Not immediately, of course. Game 5 will still be played Sunday in Washington, assuming the rain ends in the early afternoon, when the forecasters promise. But the Astros tied the series at 2-2 on Saturday with an 8-1 win in Game 4. 

Here are five defining moments in a pivotal game that erased the Nationals’ advantage earned with two wins in Houston to start the best-of-seven series. 

LIVE BLOG: Astros-Nationals Game 4, as it happened

Could have been worse, at least?

The crowd at Nationals Park had barely settled down from the pregame playing of Baby Shark when the Astros rattled off four consecutive one-out singles — all with an exit velocity of 90.0 mph or above — to snag a 2-0 lead only 15 minutes into the contest. And then Patrick Corbin walked Carlos Correa, loading the bases.

Those of us in the stadium who would need to travel to Houston for a sixth game started looking up flight prices to Texas. The Astros have a way of taking control of games quickly, and this one was following a very familiar pattern for a team that won 107 games in the regular season. Robinson Chirinos, who had homered in Game 3, was at the plate. 

Corbin was in big trouble. Pitching coach Paul Menhart visited the mound, as did a couple of infielders, trying to settle down the left-handed starter. Shortstop Trea Turner got in a few words of encouragement, too. 

“All he wants to do is win,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said of Corbin before the game. “He’s kind of a quiet guy, another one of those guys that don’t really have much of a heartbeat until he’s out on the mound and then he gets fired up.”

After three offspeed offerings, Corbin threw a 93-mph fastball to Chironis. He smacked a grounder right to third baseman Anthony Rendon, who stepped on third for one out and then threw across the diamond to complete the double play and end the frame. 

Houston led 2-0, but it could have been much, much worse. All across the press boxes (main and auxiliary) browser tabs were silently closed. Flight purchases could wait.  

Second verse, same as the first

Yan Gomes led off the bottom of the third with a double. His team trailing 2-0, his presence at second base represented a huge opportunity for the Nationals to slice into the Houston lead. But the opportunity was squandered, which felt familiar. The Nationals went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Game 3’s loss. 

Corbin’s first bunt attempt was a foul pop-up nearly caught by Chirinos, who made a valiant effort but to no avail. Then, though, Corbin’s bunt was hard and close enough to Houston starter Jose Urquidy that Gomes had no chance to advance to third base. Corbin was out, easily, at first base, as was Trea Turner, the next hitter.

Adam Eaton’s attempt at a bloop hit landed harmlessly in Carlos Correa’s glove, the shortstop’s good positioning and quick reactions more than enough to catch the ball. 

Robinson, again

Robinson Chirinos popped his second home run in as many days, a no-doubt blast into the left-field bleachers to put Houston up 4-0.

Again, Concur browsers were opened. And again, it could have been worse for the Nationals. Jake Marisnick followed with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a one-out ground out by George Springer. 

Jose Altuve, who stretched his streak to 24 consecutive postseason games reaching safely with his first-inning single, tried to surprise Corbin with a bunt. With Marisnick barreling down the third-base line and Altuve charging up the first-base line, Corbin bounced off the mound, fielded the ball and narrowly threw out Altuve to end the inning. 

The browser tabs stayed open this time. 

Goodbye, goose egg

It wouldn’t be a World Series inning in D.C. without a mention of a rally not fully realized, would it? The Nationals loaded the bases — two walks and a first-pitch single by Anthony Rendon off the leg of reliever Will Harris — with one out. 

For the Nationals, any type of rally was a welcome change. They’d been dominated for five innings by Jose Urquidy, who had retired nine in a row by the end of the fifth. But Astros manager A.J. Hinch decided that was enough, for some reason, so he pulled Urquidy to start the sixth, despite a pitch count of just 67. 

Anyway, Juan Soto was up, a huge at-bat the day after he turned 21 years old. He swung at Harris’ first pitch and hit a chopper to first baseman Yuli Gurriel, slowly enough that Gurriel’s only play was to touch the bag before Soto arrived. Gerardo Parra, who had opened the inning with a pinch-hit walk and a rousing rendition of “Baby Shark,” crossed the plate 

The Nationals had their first run and trailed 4-1. Howie Kendrick failed to push the runners home from second or third, striking out to end the inning. 

Finishing the job

The flights are being booked, folks. The Astros had threatened to break through with big innings often in the two games here in D.C, but never could come up with the type of inning that puts a game away. Alex Bregman took care of that. 

After two walks and a single loaded the bases, Bregman crushed a Fernando Rodney fastball deep into the stands in left field. The Astros waiting eagerly in the dugout knew immediately, leaping to their feet and celebrating as the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth runs of the game crossed the plate. It was only Bregman’s sixth hit since the ALDS ended (in 35 at-bats), but it was the blow that ensured the World Series will head back to Houston for a sixth game.