World Series game 2: Braves vs Astros

The Houston Astros take Game 2 of the 2021 World Series. The Astros’ bats came alive tonight as the home team put up seven runs on nine hits to even the series. 

Houston pulled ahead early in the second inning, putting up four runs after the Braves tied the game 1-1. The Astros never relinquished the lead for the rest of the night.

Houston starter Jose Urquidy put in a strong performance, striking out seven in five innings of work. He gets the win. Atlanta’s starter Max Fried— who struck out six while giving up six runs — takes the loss for the Braves.

The Astros’ Jose Altuve led the offensive attack with a homer and double on the night, a nice bounce-back by the star second baseman who went 0-for-5 in Game 1.

Altuve moved into a tie for second place for the most home runs in postseason history when he hit a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh inning. Altuve now has 22 postseason home runs in his career, tying him on the all-time list with Bernie Williams. Manny Ramirez (29) has the most.

The series shifts to Georgia and will resume Friday, with Games 3, 4 and 5 at Truist Park. Former president Donald Trump plans to attend Game 4 on Saturday, a person close to Trump tells CNN.

If necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be in Houston.

The Houston Astros tied the series 1-1 after their win over the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Take a look at the schedule for the rest of the best-of-seven series.

All of the games will begin at 8:09 p.m. ET, except for Game 5, which will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET. The games will all be shown on TV by Fox.

Last chance for the Braves coming up. The visitors trail Houston 7-2 going into the final frame.

Houston Astros leadoff man Jose Altuve took Braves reliever Drew Smyly deep in the bottom of 7th.

That's a double and a homer tonight for Altuve, who went 0-for-5 in Game 1.

It was Altuve's 22nd career postseason home run. He has now tied Bernie Williams for 2nd place all-time in MLB postseason homers.

We’re heading to the bottom of the 7th in Houston.

Braves came up empty again in the top half of the inning. Dansby Swanson got on with a one-out walk. Phil Maton came into the game to relieve Cristian Javier. He got Eddie Rosario to pop up. 

Rosario’s 11-game hitting streak is in danger of coming to an end.

A Freddie Freeman groundout ended the inning. Astros are coming up with a four-run lead, 6-2.

A critical call at second base briefly put the Astros on the cusp of breaking the game open in the bottom of the 6th. With runners on first and third and one out, Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel hit a chopper to shortstop Dansby Swanson, who appeared to throw in time for a force out at second base to Ozzie Albies. But the Braves’ second baseman missed the catch, and Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker was ruled safe. The call was upheld after a Braves challenge, even after the Fox broadcast booth predicted that Tucker would be called out.

Albies was charged with an error, a run scored on the play, and the Astros, with runners on second and third following a successful double steal, were on the cusp of a big inning.

But Braves reliever Dylan Lee struck out Jose Siri for the second out, and RHP Jesse Chavez came on to retire catcher Martin Maldonado to limit the damage.

6-2 Astros after 6.

That’s a wrap for Max Fried.

The Braves’ superb lefty leaves after walking designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and allowing a single to shortstop Carlos Correa, putting runners at 1st and 2nd with nobody out in the 6th.

LHP Dylan Lee is now on in a big spot.

It’s a disappointing evening for Fried, who, after a rough start, appeared to have righted the ship for three innings before the Astros’ attack here in the 6th.

5-2 Astros in the bottom of the 6th.

After a rough start — five runs through the first two innings — Braves starter Max Fried has since settled in nicely, hurling three straight scoreless frames. That’s a big deal after a night in which the Braves had to reach deep into their bullpen to use four relievers following the injury to starter Charlie Morton.

5-2 Astros through five.

Right-handed pitcher Cristian Javier has come into the game in relief for the Astros in the sixth inning.

He replaces Astros starter Jose Urquidy, who had a nice outing. Urquidy had seven strikeouts on 74 pitches in five innings of work.