The 2021 World Series is officially underway. The National League champion Atlanta Braves are facing the American League champion Houston Astros. The Astros have home-field advantage, which means they will host Games 1 and 2, and if necessary, they will host Games 6 and 7. The Braves will host Games 3 and 4, and if necessary, Game 5.
We’ll be tracking the results over the next week and a half as the two teams look to secure a championship this season.
Game 1 — Braves 6, Astros 2 (ATL leads series 1-0)
Houston came into Game 1 as a -140 favorite to win the series opener at DraftKings Sportsbook. However, Atlanta jumped on top early. Jorge Soler led off the game with a home run and Austin Riley doubled to score Ozzie Albies, giving the Braves a 2-0 lead in the first inning. They scored a third run in the second on a fielder’s choice and then added two more in the third on an Adam Duvall home run. Atlanta cruised to victory, but did lose starting pitcher Charlie Morton to a broken leg. He is done for the rest of the World Series.
Game 2 — Astros 7, Braves 2 (Series tied 1-1)
Six different Astros batters drove in a run with Max Fried giving up six runs across five innings in the loss. Jose Urquidy gave up two runs over five innings and Houston’s bullpen shut down Atlanta the rest of the way.
Game 3 — Braves 2, Astros 1 (Braves lead 2-1)
The Braves no-hit the Astros through seven innings before pinch-hitter Aledmys Díaz singled in the eighth. Ian Anderson had a no-hitter through five when Brian Snitker elected to go to his bullpen. The Braves plated runs in the third and eighth to get the win.
Game 4 — Braves 3, Astros 2 (Braves lead 3-1)
The Braves bats were cold through five innings before coming alive down 2-0. Jose Altuve hit his 23rd postseason HR to move into second place all-time alone. After that, the Braves in the 6th inning to make it 2-1 before Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler hit HRs off of Cristian Javier in the 7th to give the Braves a 3-2 lead. ATL’s bullpen came in and closed things down to come within one win of a championship.
Game 5 — Astros 9, Braves 5 (Braves lead 3-2)
It’s not often we see a team hit a Grand Slam in the first inning of the World Series. It’s less often the opposing team allows a first-inning GS and comes back to win said game. The Astros did so on Sunday night to pull the series to 3-2 and force it back to Houston for Game 6 on Tuesday night. Adam Duvall hit the blast in the first before the Astros rallied to make it 4-4. Freddie Freeman hit a solo shot to make it 5-4. Houston would score 4 unanswered runs the rest of the game to win.