Facing Elimination, the Houston Astros Find Their Bats
The New York Times
A first-inning grand slam had Atlanta thinking championship, but the Astros kept fighting and sent the Series back to Houston for Game 6.
ATLANTA — Adam Duvall swung and the baseball sailed high and deep and, surely, toward the history books. The 43,122 Atlanta fans filling Truist Park, early arrivals and in the mood to party with a clinching World Series win within reach, exploded into a raucous din. They believed the grand slam, only the 21st in World Series history, signaled their divine right to celebrate.
It was the first inning.
The Houston Astros are here for a reason, too, although they hadn’t exhibited it much lately. But they finally found their offensive groove just when they needed it, facing elimination in Game 5. A shake-up in the lineup and a big day by a light-hitting catcher produced a series-saving 9-5 victory for the Astros.
