HOUSTON — Alex Bregman did it in the first inning and Juan Soto followed in the fifth inning and each got scolded for carrying the bat to first base after hitting home runs.

Bregman took the lumber with him as he strolled toward first base after homering in the first inning off Stephen Strasburg and handed it to first-base coach Don Kelly. Soto repeated the act in the in the fifth, but left the bat at the foot of first-base coach Tim Bogar.

“I just let my emotions get the best of me,” Bregman said after the Astros’ 7-2 Game 6 loss to the Nationals on Tuesday night. “It’s not how I was raised to play the game. … I’m sorry for doing that.”

Bregman’s stunt drew criticism from A.J. Hinch.

“He shouldn’t carry the bat past first base,’’ the Astros manager said. “Soto shouldn’t carry it to first base, either.’’

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said his club was annoyed at Bregman and Soto.

“We didn’t like it. And the fact that Soto did it, I’ll be quite honest with you, I didn’t like it when he did it, as well. It’s a conversation I’ll have with Juan. That’s not who we are,’’ Martinez said. “I mean, if he feels like he wants to carry the bat all the way to first base, then that’s [on] him.’’

Max Scherzer wasn’t the only National to overcome an injury and be available for Game 7 Wednesday night.

Catcher Kurt Suzuki, who left Game 3 with a right hip problem and didn’t play in Games 4 and 5, was a strong possibility to start the final game of the World Series.

“Kurt is doing better. He came in [Monday], got treatment, worked out, did some running. And he felt better than he did the day before,” Martinez said. “I’m going to talk to him [Wednesday] morning and see how he’s feeling and if he’s up to it, yeah, he’ll catch Game 7, catch Max.’’

Former Houston Rocket stars and Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler participated in the ceremonial first pitch before Game 6. Olajuwon threw the pitch to Drexler.