What you need to know about the Braves’ 6-2 win over the Houston Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston:
Power and bullpen
The Braves built an early 5-0 lead, powered by home runs from Jorge Soler and Adam Duvall. Then they got 6-2/3 strong innings from their bullpen after starting pitcher Charlie Morton was forced out of the game with a broken bone in his right leg. The Braves won a World Series game for the first time since Oct. 21, 1996.
Historic beginning
The Braves’ first World Series game in 22 years couldn’t have started better. In the top of the first inning, on the third pitch of the game, designated hitter Soler homered into the “Crawford Box” seats above left field off Astros starter Framber Valdez. That marked the first time in MLB history that the first overall batter of a World Series -- the leadoff batter in the top of the first inning of Game 1 -- hit a home run. Which is a rather notable feat, given that this is the 117th World Series.
Credit: Hyosub Shin
Credit: Hyosub Shin
Adding on early
The Braves became the first team to score in each of the first three innings of a World Series. In so doing, they knocked Valdez out of the game and built the 5-0 lead.
After Soler’s homer, the Braves added a second run in the first inning when a double to deep center by Austin Riley brought home Ozzie Albies, who reached on an infield single and stole second. In the second inning, back-to-back singles, a fly ball and a groundout added up to a run. And in the third, a two-run homer to left by Duvall ended Valdez’s night.
Morton’s exit
A game going so smoothly for the Braves took a bad turn with one out in the bottom of the third inning. Morton had to exit because of an injury that occurred the previous inning when he was struck by a 102-mph batted ball. X-rays revealed a right fibula fracture that will cause Morton to miss the remainder of the World Series. He would have been on schedule to be the Braves’ Game 5 starter.
Following Morton ...
Morton’s injury left the Braves’ relievers to protect the 5-0 lead for 6-2/3 innings. They were more than up to the task, holding the Astros to two runs the rest of the way. First out of the bullpen: A.J. Minter, who was instrumental in the Braves beating the Dodgers in the NLCS, continued his outstanding postseason by working 2-2/3 innings, throwing a career-high 43 pitches and holding the Astros to one run.
Luke Jackson, who struggled in the NLCS, pitched 1-2/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Tyler Matzek pitched 1-1/3 innings, allowing a run in the eighth after the Braves tacked on one in the top of the inning. Will Smith closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.
Credit: Curtis Compton
Credit: Curtis Compton
Also notable
-- Eddie Rosario extended his postseason hitting streak to 11 games -- every game the Braves have played this postseason. He had two hits Tuesday.
-- The only players in Braves franchise history with longer postseason hitting streaks than Rosario’s are Marquis Grissom (15 in 1995-96) and Mark Lemke (13 in 1996).
-- Albies also had two hits, extending his hitting streak this postseason to 10 games.
-- The Astros’ bullpen had an excellent night. Five relievers held the Braves to one run and four hits across seven innings after starter Valdez allowed five runs and eight hits in two-plus innings.
-- Both of the Braves’ homers were hit by players, Soler and Duvall, acquired at the July 30 trade deadline. They combined for four RBIs.
-- All nine players in the Braves’ batting order had at least one hit.
-- Astros hitters, who had the second-fewest strikeouts in the major leagues during the regular season, struck out 11 times in the game. Braves hitters had 12 strikeouts.
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