On a night when the Braves won their first World Series game since the year before Ozzie Albies was born, a night that the Braves had a lead they’d never relinquish on the game’s third pitch, and a night where everyone in their lineup had a hit by the sixth inning, I can’t help but wonder if the lasting memory from the night will not end up being any of those things. I think we’ll be talking about how Atlanta starting pitcher Charlie Morton left the mound with a broken leg.
The 102.4 mph comebacker that Yuli Gurriel hit off Morton’s right leg ended his 2021 Fall Classic almost as quickly as it began. This is a problem for the Braves, who lost arguably their best pitcher, one who has already closed out one World Series (for the Astros) in his life and clearly wanted to finish another (against the Astros).
Otherwise, just about everything the Braves could have wanted to happen in Game 1 happened: a quiet Astros night offensively; more mashing from Trade Deadline acquisitions Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler, and Eddie Rosario; and a bullpen that was able to pick up Morton for nearly seven innings. The game didn’t resemble the 1996 Greg Maddux start that marked their last win in a World Series game (eight innings, no runs, 82 pitches in Game 2 that year), but considering the wait Braves fans went through to get to this next one, it’s unlikely anyone particularly minds.
Astros fans likely aren’t sweating this that much: Their team, after all, is 0-4 all-time in Game 1 of the World Series, so this is familiar territory. And now they don’t have to face Morton the rest of the Fall Classic.
— Will Leitch
This morning’s top news
Braves overcome adversity, dominate Game 1
Morton fractures fibula, out for World Series
Deadline additions spark Braves’ victory in opener
‘Just got beat’: Astros optimistic after loss
Morton pitches through pain: ‘That’s Charlie’
Atlanta ‘pen ready to go: ‘What you live for’
Valdez sees Game 1 go wrong, fast: ‘It’s a shocker’
World Series Game 2 FAQ (8 ET, FOX)
Fried’s focus on control as Atlanta’s Game 2 starter
Urquidy looks to bounce back in Game 2 start
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World Series Gm 2
Atlanta @ Houston
Minute Maid Park | 8:09 pm ET
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Projected Lineups:
Max Fried, LHP #54
14-7 | 3.04 ERA | 158 K
Postseason: 1-1 | 3.78 | 17K
José Urquidy, RHP #65
8-3 | 3.62 ERA | 90 K
Postseason: 0-1 | 27.00 | 1K
1. Eddie Rosario, LF
2. Freddie Freeman, 1B
3. Ozzie Albies, 2B
4. Austin Riley, 3B
5. Jorge Soler, DH
6. Joc Pederson, RF
7. Adam Duvall, CF
8. Travis d’Arnaud, C
9. Dansby Swanson, SS
1. Jose Altuve, 2B
2. Michael Brantley, LF
3. Alex Bregman, 3B
4. Yordan Alvarez, DH
5. Carlos Correa, SS
6. Kyle Tucker, RF
7. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
8. Chas McCormick, CF
9. Martín Maldonado, C
Who’s hot and who’s not?
Braves: Left fielder Eddie Rosario has hit .465 with a 1.278 OPS this postseason. He has recorded a multi-hit performance in four straight games. First baseman Freddie Freeman has a 1.044 OPS through 11 playoff games. Catcher Travis d’Arnaud, on the other hand, has struck out in 15 of 35 at-bats during the playoffs.
Astros: DH Yordan Alvarez, who was 12-for-23 en route to being named the MVP of the ALCS, tripled and scored in Game 1 of the World Series and has hit safely in seven consecutive playoff games. Then there’s right fielder Kyle Tucker, who’s hit safely in nine of 11 playoff games this year, including a pair of hits in Game 1 of the World Series. Left fielder Michael Brantley is hitting .340 in the postseason with a pair of three-hit games, including Game 1. On the flip side, there’s second baseman Jose Altuve, who’s 3-for-28 since the start of the ALCS, and third baseman Alex Bregman, who’s 3-for-19 in his last five games.
A few more things to see …
America won free tacos! Claim yours Nov. 4
Ozzie Albies joins the list of deft baserunners who have secured a free Doritos® Locos Taco for America.
Soler hits first true World Series leadoff HR
Atlanta leadoff hitter Jorge Soler became the first player to homer in the very first plate appearance of a Fall Classic — in other words, the top of the first inning of Game 1.
Brett Phillips playing MLB WS correspondent
The Rays outfielder will be on hand for Games 2 and 3 of the World Series to interview players as only he can.
Ohtani wins Historic Achievement Award
Shohei Ohtani’s 2021 season was so extraordinary, so sensational, so unprecedented that Commissioner Rob Manfred has formally recognized it as historically significant.
Remember the ‘David Freese Game’? We do
Ten years ago tonight, David Freese capped one of the craziest games in World Series history. We asked 12 colleagues who were at Busch Stadium that night (as well as one who wasn’t) to share a memory of that legendary game.
The boy who caught (and lost) Mazeroski’s home run ball
Leave Game 7 of the World Series early??? It worked out for Andy Jerpe, who came away with a piece of baseball history on Oct. 13, 1960.
MLB Network at the World Series
Tune in for live coverage before and after every game, starting at 3 p.m. ET.
World Series Game 1 Recap
Today’s Trivia Question
Who hit the first pinch-hit home run in World Series history?
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