HOUSTON — Atlanta stepped into its first World Series since 1999 sharply, quickly and memorably. Jorge Soler blasted Framber Valdez’s third pitch of the game deep over the left-field fence, putting an immediate charge into the 117th World Series: It was the first time in Series history that the first batter of the game homered.
Valdez, who left a 2-0 slider up and over the plate, failed to regain his balance as Atlanta poured it on from there. Every Atlanta batter collected at least one hit by evening’s end. By the end of the third inning, Atlanta had scored five times, Valdez had been chased and the Astros were well on their way toward losing their fifth consecutive home World Series game.