HOUSTON — Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler entered the record books with his first swing in Game 1.
Soler smacked a 2-0 pitch into the left field Crawford Boxes in Houston, giving the Braves a 1-0 lead one hitter into the game. The home run, which came off Astros starter Framber Valdez, was the first time a player homered in the first plate appearance of a World Series.
“I’m very happy obviously,” Soler said via team interpreter Franco Garcia. “Me and my family were both very happy. I didn’t know that (history) was a thing until I was told a little later on in the game. I wasn’t thinking about anything like that. I was just trying to get an at-bat and make contact with the ball.”
Soler’s shot was the 12th lead-off homer in a World Series game and first since Dexter Fowler’s in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. It was the Braves’ first home run in a World Series game since Chipper Jones’ shot in Game 1 of the 1999 series.
Soler became the fifth player to homer in his team’s first plate appearance. The other four were obviously done in the bottom of the first inning. Those names: Chris Taylor (2017), Alcides Escobar (2015), Dustin Pedroia (2007) and Don Buford (1969).
The home run sparked the Braves’ offense, which scored in each of the first three frames, leading to a 6-2 win. Outfielder Adam Duvall also homered in the third inning. Both of the Braves’ home runs, naturally, came from the outfielders they acquired in July.
The Braves will try to extend their lead to 2-0 with a victory Wednesday. History is already on their side: The team that takes Game 1 of the World Series has claimed the championship in 20 of the last 23 seasons.
