Major League Baseball

World Series 2021: Houston Astros defeat Atlanta Braves to stay alive in Game 5

Updated Nov. 1, 2021 12:49 a.m. ET

A World Series title was on the line Sunday, but instead, the series is headed back to Houston after the Braves dropped Game 5 to the Astros 9-5.

After falling behind 4-0 in the first, the Astros came roaring back to pull off the win and force a return to Minute Maid Park for at least one more game, set for Tuesday.

Here are the best plays from Game 5 of the 2021 World Series.

Houston Astros 9, Atlanta Braves 5 (Atlanta leads 3-2)

Braves' bullpen

Before Game 5, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman did their best to develop a new nickname for the "bullpen," considering that some don't approve of that baseball term.

Jake & Jordan try to coin a new name for the pitchers 'bullpen' I MLB on FOX

Jake Mintz pitches Jordan Shusterman new names to replace the pitchers' "bullpen" ahead of the Houston Astros-Atlanta Braves World Series matchup.

The baseball duo also talked to Braves fans about what it would take to bring home the trophy in Game 5.

Jake & Jordan ask Atlanta fans whether the Braves can break the 'Atlanta Curse' I MLB on FOX

Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman ask Atlanta Braves fans whether their team can break the infamous "Atlanta Curse" in Game 5 of the World Series.

Double delight

A one-out walk didn't come back to bite Braves starting pitcher Tucker Davidson, who got the call for Atlanta's "bullpen game."

With Michael Brantley on first, Davidson coaxed a double play out of Carlos Correa to put an end to the top half of the first inning.

Ain't that grand?

The hosts snagged an early lead in the bottom of the first, with a grand slam off the bat of Adam Duvall.

Duvall connected on the first pitch he saw from Astros starter Framber Valdez, sending a 95 mph sinker into right field and driving in Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley, Eddie Rosario and, of course, himself.

The fans inside and around Truist Park went bananas in response.

Fighting back

The Astros didn't hang their heads after taking the first-inning lump, answering back in the top of the second.

Following a one-out single from Yuli Gurriel and a walk from Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman slapped a double to bring Gurriel home and put the Astros on the board.

Catcher Martin Maldonado followed with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, allowing Tucker to tag up from third and cut Atlanta's lead to 4-2 before Davidson ended the inning with a strikeout of Valdez.

Continuing the rally

In the third, the Astros continued their response. Jose Altuve reached on an error by Dansby Swanson before Brantley walked. Then Correa doubled to bring in Houston's third run.

Two batters later, a Gurriel groundout made it a tie game.

Not so fast

It was a tie for just a matter of minutes, as Freddie Freeman hit his longest home run of the season to put his team back on top in leading off the bottom of the third.

Power surge

In the top of the fifth, the Astros got back to their run-scoring ways. After the bases were loaded with singles by Correa and Gurriel and an intentional walk to Bregman, Maldonado came through with a two-out, bases-loaded walk to tie the game.

Then Marwin Gonzalez singled to score Gurriel and Bregman, making it 7-5 in favor of the visitors.

The Astros followed their offensive outburst with a strong defensive showing to close out the sixth.

Lucky seven

At the top of the seventh, Maldonado singled to score Tucker, extending the Astros' lead to 8-5.

Keep 'em coming

It was more of the same in the eighth. Correa singled to bring in Altuve, whose safe call after stealing second base earlier that inning raised some eyebrows.

In the end, Houston sealed the deal on the road to force a Game 6 on Tuesday (8:09 p.m. ET on FOX).