Braves Make Statement Winning Game 1 of ’21 World Series

Jorge Soler became the first player to open a World Series with a lead-off homer and the Atlanta Braves stunned the Houston Astros 6-2 in Game 1 of the Fall Classic.

The Braves, who won 88-games in the regular season, picked up where they left off in the NLCS, pounding the baseball in the early innings to put Houston in a hole it couldn't get out of.

After Soler's homer to left, Ozzie Albies singled and later scored on a double by Austin Riley to give Atlanta an early 2-0 lead.

Atlanta wasn't done tacking on the runs. Soler earned another RBI on a ground out in the top of the second to drive in former Met Travis d'Arnaud to make it 3-0.

Finally in the top of the third, Adam Duvall launched a Framber Valdez pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run. 5-0 Braves.

While Atlanta poured it on on the scoreboard, not all was right for the Braves. Starting pitcher Charlie Morton left the game in the third inning after fracturing his fibula when he took a 102-mph line drive off his shin in the bottom of the second inning. Morton tried to pitch through pain, facing three more batters --- retiring them all --- before he was lifted.

Morton will not pitch again this series. That is a huge loss for Atlanta. Morton has been a warrior for the team, posting a record of 14-6 with a 3.14 ERA, while striking out 216 batters this season. He also has a World Series ring from his time with the Astros in 2017, so he was the perfect guy to have on the mound for Atlanta to open the series.

A.J. Minter pitched the next 2.2 innings in relief for Atlanta, holding the Astros to just a run on three hits.

Framber Valdez, who got the start for the Astros, was charged with five runs on eight hits over two innings of work.

Max Fried will get the start for Atlanta on Wednesday night against Jose Urquidy for Houston. First pitch after 8:09 p.m.