lead the Nats to victory late in the season, center fielder Victor Robles is also focused on God. His Twitter bio makes it clear: #GodInFront.
Despite missing five games with a strained hamstring, the 22-year-old stayed firm with his faith and made a surprisingly fast comeback to return to the lineup.
“A lot of times when you have an injury like the one I have, it’s a couple months to come back from,” Robles said. “I was able to come back from it in a little more than a week and a half. I had a lot of faith in God and I knew that he was going to heal me as quickly as possible.”
The Nationals face off again with the Astros for Game 3 on Friday night in Washington, DC.