Categories: MLBSports

Astros lineup changes pay off in World Series Game 5

Astros manager Dusty Baker decided to shake up his batting order for Sunday’s win-or-go-home World Series Game 5 and the switch paid off as Houston’s offense exploded for 12 hits in a 9-5 win in Atlanta on Sunday.

The win shaved the Braves’ lead to 3-2 in the best-of-seven series with Game 6 on Tuesday in Houston (8:09 p.m. ET first pitch).

With his team’s offense quiet in the previous two games, Baker moved Carlos Correa up to third, Yuli Gurriel up to fifth, and dropped the struggling Alex Bregman to seventh in the order.

Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) hits an RBI double against the Atlanta Braves during the third inning of Game 5 of the 2021 World Series.John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Correa and Gurriel combined to go 6-for-10 with three RBIs while Bregman, who was a dismal 1-for-14 in the series coming into the game, delivered an RBI double in the second that got the Astros on the board.

“Carlos swung the bat great and we got a big double out of Bregman,” Baker said after the Astros handed the Braves their first home loss of the postseason.

Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) scores against the Atlanta Braves.Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

“I’m just glad we get to go back to Houston. That was our goal today. Take it back to Houston. It’s just one game at a time now.”

Catcher Martin Maldonado plated three runs and pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez put the Astros ahead for good with a two-RBI single in the fifth inning.

The Astros hitters drew six walks and did all their damage without a home run.

Baker said his focus was on keeping the game within reach after Braves center fielder Adam Duvall hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning for a 4-0 lead.

Atlanta Braves center fielder Adam Duvall (14) hits a grand slam home run against the Houston Astros during the first inning of Game 5.Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

“I was trying to figure out a way that we could chip away and get back in that game,” Baker said.

“It was about figuring out how we could keep it at four. We had to stop them from running off on us.”

Baker said he will likely send rookie right-hander Luis Garcia to the mound on Tuesday.

“Now we’re going back home,” he added. “Still alive.”

World Series Game 6 odds

Runline

  • Astros -1.5 (-180)

Over/under total runs

  • Over 9 runs: -105
  • Under 9 runs: -115

Moneyline

  • Braves: +105
  • Astros: -125

Luis Garcia props

  • Over 3.5 strikeouts: -165
  • Under 3.5 strikeouts: +125
  • Over 12.5 outs recorded: -125
  • Under 12.5 outs recorded: -105

Max Fried props

  • Over 3.5 strikeouts: -140
  • Under 3.5 strikeouts: +105
  • Over 15.5 outs recorded: -160
  • Under 15.5 outs recorded: +120

Odds courtesy of DraftKings

 

Reuters

Recent Posts

76ers vs Knicks: Betting preview, predictions & TV Schedule

The Philadelphia 76ers are back home in Philly to take on the New York Knicks…

8 mins ago

Keep New York out of Philly: 76ers owners buy 2,000 tickets for Thursday’s game

The Philadelphia 76ers off-court strategy heading into Game 6 of their NBA playoff series is…

47 mins ago

Lightning in a Bottle: Will Shipley Ready to Contribute for Eagles

The one highlight the Philadelphia Eagles chose to broadcast of Will Shipley after they drafted…

1 hour ago

How “the Philadelphia way” has turned the Eagles into a premier franchise

The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t always been a premier franchise in the NFL. After years of…

3 hours ago

Vendor that mishandled Pennsylvania virus data to pay $2.7 million in federal whistleblower case

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press A large staffing firm that performed COVID-19 contact tracing for…

4 hours ago

House passes bill to expand definition of antisemitism amid growing campus protests over Gaza war

By FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press The House passed legislation Wednesday that would establish a broader…

4 hours ago

This website uses cookies.