October 27, 2021
1. In case you missed it, the highlights from Game 1 of the World Series
The Braves took the lead in the first minute of the game, on the first-ever leadoff home run in Game 1 of a World Series, by the great (and ex-Cub) Jorge Soler, and from then on it was all Atlanta.
The Braves tacked on another in the first, with an RBI double by Austin Riley, and then in the second inning added another:
Followed by the brilliant speed of Ozzie Albies down the line to first:
And then, the dagger. Third inning, Adam Duvall at the plate — the guy who was a Brave last year, then wasn’t a Brave (a temporary Marlin), then who returned to the Braves this summer and there he was, launching a two-run HR into the seats in left.
The bullpen carried them the rest of the way, the Astros committed a slew of blunders in the infield and on the basepaths, and just like that the series is 1–0 in Atlanta’s favor, with Game 2 tonight.
2. Charlie Morton, heroically, pitched on a broken leg
He started the game perfectly for the Braves, got hit by a comeback line drive in the lower leg, and (apparently with a broken bone the entire time after that), continued to pitched, dominate, and end his night with a strikeout of Jose Altuve.
On a broken leg.
Here’s the moment he left the game, after the strikeout:
Absolutely unreal, legendary stuff from Charlie Morton — and sadly (but understandably), he’ll miss the rest of the series.
3. The Braves broke a World Series losing streak, after eight straight L’s
In 1996, after being up 2–0 over the Yankees, they lost the next four. And in 1999, against the Yankees again, they were swept. And so for the first time in 25 years, the Braves have a W in the World Series.
4. Worth the watch: Bill Murray narrating a pregame video on FOX
5. Ozzie Albies won everyone in America a free taco
Oh what a glorious night of baseball it truly was:
6. Eddie Rosario continued one of the hottest postseason runs of all time
Two more hits last night.
And then, late in the game, a brilliant assist from the outfield to gun down Yuli Gurriel trying to hustle into second base:
7. Ronald Acuña Jr. was in the dugout enjoying the whole thing
One of the biggest 4–5 stars in baseball, out for the year early on, and then against all odds his team turns things around and goes on this run. He’d missed a lot of the earlier games while rehabbing, but now there he is:
With some news, today, about his potential return next year:
8. Yesterday’s sports headline in The Onion was perfect
9. Elsewhere in baseball, some good news and bad news
The bad news first, MLB might be facing a work stoppage next season, or at the very least an offseason of contentious negotiations, none of which will be fun to follow.
And the good news, for Oaklanders at least, there might be a path for the A’s to say in town, with progress on that front over the last two days:
10. David Ortiz was frightened by a cockroach
Big Papi gets downgraded to little Papi.
11. The odd baseball stat of the day: The World Series home game losing streak
Last night, the road team won. In 2020, there were no true home games in the World Series. In 2019, it went seven games and every single home game was a loss (the Nationals won all four games in Houston, the Astros won all three in Washington). In 2018, the Red Sox won the last two games of that series at Dodger Stadium. And so, the streak continues.
12. Game 2 is tonight at 8:09 ET
The roof will be open. Max Fried vs. Jose Urquidy.
Once again, let’s go Braves.
13. And lastly, the fashion highlights from Game 1
Do hat-brim adjustments count as fashion choices?
Finally, loose-fitting suits and strange hair appears to be the sartorial vibe for baseball reporters in 2021.
