Wednesday was the Astros vs Braves Game 2. The Houston Astros needed a strong pitching performance from Jose Urquidy and that is exactly what they got. The Astros defeated the Atlanta Braves 7-2 to even up the World Series at one game apiece. Urquidy, who only threw 76 pitches, went five innings and allowed two runs on six hits while striking out seven to pick up the win. The series now shifts to Atlanta and Truist Park for games three, four, and five this weekend.
Urquidy pitched on eight days’ rest and pitched well. Houston needed it after Framber Valdez lasted only three innings in Game 1, causing the bullpen to enter the game early. After Urquidy exited, the aforementioned bullpen took over again. They were nearly flawless as they only allowed one hit. Christian Javier relieved him in the sixth inning and went one and ⅓ innings. Phil Maton would finish off the seventh and Ryan Pressley and Kendall Graveman would pitch the eighth and ninth.
Game Recap
The Astros got the scoring started in the first. Jose Altuve led off the game with a double and then advanced to third on a flyout by Michael Brantley. Alex Bregman would bring him in on a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0. Atlanta would tie the game when Travis d’Arnaud hit a solo home run in the second. The Astros would answer by scoring four in the bottom half of the second. After back-to-back singles by Kyle Tucker and Yuli Gurriel, Jose Siri would reach on an infield single to bring in Tucker for a 2-1 Astros lead.
Martin Maldonado would follow with a single of his own to left-field to score Gurriel. Siri would score on a throwing error by right fielder Eddie Rosario to make it 4-1. Maldonado would score on a Michael Brantley single to right to make the score 5-1. The Astros would add one run in the 6th when Yordan Alvarez scored on Gurriel’s fielder’s choice to make it 6-2. Jose Altuve would hit a solo home run in the 7th to make it 7-2.
Urquidy Makes History
With his second career World Series victory, Urquidy became the first Mexican pitcher to record multiple victories in World Series history. He passed Los Angeles Dodger great Fernando Valenzuela who picked up a win in the 1981 World Series. Aurelio Lopez who got one with the 1984 Detroit Tigers, and Victor Gonzalez who was the winning pitcher for the Dodgers in the series clincher last season against the Tampa Bay Rays. All three had recorded one win.
He is now 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three career appearances. He could make another start in this series if it goes more than six games.
Notes
- Houston will now head to Atlanta with the series even at one. Luis Garcia will start Game 3 for the Astros. Ian Anderson will start for the Braves.
- Game 4 could be a bullpen game for both teams. Look for the Astros to do what they did in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Boston Red Sox. and open with Zack Greinke.
- Since games 3-5 are in a National League park, there will not be a designated hitter. The outfield will likely be Yordan Alvarez in left, Kyle Tucker in center, and Michael Brantley in right.