Braves split first two games of World Series, which now moves to Atlanta
By Preston Hall | Sports writer
Georgia’s Major League Baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, has returned to the World Series for the first time in 25 years, and the Braves split the first two games in Houston.
The Astros won 7-2 On Wednesday night, Oct. 27, behind a four-run outburst in the second inning.
The previous night, the Braves, who won the National League East for the fourth straight season, defeated the Astros 6-2, but Atlanta lost starting pitcher Charlie Morton to a broken leg.
The Braves got off to a quick start in the opener when only four pitches into the game designated hitter Jorge Soler hit a 382-foot home run to left field putting the Braves up 1-0.
Shortly after that home run, Braves third baseman Austin Riley hit a timely double to center field that brought in second baseman Ozzie Albies bringing the new score 2-0.
Morton left the game early in the third inning with a lower leg injury. It was later reported that he did in fact have a fractured fibula in his right leg. He will miss the rest of the World Series. However, the Braves are hopeful Morton will be ready by spring training next February.
The Braves were not done there with scoring runs as in the top of the second inning first inning hero Soler hit into a fielder’s choice allowing Braves right fielder Joc Pederson to move to third base and Travis d’Arnaud scored making the new score 3-0 for the Braves.
Right hand relief pitcher A.J. Minter entered the game in the third inning for injured pitcher Morton. Minter would go 2 2/3 innings earning him the win for the game.
Two Braves acquired at the trade deadline for struggling outfield scored in the third inning as center fielder Adam Duvall blasted a 387-foot home run to left field that also scored left fielder Eddie Rosario to make the score 5-0.
The Astros were finally able to get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning as center fielder Chas McCormick grounded into a fielder’s choice that saw right fielder Kyle Tucker score. First baseman Yuli Gurriel moved to third and after a fielding error by Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson, McCormick was safe at first. The new score was 5-1.
A few innings of up-and-down baseball by both teams occurred from the fifth to the seventh innings as both teams were able to put runners on base but neither team was able to capitalize.
In the eighth inning, Swanson drew a walk. Soler had a check swing roll fair as the Astros relief pitcher Ryne Stanek was unable to corral the ball. Swanson advanced to third, and Soler was safe at first base. The next batter was the Braves first baseman and 2020 National League MVP Freddie Freeman.
Freeman hit a short sacrifice fly to right field allowing Swanson to score bringing the score 6-1.
Astros DH Yordon Alvarez led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a triple with no outs. The next batter up was Carlos Correa. The last run of the night happened when Correa grounded out to second allowing Alvarez to score bringing the new score 6-2.
In Wednesday night’s second game, the Astros were 7-2 winners. They scored their initial run in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Alex Bregman. Atlanta countered with a Travis d’Arnaud solo homer in the second, but then the Astros used five straight singles off Max Fried for four more runs and a 5-1 lead. Houston added to its lead with a run by Alvarez in the sixth and a Jose Altuve homer in the seventh.
Astros starter Jose Urquidy pitched five innings, allowed two runs, walked none and struck out seven. Four relievers finished the victory of the home team.
Now the series switches to Truist Park in Cobb County for the third game on Friday night. First pitch is at 8:09 p.m. The telecast will be from Fox.
The fourth and fifth games will also be played there.
Contact Preston Hall at prhall@augusta.edu.
