Daniel Hudson only was supposed to face the first two batters, or so went the plan.



The Nationals, leading 6-2 in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the 2019 World Series, were taking no chances. Hudson would get George Springer and José Altuve, the two right-handed hitters at the top of the Astros’ lineup. Sean Doolittle would replace him to maintain the platoon advantage against the left-handed-hitting Michael Brantley.



“They had called down right when Huddy came into the game,” Doolittle says. “They said I was going to have Brantley. So I got up, and that was the first thing that went through my head: ‘Oh my gosh, I could get the last out in the World Series.'”



Through 115 Series, only 94 pitchers have claimed that achievement. Some were Hall of Famers who seemed destined for the moment — Mariano Rivera closed out four Series as a reliever, Sandy Koufax and Bob Gibson two each as a starter. Others were journeymen...