(CNN)The Houston Astros kept their dreams of a World Series championship alive after beating the Atlanta Braves 9-5 in Game 5 on Sunday.
The Braves, who still lead the series 3-2, would have clinched the title with victory in front of their home fans but faced a revamped Astros batting order that looked determined to extend its season.
Houston veteran manager Dusty Baker's decision to switch things up was vindicated after shortstop Carlos Correa, bumped up to third in the batting order, came through with three hits and a pair of RBIs.
Meanwhile, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, who moved up to fifth after hitting seventh in Game 4, had three hits of his own and scored two runs. In total, the Astros tallied a dozen hits.
"We don't worry about what other people say or what they think. It's what you think of yourself and what you think of each other on the team that really counts," Baker said after the match, when asked about those who had counted them out of the series already.
"These guys are together, they've been through many of these battles and so they don't know how to quit and they are always looking for an edge or an opening.
"Fortunately, tonight we took advantage of some."
The Braves, seeking their first championship since 1995, opened the scoring in explosive fashion with Adam Duvall hitting a grand slam in the first inning.
But the Astros quietly chipped away, ultimately drawing even at 4-4 after a Gurriel groundout in the top of the 3rd.
Veteran first baseman Freddie Freeman then put the Braves back in front, launching a massive 460-foot home-run into the seats.
Freeman's blast marked the longest home run by any player in the 2021 postseason, but it also represented the host's final scoring play of the evening.
Houston, however, were far from done and scored three times in the top of the 5th, with pinch-hitter Marwin Gonzalez's two-out, two-run single giving the Astros their first lead of the game.
The Astros then added an insurance run in the seventh with catcher Martin Maldonado's third RBI of the night, and one more in the eighth with Correa's single which plated second baseman Jose Altuve.
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Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve celebrate winning Game 5 of the World Series early Monday, November 1, in Atlanta.
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Members of the Atlanta Braves watch during the ninth inning.
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Astros third baseman Alex Bregman throws to first base for the out during Game 5 on Sunday, October 31.
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Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker slides into home plate safely past Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud during the seventh inning.
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Braves pitcher A.J. Minter bunts during the fourth inning on Sunday.
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Martin Maldonado of the Astros catches a pop fly during the fourth inning of Game 5.
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Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman high fives third base coach Ron Washington after hitting a solo home run on Sunday. Freeman's 460-foot home run to right-center is his longest of the season, and tied for the biggest smash of his career.
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Adam Duvall of the Atlanta Braves hits a grand slam home run during the first inning of Game 5.
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Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies dives into third past Astros third baseman Alex Bregman advancing on a double by Austin Riley on Sunday.
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Braves closer Will Smith celebrates the teams 3-2 win against the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta on Saturday, October 30. Smith pitched a perfect 9th inning.
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Adam Duvall and Eddie Rosario of the Atlanta Braves celebrate in the eighth inning after Rosario caught a fly ball hit by the Astros' Jose Altuve.
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Braves pinch hitter Jorge Sole is congratulated by Freddie Freeman after hitting a home run to put Atlanta up 3-2. it came right after teammate Dansby Swanson hit a home run.
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Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run to tie the game in the seventh inning. It was his first homer of the 2021 postseason.
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Braves third baseman Austin Riley hits an RBI in the sixth inning.
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Members of the Atlanta Braves participate in a Stand Up To Cancer campaign at the end of the fifth inning.
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Kyle Tucker of the Astros steals second base before advancing to third as Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies misses the ball in the fifth inning.
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Jose Altuve of the Astros is congratulated by teammate Alex Bregman after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning.
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Former NFL star Herschel Walker, who is running for a US Senate seat in Georgia, interacts with former first lady Melania Trump and former President Donald Trump prior to Game 4. Trump's support of Walker, which came initially over reservations from much of the GOP establishment, has given the former running back a boost ahead of next year's primary.
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Carlos Correa of the Astros turns a double play as the Braves' Eddie Rosario slides into second base on Saturday.
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Fans take photos of the starting lineup board before Game 4 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
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Will Smith of the Braves celebrates with Dansby Swanson after closing out the 2-0 win against the Astros in Game 3 of the World Series on Friday, October 29.
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The Astros' Jose Siri is safe at second after the Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson missed the throw during the eighth inning.
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Astros' Alex Bregman reacts after getting hit by a pitch during the sixth inning.
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Travis d'Arnaud of the Braves is greeted by third base coach Ron Washington after hitting a solo home run in the eighth inning.
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Fans hold up phone lights during a pitching change.
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Austin Riley of the Braves hits an RBI double during the third inning.
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Jose Altuve of the Astros reacts after striking out during the third inning.
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Michael Brantley of the Astros fails to catch a double, hit during the second inning.
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The wife of the late Hank Aaron, Billye Aaron, is seen on the field during a tribute to Hank Aaron prior to the start of Game 3.
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Members of the Atlanta Braves stand on the base path during the singing of the national anthem prior to Game 3.
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Carlos Correa and Jose Altuve of the Astros celebrate the team's 7-2 win against the Braves in Game 2 of the World Series on Wednesday, October 27, in Houston.
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Michael Brantley of the Astros catches a fly ball against the Braves during the eighth inning of Game 2.
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Braves' Joc Pederson argues a call with home plate umpire Ron Kulpa during the eighth inning in Game 2.
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Jose Altuve of the Astros celebrates after hitting a home run in Game 2.
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Fans cheer during Game 2.
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Fans wave rally towels during Game 2.
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Braves starting pitcher Max Fried is relieved during the sixth inning of Game 2.
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Astros centerfielder Jose Siri celebrates after scoring a run against the Braves in Game 2.
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Astros' Kyle Tucker is safe at second on a fielding error by Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the sixth inning in Game 2.
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Braves' Travis d'Arnaud watches his home run during the second inning in Game 2.
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Fans arrive at Minute Maid Park where the roof on the stadium was open for Game 2 on Wednesday.
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From left, the Braves' Eddie Rosario, Guillermo Heredia and Adam Duvall celebrate after defeating the Astros in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday, October 26, in Houston.
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The Braves' Dansby Swanson slides in safely past the Astros' Jason Castro to score a run on a sacrifice fly during the eighth inning in Game 1.
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The Braves' Jorge Soler became the first player to hit a home run in the first plate appearance of a World Series.
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A scoreboard worker watches during the seventh inning of Game 1.
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Yuli Gurriel attempts to field the ball against the Braves during the fourth inning in Game 1.
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The "rally nuns" cheer during the third inning in Game 1.
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Astros catcher Martin Maldonado stands at home plate as the Braves' Adam Duvall celebrates after a two-run home run during the third inning of Game 1.
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Fans watch the first inning of Game 1 in Houston's Minute Maid Park.
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The Astros' Framber Valdez reacts after loading the bases during the second inning of Game 1.
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The Astros and the Braves line up for the national anthem prior to the first pitch of Game 1 in Houston.
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The loss marks the Braves' first defeat at home this postseason, and if Atlanta is to win the World Series, they'll be forced to do so in enemy territory.
Both Game 6 on Tuesday, and if necessary, Game 7 will be held in Houston.
"You always love to do it here. I'll take it anywhere," Braves manager Brian Snitker said on missing the chance to clinch the series in front of home fans.
"I don't care where we're at. If we win the World Series, it doesn't matter where it is. I'd have loved to have done it in front of our fans.
"Hopefully, we can do it the next couple of days."
With the latest win, the Astros will be hoping to lean on their home crowd to become just the 15th team in MLB history to rally from a 3-1 deficit and win a best-of-seven postseason series.
Houston Astros comes back to keep World Series alive after beating Atlanta Braves in Game 5 - CNN
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