The 117th World Series Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves (ATLANTA LEADS, 3-2)
THE WORLD SERIES AT 3-2
• This marks the 69th time that the World Series has stood at 3-2. Of the previous 68 times, the team with the 3-2 lead has gone on to win the series 45 times (66.2%). • In addition, of the 68 occurrences, the team with 3-2 lead has won Game 6 on 26 occasions (38.2%). That has been the case in eight of the last 16 occurrences (2020 Dodgers, 2013 Red Sox, 2009 Yankees, 2003 Marlins, 1996 Yankees, 1995 Braves, 1993 Blue Jays and 1992 Blue Jays). The eight teams that were the exception in that time were the 2019 Nationals, 2017
Astros, 2016 Cubs, 2014 Giants, 2011 Rangers, 2002 Giants, 2001 Yankees and 1997 Marlins. Four of those eight (excluding the 1997 Marlins, 2014 Giants, 2017 Astros and 2019 Nationals) eventually lost the series in seven games. • Of the 42 times that a team leading 3-2 has dropped Game 6, they have gone on to win the series just 19 times (45.2%). Eleven of the last 14 teams to lose Game 6 with a 3-2 lead have gone on to lose the series. The last four teams with a 3-2 lead to lose Game 6 and win the series were the 2017 Astros, 2014 Giants, 1997 Marlins and 1975 Reds.
A FAMILIAR SITE
• Tuesday will mark the 70th Game 6 in World Series history overall.
• This marks the fourth time in five years (also 2017, 2019 and 2020), the seventh time in nine years and the eighth time in 11 years that the World Series will go at least six games (also: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020).
GAME 5 RESULTS
• The Astros are now 3-0 all-time in Game 5 of the World Series (2019-Washington Nationals; 2017-Los Angeles Dodgers). They are now 1-1 this year in Game 5s, previously defeating the Boston Red Sox in the ALCS. • The Braves are now 4-4 all-time in Game 5 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). They are now 0-2 this Postseason in Game 4s, previously falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
BRAVES AT 3-2
• The Braves find themselves leading a World Series 3-2 for the fifth time in Club history. They will look to replicate their efforts from 1995 when they defeated the Cleveland Indians over six games, and 1957 when they defeated the New York Yankees over seven games. The Braves lost to the Minnesota Twins across seven games in 1991, and the Yankees across seven games in 1958.
ASTROS AT 2-3
• The Astros find themselves down 2-3 in a World Series for the first time in franchise history.
HOUSTON’S COMEBACK
• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Astros became the fourth team in World Series history to win an elimination game after trailing by four-or-more runs. They joined the 2002 Anaheim Angels, who trailed the San Francisco Giants by five runs in Game 6; the 1925 Pittsburgh Pirates, who trailed the Washington Senators by four runs in Game 7; and the 1919 Chicago White Sox, who trailed the Cincinnati Reds by four runs in Game 6. Game 5 Postgame Notes – Sunday, October 31, 2021
ALTUVE
• Jose Altuve tallied his 21st run scored of the 2021 Postseason. That’s tied with Carlos Beltrán (2004) for the most all-time in a single Postseason.
• Altuve’s 70 career Postseason runs scored rank third in MLB Postseason history, trailing only Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (111) and Bernie WIlliams (83).
MARWIN
• Marwin Gonzalez delivered a clutch two-RBI pinch-hit in the fifth inning to give the Astros a two-run lead. It was the 37th go-ahead pinch-hit RBI in a World Series game and happened in consecutive nights, following Jorge Soler’s heroics in Game 4. It was also the second go-ahead pinch-hit RBI in Astros Postseason history, previously accomplished by Denny Walling in Game 2 of the 1981 NLDS.
TUCKER
• Kyle Tucker reached base three times with a double in tonight’s contest. He now has eight extra-base hits, five stolen bases and 15 RBI this Postseason (15 games). Tucker became the second player in MLB Postseason history to reach those totals-or-better across 15 games in a single Postseason, joining B.J. Upton (2008).
MALDONADO
• Martín Maldonado tallied three RBI in tonight’s contest. He became the first catcher in franchise history to notch three RBI in a Postseason game.
• He became the first Major League backstop to accomplish the feat since Cleveland’s Roberto Pérez in Game 1 of the 2016 Fall Classic. Maldonado became the fourth catcher to do so in a World Series potential elimination game, joining Steve Yeager (1977 G5), Hal Smith (1960 G7), Hall of Famer Yogi Berra (1956 G7) and Paul Richards (1945 G7).
CORREA/BREGMAN
• Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman both recorded extra-base hits and RBI tonight. The duo are at the top of the leaderboard in both extra-base hits and RBI in MLB Postseason history among players younger than 28-years-old. Correa paces the group with 34 extra-base hits and 59 RBI. His 34 extra-base hits are followed by Corey Seager (25), Albert Pujols (24), Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (23) and Bregman (23). Correa’s 59 RBI are followed by just Seager (36) and Bregman (36).
• Correa also ranks sixth all-time in MLB Postseason hitsory in RBI, trailing Bernie Williams (80), Manny Ramirez (78), David Justice (63), Hall of Famer Derek Jeter (61) and David Ortiz (61).
GREINKE
• Houston’s Game 4 starter Zack Greinke entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning tonight and delivered a single.
• He became the fifth pitcher (sixth time) in World Series history to tally a hit in a pinch-hit appearance, joining Jack Bentley (1923 G4 and G1), Clarence Mitchell (1920 G1), Claude Hendrix (1918 G4) and Doc Crandall (1911 G5).
DUVALL
• Adam Duvall slugged a grand slam in the first inning tonight, his second of the 2021 Fall Classic and the fifth of his Postseason career.
• It was the 21st grand slam in World Series history and the first since Alex Bregman (G4) in 2019. It was the second in Braves World Series history, previously accomplished by Lonnie Smith in Game 5 of the 1992 World Series. It was just the third to occur in the first inning, previously done by Bobby Richardson in 1960 (G3) and Elmer Smith in 1920 (G5). He became the thid center fielder to accomplish the feat, joining Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle in 1953 (G5) and Jim Northrup in 1968 (G6). Duvall became the first player to deliver a grand slam in a potential clinching Fall Classic game since Bill Skowron in Game 7 of the 1956 World Series.
FREDDIE
• After the Astros evened the score in the second inning, Freddie Freeman got the Braves back on top with a solo home run in the third. The round-tripper was his fourth of the 2021 Postseason and the eighth of his Postseason career.
• The go-ahead homer was the sixth of his Post-Sesason career, establishing a new Braves Postseason record (Hall of Famer Chipper Jones, 5).
