Trump to attend Sunday's potential Game 5 of World Series

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a Boston Red Sox team jersey presented by outfielder and designated hitter J.D. Martinez as the president stands next to team owner John Henry (C) as the president welcomes the 2018 World Series Champion Red Sox on the South Lawn at the White House in Washington, U.S. May 9, 2019. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he would attend Game 5 of the World Series in Washington on Sunday so long as Major League Baseball’s championship is not decided sooner.

The Washington Nationals lead the best-of-seven series 2-0 after a pair of road wins over the Houston Astros and host the next three games starting on Friday. It will be the first World Series played in the U.S. capital since 1933.

Asked by reporters at the White House if he would throw out the ceremonial first pitch, something only six sitting presidents have done at a World Series, Trump suggested it was a long shot.

“I don’t know,” Trump said before joking that he would look too heavy in the protective armor he would have to wear before taking the field at 41,000-seat Nationals Park.

The Nationals, who began playing in Washington in 2005 when the Montreal Expos relocated there, are playing in the franchise’s first World Series.

Recently retired catcher Brian McCann, who won a World Series with the Astros in 2017, threw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Game 1 in Houston on Tuesday, while Olympic champion gymnast Simone Biles had the honors the following night.

Reporting by Makini Brice; Writing by Frank Pingue; Editing by Peter Cooney

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source: reuters.com