Braves Open World Series With 6-2 Win But Lose Ace Charlie Morton To Broken Fibula

HOUSTON — The Atlanta Braves took the first game of the World Series, beating the Houston Astros 6-2 with early scoring from hot hitting.

But the win was costly as starting pitcher Charlie Morton goes down for the season with a broken fibula from a second-inning 100-plus mph Yuri Gurriel comebacker.

The groundball ricocheted off Morton’s leg and bounced to Freddie Freeman for the second out of the inning.

Morton was able to tough it out into the top of the third inning before retiring, obviously in pain after striking out Jose Altuve. X-rays revealed the fracture, ending his postseason.

Braves officials say Morton is expected to return for spring training.

Atlanta got on the score quickly when lead-off batter Jorge Soler — in as a designated hitter for Morton as part of American League rules — took the Braves’ first at-bat yard with a solo shot to left-center field. Then Austin Riley hit a line-drive double to score Ozzie Albies from second, after an Albies stolen base.

In the top of the second inning, catcher Travis D’Arnaud scored on a Soler fielder’s choice out to Astros third baseman Alex Bregman.

Adam Duvall racked up a two-run line-drive homer to left field to score Eddie Rosario in the third inning.

Dansby Swanson scored from third base in the eighth inning on a Freddie Freeman sacrifice flyball to right field, dodging a Martin Maldonado tag at home plate. The Swanson run came after he advanced from first on a Soler swinging bunt single that Astros reliever Ryne Stanek deflected but couldn’t handle.

Chas McCormick scored Houston’s first run, driving Kyle Tucker in on an error in the bottom of the fourth as Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson bobbled a groundball single.

The Astros scored again in the bottom of the eighth inning when Yordan Alvarez tripled to the centerfield wall to start the series against Matzec. On the next at-bat, Carlos Correa grounds out to Albies at second, scoring Alvarez.

But the Braves stopped could have been an eighth-inning rally when Gurriel blasted a to the left-field wall that fell just below the home-run line. As he rounded first base heading for second, Rosario hurled the ball from deep left field to Albies to tag out a sliding Gurriel to end the inning.

Game 2 begins Wednesday at 8:09 p.m. EST, with Max Fried starting for the Braves. The 117th Fall Classic will be broadcast nationally on TV by Fox and carried by ESPN Radio with streaming on YouTube TV and Hulu Live.

See Also:

• PHOTOS: Braves and Astros Meet In World Series 2021
• Braves Head To First World Series Since 1999 With Win Over L.A.
• Braves And Atlanta Sports: Test Your Love And Take Our Survey

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