Astros overcome early grand slam to win Game 5, force World Series back to Houston

Halloween is associated with the macabre, and the Astros had a scare of their own at the beginning of Game 5 of the World Series when Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall blasted a grand slam.

However, the Braves’ early 4-0 lead and the loud Truist Park crowd all set to celebrate Atlanta’s first professional sports championship in 26 years — the 1995 Fall Classic crown to be exact — failed to deter the Astros, who rallied to win 9-5 and force a Game 6 at Minute Maid Park Nov. 2 at 7:09 p.m.

The Braves still have the series edge at three games to Houston’s two, attempting to become the third team to celebrate a title clinch in Houston after the 2005 Chicago White Sox and the 2019 Washington Nationals.

"I always say, if it's going to happen, let it happen early," Astros manager Dusty Baker said, MLB.com reported. "You don't want it to happen in the middle of the game or toward the end of the game. The guys came through. That's what counts.”

Catcher Martin Maldonado, one of the team's worst hitters, had three RBIs to help steer Houston's successful comeback attempt.

Alex Bregman's demotion to seventh in the batting order was a result of his struggles at the plate, but the third baseman, like Maldonado, rebounded with his own RBI, according to MLB.com.

Batting third in Bregman's place was soon-to-be free agent shortstop Carlos Correa, who also hit poorly throughout the Fall Classic, but hugely factored in the victory going 3-for-5 with two RBI.

The Astros ended the night with 12 swats.

Doomed in Game 4 by their failure to capitalize on runners in scoring position, the Astros sent five players home at least once, according to ABC13.

The Astros recover homefield advantage, with pushing the series to a Game 7 the next thing on the team’s to-do list.

Baker announced that rookie hurler Luis Garcia will take the bump for the second time in four days.