(Atlanta) Austin Riley hit a one-run double, Travis d’Arnaud added a homerun and the Atlanta Braves beat the Houston Astros 2-0 on Friday to take the lead 2-1 in the World Series.
Riley hit his double along the third base line in the third, scoring Eddie Rosario.
Five innings later, Arnaud’s wide receiver sent the ball past center field, hitting a second home run in two games. The “Tomahawk Chop” reigned again, among the supporters of the Braves.
Game four will take place on Saturday night at Truist Park.
The Astros’ first hit came only in the eighth, a lucky single from alternate hitter Aledmys Diaz, the first batter in the inning.
Ian Anderson struck out four batters in five innings, with three walks and one batter hit. He made 76 shots.
AJ Minter settled the sixth, but he also hit a batter.
Luke Jackson and Tyler Matzek threw one round each, then Will Smith got the save.
Smith conceded a first single to first hitter to face him, Alex Bregman. Balloons, however, settled the cases of Yordan Alvarez, Carlos Correa and Kyle Tucker.
Alvarez patrolled left field: he was the American Championship Series MVP, against Boston.
He was the hitter of choice in the first two games of the World Series, hitting one hit in five at-bat.
The only game without a point or a hit in the World Series came in 1956: Don Larsen of the Yankees’ perfect match against Brooklyn.
Atlanta had two runners on base in the second but Anderson was the last out of the set, struck out at bat.
The Braves most recently competed in the World Series in 1999, being swept away by the New York Yankees.
As an Atlanta-based squad, the Braves won the Fall Classic in 1995 at the expense of the Cleveland Indians.
The 2017 edition of the World Series ended with a first triumph for the Astros.
Ahead of the game, the Braves honored the late Hall of Fame member Hank Aaron in a ceremony that included his wife Billye.
Following the American anthem, the Braves paid a video tribute to Aaron, showing highlights from his career.
Aaron died on January 22, at the age of 86.
In addition, the Braves pitcher Charlie Morton underwent surgery on his right fibula, following an injury sustained while raising the curtain in the Fall Classic.
The Dr Robert Anderson performed the operation Thursday in Green Bay, in connection with an arrow hit by Yuli Gurriel.
Atlanta expects Morton to recover in time for the next training camp.
The right-hander is expected to be around the club this weekend.