Altuve, Role Players Push Astros Past Braves in Series Evener

The Houston Astros have taken the lead in the World Series with a win over the Braves, evening up the series at 1-1. The game was not without drama, as Jose Altuve led his team to victory by scoring three times on four hits and driving in one run. He had help from some other role players who contributed to this important win for Houston. The Braves got some very important hits from Freddie Freeman, who drove in two runs on three hits. They also got an eight inning performance out of Mike Foltynewicz, who gave up no earned runs and struck out ten Astros batters. The game saw a clear pitcher’s duel between Justin Verlander and Sean Newcomb, as they both pitched well. Verlander gave up two runs on five hits, while striking out four in his effort. Newcomb pitched well too, giving up only one run on six hits and striking out seven batters himself. This game was about the pitching, as both teams got great games from their starters. However, the Astros’ bullpen proved to be better than that of the Braves, as they didn’t allow a run after Newcomb exited the game. The Astros’ bullpen was led by Chris Devenski and Will Harris, who each threw 2/3 scoreless innings to put this game away for Houston.

In Game 3, which takes place on Friday at 8:09 PM EST, it appears that the weather will be a big factor in how the game plays out. It has been raining throughout the entire day, which means there is a possibility of rain continuing into Friday night. For this game specifically, it begins to matter not only during what innings, but at what time the rain falls. First off, if no rain occurs before 8:09 PM, there is a good chance it will not cause any interruption to the game. This is because by 8:09, the grounds crew will have had plenty of time to get the field prepared for play. With no rain by 8:09, this game would be played under normal circumstances. However, if rain does come after 8:09 PM, one has to wonder if the rain will be light enough to clear by the time a pitching change happens. If this is not the case, it would make sense for Bud Norris to come in for whoever enters after Verlander. Then again, if there is a delay that interrupts play beyond 8:09 PM but before the ninth inning, then Marwin Gonzalez would have to enter the game in LF. The Astros have not officially announced their roster for this series, so waiting until Verlander leaves the mound before making a change is probably the best option at this time.

Prior to Game 2 of the World Series, fans watched history unfold in Game 1 when Charlie Morton became the first pitcher in MLB history to get a hit in the Fall Classic. What is even more impressive is that he drove in two runs on his single, which proved key in Houston taking Game 1 by a score of 7-2. In this game, Morton went six innings and allowed zero earned runs on only three hits while striking out 13 batters. He was dominant from start to finish, and really performed well in a win that the Astros desperately needed after being swept by the Red Sox. It was good to see Morton pitch well again after struggling throughout the regular season with injuries. Charlie had been placed on the DL twice this year, once in July for a back issue and another time in August when he suffered a hamstring injury. He still managed to pitch well when he was healthy, going 9-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 25 starts. The Astros need him back for this World Series push because he has clearly showed that he can perform on the big stage.