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Braves Jorge Soler 1st batter to lead off World Series with HR | TribLIVE.com
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Braves Jorge Soler 1st batter to lead off World Series with HR

Associated Press
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AP
Atlanta Braves’ Jorge Soler hits a home run during the first inning of Game 1 in baseball’s World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves.
4385458_web1_4385458-c23bc8a4bcda45e897d81a0dc7f78f6c
AP
Atlanta Braves’ Jorge Soler celebrates his home run during the first inning of Game 1 in baseball’s World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves in Houston.
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AP
Atlanta Braves’ Jorge Soler celebrates his home run during the first inning of Game 1 in baseball’s World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves in Houston.

HOUSTON — Atlanta’s Jorge Soler has become the first batter ever to lead off a World Series with a home run.

Making his first start since returning from a positive covid-19 test, Soler led off the game Tuesday night with a drive to left off Houston’s Framber Valdez.

The 29-year-old Cuban took Valdez’s first two pitches for balls. Valdez then threw his third straight sinker, and with catcher Martín Maldonado set up low and outside, left the ball over the middle of the plate.

Soler, who had 14 home runs during the regular season, drove the 93.7 mph offering 382 feet, and it landed about four rows deep into the Crawford seats behind the 19-foot high left-field scoreboard.

While four batters led off the bottom of the first of a World Series opener with a home run, Soler became the first in 117 World Series to homer starting the top of the first of an opener.

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