Braves Take World Series Game 1 Over Astros, But Lose Ace Charlie Morton To Injury

It started with Jorge Soler making a little history and ended with the news that starting pitcher Charlie Morton is now history himself.

In between, the Atlanta Braves did more than enough to cruise to a 6-2 victory over the Houston Astros to take a 1-0 series lead and swipe home-field advantage.

Let’s start with Soler.

All he did was become the first player to hit a home run in his first World Series plate appearance. It was the type of blast that gives a team a jolt of confidence and, in this case, set the stage for what was still to come.

Adam Duvall followed with a two-run shot in the third inning to give the Braves a cushion they would keep, chasing Astros starter Framber Valdez in the process.

As for Morton, things at first seemed OK after the veteran right-hander was struck by Yuli Gurriel’s comebacker in the second inning. He even retired the next three batters he faced, including two by way of strikeout. 

But the diagnosis turned out not to be good. Morton actually suffered a fractured right fibula and was removed in the third. He isn’t expected to recover until sometime around the start of spring training.

The Braves’ relievers did the rest, limiting the Astros to two runs. And that’s a fairly lofty accomplishment, given that the Astros had combined for 18 runs in the final two games of the ALCS.

But that’s the Braves for you. No one really expected them to be here, after winning just 88 games in the regular season and surpassing .500 for the first time late into the season — Aug. 6 to be exact.

Along the way, they had to overcame season-ending injuries to Ronald Acuña Jr. (ACL) and Mike Soroka (Achilles), and the loss of Marcell Ozuna, placed on administrative leave after allegedly assaulting his wife.

Now, Atlanta is just three wins away from its first championship since 1999.

Game 2 is Wednesday night in Houston.

Charlie Morton of the Atlanta Braves walks off the field with the help of trainer George C. Poulis in the third inning during Game 1 of the 2021 World Series. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)