HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 26: Dansby Swanson #7 of the Atlanta Braves slides in safely past Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros to score a run on sacrifice fly during the eighth inning in Game One of the World Series at Minute Maid Park on October 26, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
By Mike Hayes and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN
From CNN's Mike Hayes
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.
From CNN's Mike Hayes
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.
From CNN's Karl de Vries
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.
From CNN's Karl de Vries
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.
From CNN's Karl de Vries
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.
From CNN's Mike Hayes
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.
From CNN’s Michael Warren and Jill Martin
Former President Donald Trump plans to attend Game 4 of the World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta on Saturday, a person close to Trump told CNN.
Atlanta Braves CEO Terry McGuirk told USA Today on Wednesday that Trump will not be sitting with team or MLB officials and that the Braves will give Trump his own suite.
“He called MLB and wanted to come to the game,’’ McGuirk told the paper. “We were very surprised. Of course, we said yes.’’
Some context: Trump attended the World Series in 2019 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC, when the Nationals were hosting the Astros in Game 5.
From CNN's Karl de Vries
A leadoff single in the top of the 5th by Braves catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to third after a groundout by Eddie Rosario, leads to an Atlanta run after Freddie Freeman’s 2-out RBI single.
5-2 Astros midway through the 5th.
From CNN's Mike Hayes
Jose Urquidy is dealing for Houston in Game 2 of the World Series.
So far, he’s struck out six Braves batters through four strong innings.
Astros lead 5-1 heading to the bottom of the 4th.
