World Series Wonder

The Braves celebrated after getting the last out of game 6, making them champions.

theguardian.com

The Braves celebrated after getting the last out of game 6, making them champions.

On Saturday, October 23, the Braves beat the Dodgers 4-2, sending them to Houston to take on the Astros in game one of the World Series. Braves fans all over the country are ecstatic as this is the first time the Braves have made it to the World Series since 1999.

In the first game, Jorge Soler became the first to lead off the World Series with a home run, quickly putting Atlanta on the board. Astros’ pitcher, Framber Valdez, was not having a good night, as he gave up an infield single to Ozzie Albies and an RBI double by Austin Riley, advancing the Brave’s lead. At the end of the second inning, Atlanta pitcher Charlie Morton took a line drive to the right leg off the bat of Yuli Gurriel. Morton was forced off the mound and announced later that he would miss the remainder of the World Series with a broken Fibula. In the top of the third, Adam Duvall hit an impressive 387-foot home run to make the score 5-0. After the homer from Duvall, the Astros make a pitching change, and Yimi Garcia is next on the mound pitching to Atlanta catcher Travis d’Arnaud. A.J Minter is the new pitcher, coming in relief for the Braves. Minter gives up a double to Michael Brantley; however, no runs scored as Atlanta’s defense is on their A-game. The Astros have runners on the corners in the bottom of the fourth, with Chas McCormick coming up to bat. He hits it to shortstop Dansby Swanson, but Swanson makes an error fielding the ball, allowing Kyle Tucker to score. The score is now 5-1 going into the fifth inning. Over the next two innings, neither team allows for a run. In the top of the eighth, Astros Pitcher Ryne Stanek walks Swanson, and with a checked swing by Soler, Dansby makes it to third. Freddie Freeman hits a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Swanson, making the score 6-1. Yordan Alvarez of the Astros hit a triple out to the center-field wall and scored on Carlos Correa’s ground out, only putting the Astros down by four going into the ninth and final inning. Will Smith closes out for the Braves, not allowing any runs. The Braves are the winners of games 1, 6-2 and lead the series 1-0. Tate Alston (12), a pitcher for the Wheeler baseball team, says, “Braves in 6.” Ben Miller (9) shares, “I think the Braves are gonna win.” The moral of the Braves winning the whole thing is remaining high going into the rest of the games.
The second game of the World Series did not go like the first. Astros pitcher Jose Urquidy does not allow a Braves hit through the first inning. Max Fried, however, gives up a double to Jose Altuve, and a well-hit fly ball to center field by Alex Bregman allows Altuve to score, putting the Astros in the lead for the first time in this World Series. The Braves have a big play in the top of the second, with Travis d’Arnaud hitting his first home run of the postseason, tying the game 1-1. Kyle Tucker scores on a slow-rolling grounder to second, and the Astros retake the lead. The next batter up is Martin Moldonado, who hits a single, allowing Gurriel to score. Maldonado then advances to third on a wild pitch by Fried, and the single by Brantley is enough for him to score. The Astros extended their lead 5-1 at the end of the second. In the top of the fifth inning, d’Arnaud hits a single, advances to second base on a passed ball, and once again moves to third on a ground out by Rosario. Freddie Freeman is at the plate and lands a single to left, allowing d’Arnaud to score. The Braves still trail 5-2. With an unfortunate error on a double play, the Astros score, making it 6-2 going into the seventh-inning stretch. Drew Smyly takes the mound for the Braves and gives up a solo home run to Altuve. Neither team scored again throughout the last two innings, making the Astros the winners of game 2, 7-2. The series is now tied 1-1. During Game 3, Rosario scores off a base hit by Freeman, putting them in the lead 1-0 in the bottom of the third. Keeping the Astros from scoring, Ian Anderson is the first rookie with five no-hit frames in a World Series since 1912. In the bottom of the eighth, the Braves catcher, Travis d’Arnaud, hits a 437-foot home run, putting the score 2-0 for the Braves. Will Smith again closes out, and the Astros fail to score, leading the Braves to another win. The Braves lead the series 2-1. Game 4 was the closest game of the series, with the final score being 3-2 Braves. Altuve hits a home run to advance the Astros lead 2-0. Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the seventh, increasing the Brave’s lead 3-2 and ending the game.

The World Series Trophy that the Braves won. (Braves Instagram)

With the Braves leading the series 3-1, they only need one more win to become the 2021 World Series Champions. Game 5 was stressful, as the Braves looked promising through the first two innings. However, the Astros started looking very good, scaring Brave’s fans. Adam Duvall hit a Grand Slam on the first pitch in the first inning, helping the Braves to a quick 4-0 lead. After that, the Astros were on fire as they quickly started putting points on the board, taking a 7-5 lead in the fifth inning. Throughout the rest of the game, the Braves were unable to score again, while the Astros were crossing home plate with ease. The Astros held the Braves 9-5, forcing a game six and closing the gap. After this game, the Braves still lead the series 3-2. Pitchers are the main players who control the game, so the team is at a disadvantage without good pitchers. Jared Locar (12) says that he thinks the games will be more “bullpen controlled” instead of starting pitcher controlled. However, Lauren Mehos (11) thinks the games will be more “starting pitcher” controlled.
Game 6 of the World Series will be remembered by Atlanta fans for years to come. In the top of the third inning, Jorge Soler hits a three-run bomb, helping the Braves take the lead in what they hope will be the last game until they are World Series champions. Dansby Swanson hits another home run, and Freeman hits a double to left-center, scoring Soler and a home run. The score is now 6-0 Braves going into the eighth inning. Tyler Matzek takes the mound in relief for Max Fried and keeps the Astros score at zero. After two innings, Will Smith is the last pitcher to come out for Atlanta and has a 1-2-3 inning as Gurriel grounds out to short, ending the game.

The Braves are now the 2021 World Series Champions, and Jorge Soler was announced MVP. GO Braves!