Oct 31, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) steps on second base for the out against Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (16) during the fourth inning of game five of the 2021 World Series at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Marwin Gonzalez had a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth inning and Martin Maldonado drove in three runs as the Houston Astros overcame an early four-run deficit to extend the 2021 World Series with a 9-5 victory Sunday over the host Atlanta Braves.
Facing elimination and trailing early after a first-inning grand slam from the Braves’ Adam Duvall, the Astros’ offense roared to life after a pair of lackluster games at Atlanta left them in a 3-1 series hole.
Houston scored multiple runs in the second, third and fifth innings, with Maldonado’s bases-loaded walk in the fifth tying the score 5-all before Gonzalez dumped his two-run single to left against Atlanta left-hander A.J. Minter (1-1) for a 7-5 lead.
The Astros became just the fourth team to rally from a four-run deficit and win in a World Series elimination game, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and the first since the Angels did it in Game 6 in 2002 against the Giants.
Freddie Freeman had a solo home run for the Braves, who have two more chances to wrap up their first World Series title since 1995 when the matchup shifts to Houston. Game 6 is Tuesday, with a potential Game 7 on Wednesday.
The Astros need consecutive victories to become the first team since the 2016 Chicago Cubs to rally from a 3-1 deficit and win the championship.
Duvall’s opening-inning slam came off Astros left-hander Framber Valdez, following singles from Jorge Soler and Austin Riley, as well as a walk from Eddie Rosario. It was Duvall’s second home run of the World Series and third of the postseason.
The Astros scored a pair of runs in the second on an Alex Bregman double and a sacrifice fly from Maldonado. It was just the second hit for Bregman in the series and it came after he was dropped to the No. 7 spot in the lineup.
The Astros tied the game 4-all in the third, getting an RBI double from Carlos Correa and a run-scoring ground out from Yuli Gurriel. Correa also drove in a run in the eighth.
Freeman gave Atlanta a 5-4 lead with a mammoth 460-foot home run in the third. It was his first home run of the series and fourth of the postseason.
The Astros’ go-ahead rally in the fifth started with two singles and an intentional walk to Bregman before Maldonado and Gonzalez delivered.
Left-hander Tucker Davidson, with just five games of regular-season experience, was the surprise starter for the Braves, giving up four runs (two earned) over two-plus innings.
Jose Urquidy (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the Astros to earn the victory.
–Field Level Media