"No doubt about it, this is a great feeling. Everybody wants to be a hero," said the second-year player, who also made a key pick-off throw in the eighth inning of Sunday's game.
"That's something that you can never forget," said Lopez of his homer, a blast to straightaway center with David Justice aboard to break a 2-2 tie.
The best-of-seven series now moves to Cleveland for Games 3, 4 and, if needed, 5.
Tom Glavine got the win for pitching six innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Mark Wohlers got the save for 1 1/3 innings of relief.
Atlanta pitchers have now held the mighty Indian offense, best in the majors during the regular season, to just seven hits in two games after Greg Maddux's 3-2, two-hit win in Game 1.
Dennis Martinez, 40, who with 38-year-old catcher Tony Pena formed the oldest battery in World Series history, took Sunday's loss, giving up all four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
In the top of the second, Eddie Murray homered to left field with Albert Belle on base to put the Indians up 2-0. Atlanta scratched out two runs in the third on a hit batsman, two singles, a throwing error and a sacrifice fly.
In the sixth, Justice led off with a liner to left that one-hopped off Belle's glove, allowing Justice to take second on the error. The Braves right fielder advanced to third on Ryan Klesko's ground-out, and Lopez came to bat.
"He [Martinez] had a man on third and wouldn't want to throw a ball in the dirt," said Lopez. "So he threw it down the middle and I took advantage of it."
In the seventh, Omar Vizquel's liner to left got past Atlanta's Mike Devereaux for a two-base error, scoring Kenny Lofton. With the Indians just one run away at 4-3, and runners on the corners, Alejandro Pena came on and got Belle to foul-pop to the catcher to end the inning, the biggest out of the game.
In the eighth, Manny Ramirez singled with one out but Lopez threw to Fred McGriff at first, who picked Ramirez off to end the threat.
Braves 3, Indians 2. Maddux threw the first two-hitter in the World Series since Nelson Briles of Pittsburgh in 1971. McGriff homered and scored twice as Atlanta won Saturday in Game 1.
Maddux, headed for an unprecedented fourth straight Cy Young Award, faced just three batters above the minimum as he struck out four and walked none. He threw only 95 pitches, 63 of them strikes.
McGriff homered in the second inning to bring Atlanta even at 1-1, and walked and eventually scored the go-ahead run in the seventh as the Braves finally got to Orel Hershiser, now 7-1 in postseason play, who was matching Maddux pitch for pitch.
(For linescores, see Scorecard.)
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.