Astros flex offensive muscle in Game 2 win, pull even with Braves

A night after the Atlanta Braves had their way at the plate at their expense, the Astros returned the favor with a show of force on offense of their own, pounding out an emphatic 7-2 win in Game 2 of the World Series.

The Fall Classic is tied at a game apiece as the series shifts to Truist Park in Atlanta for Games 3, 4, and 5.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who entered Game 2 of the Fall Classic batting uncharacteristically below .200, finished the contest with a double and a solo home run.

MLB.com reported that Altuve’s solo shot to the Crawford Boxes on the left side of Minute Maid Park ties him with Bernie Williams in postseason home runs at 22 each.

Catcher Martin Maldonado shook off his batting woes as well, knocking a base hit to left field that had rookie centerfielder Jose Siri and first baseman Yuli Gurriel dart for home.

As for Siri, his first time at the plate produced an RBI.

Hurler José Urquidy did what starting rotation comrade Framber Valdez failed to do in the World Series opener: keep the Braves' bats in check.

ABC13 reported that Urquidy delivered five solid innings more than a week after getting shelled during Game 3 of the American League Championship Series in Boston.

The game was played with the ballpark’s roof open – which was apparently a sore spot among Astros fans – and it was the first time in 1,459 days the team won a World Series home game.

Houston won Game 5 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers before losing all four games at MMP to the Washington Nationals in the 2019 Fall Classic.

Next for the Astros is the two-fold attempt of becoming the first team to beat the Braves on their turf this postseason and shifting the series back to Houston for a Game 6.

Game 3 is on Friday at 7:09 p.m.