World Series Game 1 – Postgame Notes
FIRST GAME WINNERS
• The winner of the first game of the World Series has gone on to win the Fall Classic 73 times (63%). That has been the case in 15 of the last 18 and 20 of the last 23 World Series beginning in 1997, with 2002 (San Francisco defeating Anaheim), 2009 (Philadelphia defeating New York), 2016 (Cleveland defeating Chicago) and 2017 (Los Angeles defeating Houston) the exceptions.
• It has also occurred in 22 of the last 27 and 27 of the last 32 Series. In addition to San Francisco, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Los Angeles, the only other exceptions in the last 31 Fall Classics were both by Atlanta, first game winners versus Toronto in 1992 and New York in 1996, but losers of each Series in six games.
• In 21 of the last 35 Series beginning in 1985, the winner of Game One of the World Series has also won Game 2, the exceptions being 1992 (Toronto over Atlanta); 1993 (Philadelphia over Toronto); 1997 (Cleveland over Florida); 2002 (Anaheim over San Francisco); 2003 (New York over Florida); 2006 (Detroit over St. Louis); 2008 (Tampa Bay over Philadelphia); 2009 (New York over Philadelphia); 2011 (Texas over St. Louis); 2013 (St. Louis over Boston); 2014 (Kansas City over San Francisco); 2016 (Chicago over Cleveland); 2017 (Houston over Los Angeles); and 2020 (Tampa Bay over Los Angeles).
GAME ONE RESULTS
• The Astros are now 0-4 all-time in Game 1 of the World Series (2019-Washington Nationals; 2017-Los Angeles Dodgers; and 2005-Chicago White Sox). They are 2-1 this year in Game 1s, previously defeating the Chicago White Sox in Game 1 of the ALDS and the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALCS.
• The Braves are 7-3 all-time in Game 1 of the World Series (1999-New York Yankees; 1996-New York Yankees; 1995-Cleveland Indians; 1992-Toronto Blue Jays; 1991 Minnesota Twins; 1958-New York Yankees; 1957-New York Yankees; 1948-Cleveland Indians; 1914-Philadelphia Athletics). They are 2-1 this Postseason, previously losing to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS and defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
SOLER
• Jorge Soler began Game 1 of the 117th Fall Classic with a leadoff home run, his first of the 2021 Postseason and the fourth of his Postseason career. It was his first career World Series round-tripper.
• Soler became the first player in World Series history to club a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning in Game 1. Overall, it marked the 12th leadoff round-tripper in the top of the first inning of a World Series game, most recently accomplished by Dexter Fowler in Game 7 of the 2016 Fall Classic.
• He became the fifth player in World Series history to homer in his team’s first plate appearance, joining Chris Taylor (2017), Alcides Escobar (2015), Dustin Pedroia (2007) and Don Buford (1969).
• The 29-year-old also became the first designated hitter to record a leadoff home run in a World Series game.
• Soler became 11th Cuban-born player in World Series history to homer, joining Yordan Alvarez, Sandy Amoros, Randy Arozarena, Bert Campaneris, Jose Canseco, Yuli
Gurriel, Tony Oliva, Hall of Famer Tony Perez, Yasiel Puig and Zoilo Versalles. • 2021 marks the fifth straight World Series to feature a home run by a Cuban-born player (2017-21) after not having occurred since 1990. • Soler delivered the 41st World Series home run in Braves history and the first since Hall of Famer Chipper Jones in Game 1 of the 1999 Fall Classic.
STREAKING BRAVES
• Ozzie Albies collected a pair of hits, one stolen base and run scored in his World Series debut. Albies is on a 10-game hitting streak dating back to Game 2 of the NLDS against the Brewers. Eddie Rosario notched a pair of hits, extending his hitting streak to 11 games dating back to Game 1 of the NLDS.
• Rosario and Albies’ streak rank third and fourth-longest in franchise Postseason history, trailing only Marquis Grissom (15, 1995-96) and Mark Lemke (13, 1996).
• Albies is also riding an eight-game streak with a hit and run scored dating back to Game 4 of the NLDS. That is tied for the third-longest in MLB Postseason history, as well as the longest in franchise history with Fred McGriff (1995). Carlos Beltrán (2004) and Hall of Famer Babe Ruth (1927-32) hold the record with nine consecutive such games.
• Rosario also notched his fourth consecutive multi-hit game tonight, tied for the third-longest such streak in franchise history with Eddie Perez (1999), Grissom (1995 and 1996), McGriff (1993) and Lemke (1991). Lemke (1996) and Otis Nixon (1992-93) hold the Club record with five straight multi-hit Postseason games.
A TEAM EFFORT
• All Braves starters notched at least one hit tonight. They became the first team to have all nine starting players deliver at least one hit in a World Series game since the Kansas City Royals in Game 6 of the 2014 Fall Classic. It marks the 25th such effort overall in World Series history, and the third in franchise history, previously accomplished in Game 3 of the 1999 World Series and Game 5 of the 1948 Fall Classic. However tonight was the first time in MLB history that this has been accomplished in Game 1 of a Fall Classic.
ODORIZZI
• Jake Odorizzi provided critical relief for the Astros tonight, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings with five strikeouts while allowing just one hit and not permitting a walk.
• Odorizzi became the sixth relief pitcher in World Series history to pitch at least 2.1 innings with five-or-more punchouts while not allowing more than one
baserunner, joining Tim Lincecum (2012 WS G1), Sterling Hitchcock (2001 WS G1), Criag Lefferts (1984 WS G2), Stan Williams (1963 WS G1) and Allie Reynolds (1949 WS G4).
TUCKER
• Kyle Tucker batted 2-for-3 with a double and run scored tonight. His 30 career Postseason hits are tied with Yadier Molina for eighth-most all-time prior to turning 25-years-old. Hall of Famer Derek Jeter holds the MLB Postseason record with 41 hits before his 25th birthday.
BRANTLEY
• Michael Brantley notched the fourth three-hit game of his Postseason career, and his second of the 2021 Postseason (also ALDS G4). It was also his second career World Series three-hit game, tied with Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve for most in Club history.
ALVAREZ
• Reigning ALCS MVP Yordan Alvarez logged his second consecutive game with a triple tonight. He became the 16th player in MLB Postseason history to register consecutive games with a triple, and the first since Ezequiel Carrera in 2016. Across Postseason history, only Chick Stahl has posted a streak of three such games. Alvarez became the first designated hitter in Postseason history to accomplish the feat. He became the first player in franchise history to record multiple career Postseason triples.
SCORE FIRST
• The Braves tallied a pair of first-inning runs en route to their victory tonight. Teams scoring first in the 2021 Postseason are now 25-7.
FIRST INNING RUNS
• Tonight’s contest featured two first inning runs, marking a streak of six consecutive World Series games in which a run was scored in the first inning dating back to Game 2 of last year’s Fall Classic.
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this marks just the fifth time in World Series history that there has been such a streak of six-or-more games. Previous streaks of six games occurred from October 28, 2007-October 27, 2008; October 3, 1953-October 1, 1954; and October 10, 1931-October 3, 1933. A streak of seven games has happened only once, occurring from October 5, 1927-October 7, 1928.
