Atlanta Defeats Houston for First World Series Title in 26 Years

What seemed impossible at the All-Star Break has become a reality for the Atlanta Braves.

For the first time in 26 years, the city of Atlanta and the Braves will hoist the World Series trophy defeating the Houston Astros in six games. Atlanta defeated the Astros in games one, three, four, and six, winning the final matchup 7-0. Jorge Soler was named World Series MVP after going six-for-20 with three home runs and six runs batted in.

Facing elimination the Astros sent Luis Garcia to the mound. Garcia breezed through his first two innings striking out Soler, Freddie Freeman, and Austin Riley on the way. But in the third, Soler would get his revenge.

Ozzie Albies – who was dropped to seventh in the batting order before game six – lead off the third inning with a single. NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario joined him on base with a two-out walk. Soler and Garcia battled for seven pitches until an 83 mile per hour cutter was sent a country mile over the train tracks in left field, giving Atlanta a 3-0 lead it wouldn’t relinquish.

Meanwhile Max Fried wouldn’t stumble a second time. The game two starter entered game six with a 10.80 ERA after allowing six runs over five innings. Fried made the longest start of any Atlanta starting pitcher in the World Series at six innings. The most trouble he ran into was a single and fielding error giving Houston two runners on with zero outs in the bottom of the first.

Fried allowed four singles on the way. Jose Altuve, Martin Maldonado, Carlos Correa, and Michael Brantley had the hits. The Astros grounded into double plays after Maldonado and Correa reached.

The Braves weren’t finished after Soler’s home run. They tacked on three more runs in the fifth. Christian Javier was pitching his second inning of relief. He walked Albies to start the inning then struck out Travis d’Arnaud.

Dansby Swanson, the Braves nine-hole hitter, sent another Houston Astro pitch into left field. A two-run home run, making it a 5-0 game. But Atlanta wasn’t done. Soler walked with two outs to put the former MVP Freeman at the plate. Freeman doubled to score Soler.

In World Series elimination games, no team had ever come back from a six-run deficit. That stat remained true. Because Freeman put the Braves up seven in the seventh with a solo home run.

With Fried out, the Braves went to the relievers that carried them throughout the playoffs.

Tyler Matzek started the closing innings with two flyouts and a strikeout of Alex Bregman. Braves manager Brian Snitker let his rubber-armed lefty stay in for the eighth. Matzek struck out Aldemys Diaz, Marwin Gonzalez, and Altuve. Snitker made the right choice.

Matzek finishes his playoffs with 13 appearances in 16 games. He allowed runs in two appearances while striking out 24 in 15.2 innings.

Three outs to go, enter Will Smith. Perfect in save opportunities this postseason, he was perfect once again. Correa and Alvarez flew out.

Yuli Gurriel put one final ball in play, a ground ball to short. Who else would be more deserving than Freeman to catch the final out?

Shutting out the Astros, the Braves become the 2021 World Series Champs, thus ending the 2021 baseball season.