Braves vs. Astros final score, results: Houston forces Game 6 as bats answer early Atlanta slam

Edward Sutelan

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Braves vs. Astros final score, results: Houston forces Game 6 as bats answer early Atlanta slam image

Game 5 of the 2021 World Series felt like it might be over just as quickly as it began.

After taking the wind out of the Astros' sails late in Game 4 the night before, the Braves started the potential clincher with a grand slam in the bottom of the first to take a 4-0 lead.

But the Astros wouldn't go away. They scored two in the second and two more in the third to tie the game. Freddie Freeman hit a go-ahead 460-foot solo homer in the bottom of the third, but then the Astros rattled off five unanswered runs, starting with a three-spot in the top of the fifth, to put themselves well out in front.

Houston's bullpen did the rest, as five relievers combined for 6 1/3 shutout innings. The Astros had forced a Game 6 in Houston with their 9-5 win Sunday night.

MORE: World Series schedule

Adam Duvall's grand slam in the bottom of the first got Truist Park rocking, but Houston steadily chipped away to keep the champagne bottles from being opened. Alex Bregman doubled to drive in a run in the top of the second, and Martin Maldonado added the second run of the frame with a sacrifice fly. The next inning, Carlos Correa hit an RBI double to score Jose Altuve and Yuli Gurriel grounded out to score Michael Brantley.

Freeman's homer put Atlanta back out on top, but the Braves took a gut punch in the top of the fifth when Maldonado, the Astros' No. 8 hitter, took a bases-loaded walk to tie the game. The Astros then took the lead when pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez, who had not picked up a hit since Oct. 3, blooped a two-RBI single to left.

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It was all Astros from there. Maldonado collected his third RBI with a single in the seventh and Correa picked up his second with a single in the eighth.

With the win, Houston ensured its home fans will see more World Series action at Minute Maid Park this year. The Braves know to whom they will hand the ball for Game 6 — that would be left-hander Max Fried — but there's a bit of a question mark for the Astros. Jose Urquidy was expected to get the start, but he pitched an inning in relief in Game 5, throwing 14 pitches. Houston manager Dusty Baker told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal after Game 5 that right-hander Luis Garcia "probably" will take the mound now in Game 6 on short rest.

Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights from Braves vs. Astros in the 2021 World Series. Follow below for complete results from Game 5 on Sunday night.

MORE: Watch 2021 World Series games live with fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Braves vs. Astros score

Inning 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 F
Astros 0 2 2 0 3 0 1 1 0 9
Braves 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5

Braves vs. Astros updates, highlights from 2021 World Series

(All times Eastern)

12:15 a.m.: Soler strikes out swinging, and the Astros live to fight another day.

12:13 a.m.: Pinch hitter Ehire Adrianza flies out to center for the second out.

12:10 a.m.: Swanson flies out to right to start the bottom of the ninth.

12:05 a.m. End Top Ninth: Graveman works a full count with clearly no intention to swing, but Smyly finally catches him looking to end the top half of the inning.

12:04 a.m.: Maldonado goes down swinging for the second out.

12:01 a.m.: Bregman bounces out to Riley at third.

11:57 p.m. End of Eighth: Onto the ninth as Graveman gets d'Arnaud swinging to end the inning.

11:54 p.m.: Duvall hits a slow chopper to third, leaving Bregman with only the out at first on the play. Two away with Riley at second for d'Arnaud.

11:52 p.m.: Rosario flies out to Jose Siri in center for the first out.

11:47 p.m.: Kendall Graveman is welcomed into the game by Riley with a line drive base hit right up the middle. Rosario batting with a runner on first and no one out.

11:41 p.m. End Top Eighth: Kyle Tucker flies out to left to end the top half of the eighth.

11:39 p.m.: Gurriel picks up his third hit of the night with a single up the middle. Runners on first and second with two out in the eighth.

11:38 p.m.: Alvarez swings at all three pitches and comes up empty.

11:36 p.m. Astros' scoring play: Correa drives in Altuve with a single to left, and the Astros keep piling on. Now five unanswered runs. Astros extend lead to 9-5.

11:35 p.m.: Hard hit to second by Brantley, but right to Albies for the groundout. Altuve moves up to third.

11:34 p.m.: On the appeal, Altuve is still ruled safe.

11:31 p.m.: Braves attempt a pickoff of Altuve, who takes off for second, but the throw to Freeman comes in wide. Freeman's throw to second is ruled a bit late, but they're going to review it. Looks very close.

11:30 p.m.: Altuve slaps a leadoff single through the middle to get the eighth underway.

11:26 p.m. End of Seventh: Stanek makes quick work of the top three batters in Atlanta's lineup. He caps off the seventh with a strikeout of Albies.

11:24 p.m.: Freeman grounds out to first.

11:22 p.m.: Soler flies out to left.

11:21 p.m.: Ryne Stanek has entered in the game for Houston to face the top of the order.

11:15 p.m. End Top Seventh: Smyly gets Chas McCormick swinging to strand Maldonado stranded at second.

11:12 p.m. Astros' scoring play: Maldonado delivers with an RBI single to left to drive in Tucker. He moves up to second on the throw to the plate. Astros extend lead to 8-5.

11:10 p.m.: Bregman lifts one right over the mound, and Riley comes in to make the catch.

11:09 p.m.: Tucker likes the first pitch he sees, and he doubles it down the right field line.

11:08 p.m.: Drew Smyly enters the game and immediately picks up a strikeout on Gurriel.

11:03 p.m. End of Sixth: Long run in foul territory by Bregman, who was playing around shortstop in the shift, but he reaches the popout by Pederson to end the inning.

11:00 p.m.: Swanson strikes out swinging at a high fastball. Joc Pederson will face Maton with two outs and a runner on.

10:56 p.m.: d'Arnaud reaches with a one-out single to left.

10:55 p.m.: Duvall is caught looking at a fastball by Maton for the first out.

10:49 p.m. End Top Sixth: Another night, another impressive grab by Rosario. He makes a sliding snag on a fly ball from Alvarez for the third out.

10:48 p.m.: Correa bounces out to his counterpart, Swanson, at short. Two away.

10:46 p.m.: Back on the mound for another inning, Martin gets Brantley to ground out to first to start the sixth.

10:40 p.m. End of Fifth: Rosario bounces it back to the mound. Maton puts up a scoreless frame in the fifth.

10:37 p.m.: Riley keeps swinging a hot bat as he doubles into the left-center gap with two outs. Rosario due up.

10:35 p.m.: Albies goes down swinging for the second out of the inning.

10:34 p.m.: Phil Maton enters the game for Houston, and Freeman immediately lines out to right on the first pitch he sees.

10:30 p.m. End Top Fifth: Altuve goes down swinging, but not before Houston picks up its first lead of the night.

10:27 p.m.: Chris Martin comes in to face Altuve.

10:24 p.m.: That will do it for Minter.

10:23 p.m. Astros' scoring play: Gonzalez bloops a base hit into left, and two runs come around to score. Astros take a 7-5 lead.

10:22 p.m. Astros' scoring play: Not what Braves' fans like to see. Minter walks Maldonado to tie the game. Marwin Gonzalez due up. Astros tie the game at 5-5.

10:18 p.m.: Bregman is intentionally walked, and Maldonado comes up to bat with the bases loaded.

10:18 p.m.: Tucker bounces out to first, but it's hit slow enough that the Braves can't turn two. Bregman due up with runners on second and third and two away.

10:16 p.m.: Gurriel picks up his second hit of the night as he singles up the middle. Correa stops at second, so Tucker will bat with runners on first and second.

10:14 p.m.: Breaking ball from Minter comes in through the front door, and Alvarez is caught looking at strike three.

10:11 p.m.: Correa starts the top of the fifth off with a leadoff single into center.

10:06 p.m. End of Fourth: Jose Urquidy gets Soler to bounce into a forceout to second to end the inning.

10:01 p.m.: Minter squares around to bunt, but it goes straight up in the air, and Maldonado makes the catch.

10:01 p.m.: Swanson takes a hack at a center-cut slider, but he hits it on a line right at Tucker in center for the first out. Minter will bat for himself in the bottom of the fourth.

10:00 p.m.: d'Arnaud singles up the middle to get the bottom of the fourth underway.

9:56 p.m. End Top Fourth: Minter carves up Brantley as he strikes him out on three pitches.

9:51 p.m.: Altuve flies out to right, and with Brantley due up to bat, Braves manager Brian Snitker is turning to southpaw A.J. Minter to come out to pitch.

9:49 p.m.: Interesting development. Astros' pinch hitter is last night's starting pitcher, Zack Greinke. He recorded a hit last night. And of course, he singles to right in his at-bat here.

9:48 p.m.: Albies has to range pretty far to his left and makes a low throw, but Freeman scoops it out for the out on the Maldonado grounder.

9:44 p.m. End of Third: After a 12-pitch at-bat, Yimi Garcia gets Duvall to pop out to Correa to end the inning.

9:33 p.m.: Rosario draws a walk for the second time tonight. Duvall coming up, and it looks like that will do it for Valdez.

9:31 p.m.: Riley grounds to short for the second out.

9:29 p.m.: Nice barehanded snag by Bregman on a slow roller from Albies as he's able to throw out the speedy second baseman for the first out.

9:27 p.m. Braves' scoring play: Freeman, in what potentially could be his last game at Truist Park , homers to give the lead right back to the Braves. No-doubter at 460 feet and 112 mph off the bat. Braves take a 5-4 lead.

9:21 p.m. End Top Third: Astros have made this a brand new ball game. After Tucker walks, Bregman flies out to left to end the inning, but this game is knotted up at four.

9:17 p.m. Astros' scoring play: Gurriel grounds out to short, and Brantley will score. Correa moves up to third with Tucker coming to the play. Astros tie the game at 4-4.

9:16 p.m.: Alvarez flies to left on the first pitch he sees, but it's not deep enough for Brantley to score. One away with Gurriel due up.

9:15 p.m. Astros' scoring play: Correa doubles to left-center to bring in Atluve. Brantley moves to third and Correa now at second with still no one out. Braves still lead 4-3.

9:13 p.m.: Jesse Chavez comes in to face Correa.

9:10 p.m.: Davidson's night comes to an end as he walks Brantley. Two runners on, no one out.

9:07 p.m.: Altuve reaches as Swanson has trouble fielding the grounder.

9:01 p.m. End of Second: Soler grounds out to short to end the inning.

8:59 p.m.: Davidson strikes out swinging. Back to the top of the order. 

8:58 p.m.: Dansby Swanson grounds out to Correa, who had to range to his left to make the play.

8:53 p.m. End Top Second: Valdez is caught looking at strike three, and the Astros will settle for the two runs in the second.

8:50 p.m. Astros' scoring play: The Astros keep narrowing the gap. Martin Maldonado flies out to center to move both runners up 90 feet, scoring Tucker. Framber Valdez will bat for himself. Braves still lead 4-2.

8:47 p.m. Astros' scoring play: That has to feel good for Bregman. Moved down to seventh in the order after starting the World Series 1-for-14, he lines a double into the right-center gap that scores the runner from second and puts two Astro baserunners in scoring position. Braves still lead 4-1.

8:44 p.m.: Walk for Kyle Tucker gives Alex Bregman a chance to bat with two runners on and one out.

8:41 p.m.: The AL batting champ picks up the Astros' first hit as he lines a base hit into center.

8:39 p.m.: Yordan Alvarez flies out to left on the second pitch he sees.

8:35 p.m. End of First: Travis d'Arnaud grounds out to short, but the damage is done in a major way. 

8:34 p.m. Braves' scoring play: Adam Duvall. Grand slam. What a way to get Game 5 underway in Atlanta. Braves take a 4-0 lead.

8:33 p.m.: Eddie Rosario lays off a pitch inside, and he's on with a walk. Bases loaded.

8:29 p.m.: Riley singles through the left side, and as Albies advances to third, Riley moves up to second on the throw.

8:28 p.m.: Albies rolls a slow grounder to Correa at short, who throws to second to try and start the double play, but Albies is safe on the backend. Two away with Austin Riley due up.

8:27 p.m.: Freddie Freeman skies the first pitch he sees to center, and Kyle Tucker is there to bring it in for the first out.

8:26 p.m.: Braves get going right away. Jorge Soler hits a hard grounder to third that takes a wicked hop that Alex Bregman can't pick. Soler on first with a single.

8:23 p.m. End Top First: Carlos Correa shoots one up the middle that Ozzie Albies fields. He steps on second and throws on to first for the inning-ending double play.

8:21 p.m.: Michael Brantley lays off a pitch outside to take a one-out walk.

8:18 p.m.: Altuve pops out to short for the first out.

8:16 p.m.: First pitch of the night from Tucker Davidson is a breaking ball to Jose Altuve that he takes at the top of the zone for a strike.

7:55 p.m.: 20 minutes until first pitch. Here are the starting lineups for the two teams.

World Series start time today

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 31
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET

First pitch between the Astros and Braves is set for 8:15 p.m. ET on Sunday.

How to watch the 2021 World Series

  • TV channel (U.S.): Fox
  • TV channel (Canada): Sportsnet
  • Live stream: fuboTV

All World Series games will be broadcast on Fox in the United States and on Sportsnet in Canada. On the Fox broadcast, Joe Buck will handle play-by-play with John Smoltz providing analysis in the booth and Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci reporting at field level.

Streamers can find the game on the Fox Sports Go app or by using fuboTV, which comes with a seven-day free trial.

World Series schedule 2021

Date Game Start time TV channel
Tue., Oct. 26 Braves 6, Astros 2    
Wed., Oct. 27 Astros 7, Braves 2    
Fri., Oct. 29 Braves 2, Astros 0    
Sat., Oct. 30 Braves 3, Astros 2    
Sun., Oct. 31 Astros 9, Braves 5    
Tue., Nov. 2 Braves at Astros, Game 6 8:09 p.m. Fox, fuboTV
Wed., Nov. 3 Braves at Astros, Game 7* 8:09 p.m. Fox, fuboTV

* If necessary.

Edward Sutelan

Edward Sutelan Photo

Edward Sutelan joined The Sporting News in 2021 after covering high school sports for PennLive. Edward graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019, where he gained experience covering the baseball, football and basketball teams. Edward also spent time working for The Columbus Dispatch and Cape Cod Times.