Astros strike back in Game 2 of the World Series against the Braves, 7-2

HOUSTON - The Houston Astros fell to the Atlanta Braves in Game 1 of the 2021 World Series but successfully looked to even up the series with Game 2. Their efforts were successful as the Astros came back with a vengeance and struck back with a 7-2 final score. 

FULL RECAP: Astros offense stalls in Game 1 of World Series

The Houston Astros started José Siri in center field instead of Chas McCormick for Game 2 of the World Series against the Atlanta Braves.

This will be the third postseason start and fourth appearance for Siri. The 26-year-old rookie didn’t play in the division series, with McCormick and Jake Meyers splitting time in center field. But he got a chance to contribute in the ALCS and in the World Series with Meyers out with a shoulder injury.

Siri, who made his MLB debut on Sept. 3, will bat eighth.

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The Astros were 51-30 in home games in 2021. Houston has a team batting average of .276 this postseason, Yordan Alvarez has led them with an average of .432, including eight extra base hits and nine RBIs.

The Braves were 46-35 on the road in 2021. Atlanta has hit 14 home runs this postseason, Freddie Freeman has accounted for three of them en route to posting a slugging percentage of .595.

The retractable roof of Minute Maid Park was closed during pregame but it was opened less than an hour before the first pitch of Game 2 of the World Series on a beautiful 75-degree night in Houston. It’s the first time it has been open this postseason.

MORE: Astros fans remain optimistic following Game 1 World Series loss

FIRST INNING:  

Eddie Rosario with the Braves was first up to bat and was struck out. This is a stark difference from the Braves home run that started Game 1. Freddie Freeman struck out, giving the Braves two outs. Now Ozzie Albies is up to bat and hit a single down the line. Austin Riley, making his second World Series start hit a single to get on base. Jorge Soler, who hit the first homer in Game 1, and despite a high flying ball into left field, was deemed a foul before striking out, ending the top of the first inning.

For the Astros, Jose Altuve came up to bat first, hitting a double. Thereby redeeming himself from striking out in Game 1. Michael Brantley followed with a flyball into center field that was caught but allowed Altuve to advance. Alex Bregman was out after hitting a ball into center field that was caught, but it helped Altuve score the first point for the Astros. Yordan Alvarez hit a line drive into right field that was caught, ending the first inning. Astros lead the Braves 1-0. 

SECOND INNING:

Adam Duvall hit one out into centerfield. Travis D'Arnaud ties the game with a homer to left field. Then Dansby Swanson hit a single and Carlos Correa committed an error. Eddie Rosario hit a line drive into right field that was caught by the first baseman, ending the top of the second inning. 

Correa comes up to bat at the bottom of the 2nd and strikes out. Kyle Tucker hits one into center field, bringing Yuli Gurriel next to the plate. After two strikes, Gurriel hit one right out through the open right side of the infield. And a hit by Siri, who reached on an infield single to second, allowing Tucker to score the second point, giving the Astros a leg up, 2-0. Next up was Martin Maldonado, singled to shallow left, Gurriel scored and so did Siri, Maldonado to second. Astros increase their lead 4-1. Altuve lines out to center, giving the Astros two outs. Michael Brantley back up to the plate and allows Maldonado to score after a base hit. The score is  5-1 Astros. Bregman grounded out to third, ending the second inning. 

THIRD INNING: 

With Urquidy pitching, Freeman is grounded out to second at the top of the third. Albies grounds out to first. Austin Riley flied out to center. 

Alvarez back up to the plate but struck out swinging. Correa hits one into left field to the heart of the defense and is grounded out to shortstop. Tucker ends the third inning after a fly-out to second. Astros continue their lead against the Braves 5-1.

FOURTH INNING:

Soler returns to the plate at the top of the fourth and results in the Braves fifth strikeout. Joc Pederson swings and misses, giving him his sixth strikeout. Next up, Duvall hits one into right but is caught by Kyle Tucker. It was certainly Urquidy's night as the Astros maintain their lead in the middle of the fourth inning. 

Gurriel up to bat at the bottom of the fourth flies it into left but is caught by Rosario. Bringing back Siri, but ended with a swing and a miss. That strikeout continued when Maldonado came up to the plate, but Astros kept the winning lead. 

FIFTH INNING: 

d'Arnaud singles out to center. Swanson then stands in and strikes out, making it the Braves seventh strikeout of the game. Rosario, in a 2-2 wild pitch, concludes his turn by getting grounded out to shortstop, moving d'Arnaud to third. Freeman next up on the plate delivers a base hit, and it's 5-2, with Astros still in the lead but Braves hoping for a comeback. Albies ends the top of the fifth after being grounded out to first. 

At the bottom of the fifth, Altuve grounded out to third, but Brantley strikes out, giving the Astros their fifth strikeout. A changeup and slider by pitcher Fried cause Bregman to strike out. Astros remain victorious 5-2.

SIXTH INNING: 

Cristian Javier begins the top of the sixth with a pitch to Austin Riley. Hoping to keep the winning rhythm demonstrated by Urquidy, Riley strikes out swinging. Soler digs into second after a hard hit into left field and cruises in with a one-out double. Bregman was unable to catch it. Pederson jammed and fouled away at the plate initially but flied out to center after a 2-2 pitch but is caught by Siri, so Soler stays where he is. Duvall up next and is struck out twice before he's fouled out by Bregman in the third. 

Alvarez is next at-bat at the bottom of the 6th as Astros maintain their lead in Game 2. Fried delivers the first walk out of the game and a base hit by Correa, singled out to left-center places Alvarez to second. Tucker next up to the plate. Fried is swapped in for Dylan Lee but not before Tucker is grounded into fielder's choice to second, Correa out at second, and Alvarez to third. Gurriel grounded left side, out at second and a safe rule is made with Alvarez scoring, Tucker to second. Astros are now at 6-2 but the call is contested briefly. Gurriel then steals second, with Tucker following up at third. Siri concludes the sixth inning with Maldonado on deck after he strikes out. However, Coach Troy Snitker makes a change before he comes up to the plate. Chavez comes into the pitch for the Braves and Maldonado is popped up behind short. Astros maintain their lead in Game 2 against the Braves 6-2. 

SEVENTH INNING: 

Braves begin the top of the seventh inning with Javier pitching to d'Arnaud and is struck out. Swanson comes up next and walks out. A pitching change is made as Rosario comes up to take the plate. Phil Maton now pitching against Rosario, who comes empty after a high fastball. Rosario manages to pop up a shallow center but is caught by Siri. Freeman hits a right into the teeth of the defense but Altuve gets the out. Astros once again keep their lead as the game gets into its seventh-inning stretch. 

Altuve steps up to the plate with Drew Smyly pitching for the Braves at the bottom of the seventh inning and scores a home run to the left. Astros now lead Game 2 against the Braves 7-2. Brantley up next doubles to right-center, while Bregman is grounded out to third. Alvarez is hit by a pitch before Correa steps up to the plate and flies the ball out to the center, but Duvall makes the catch, allowing Brantley to move to third. After a wild pitch by Smyly, Alvarez moves to second. Tucker walks and Gurriel is struck out as the seventh inning comes to a close, with the Astros still at 7-2, their biggest lead of the night. 

EIGHTH INNING:

Ryan Pressly starts off the top of the eighth inning with a pitch to Albies and walks. Riley up next, is struck out looking. Soler steps up to the plate next and hits high in the left but the ball is caught by Brantley; Albies has to get all the way back to first. Pressley is able to strike out Pederson looking and the Astros remain on top. 

Siri leads the second half of the eighth inning and is struck out. Maldonado is struck out looking as well by Braves pitcher Kyle Wright. It's up to Altuve, who was one of the stars of Game 2 with his double score and a home run, to turn it all around during this inning. However, he was also struck out looking. Astros maintain their 7-2 lead against the Braves.

NINTH INNING: 

Kendall Graveman kicks off the ninth inning by pitching to Duvall, who hits one in the left but the ball is caught by Brantley. Next up is d'Arnaud but is quickly grounded out to first. After Swanson is struck out swinging, the game is called. Final score, Astros win 7-2.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.