It is the chance for Atlanta to party like it’s 1995 – the last time the Braves won a World Series title. Sunday night, these 2021 Braves have the chance to close-out the Astros in five games.
“We’ve had to grind and earn every bit of everything that we’ve had, and I feel that’s a little bit of what’s made it so special and the chemistry’s so unique because we’ve all been through it together,” said Dansby Swanson late Saturday night, after the Braves’ comeback win.
Swanson delivered a game-tying home run in the game helping to lead to a 3-2 victory over the Astros in Game-4.
Certainly, not many people at all would have projected the Braves to make the World Series – much less the postseason – after scuffling for more than half the season with a record below .500. Injuries and other misfortune were in the mix, but then a flurry of late July trades changed the trajectory. Combined with other lineup regulars and the pitching steadying the ship, Atlanta went on a big run to claim the N.L. East. Now it’s been this postseason run, which includes a 7-0 record at home inside Truist Park.
With a 3 games to 1 lead in the World Series now, is manager Brian Snitker confident? “I don’t know how confident I am. I’m glad we are…quite honestly I’d rather be up three than down three I guess, but…I’ve been around too long to get ahead of myself.”
For this Game-5, the Atlanta pitching start goes to lefthander Tucker Davidson. This will be the second night in a row the Braves will turn to a rookie to make his first postseason start in a World Series game. Lefthander Framber Valdez throws for Houston. Braves’ hitters touched him up for 5 runs and 8 hits in Game-1.
First pitch is 8:15 at Truist Park.
Stay with WSB for full postgame coverage on Monday’s Atlanta’s Morning News.