(Houston) Twenty-six years later, the Braves are once again at the top of Major League Baseball.
Jorge Soler and Dansby Swanson hit homers, Max Fried was outstanding and Atlanta won 7-0 on Tuesday to win the World Series in six games at the expense of the Houston Astros.
This victory is also the most prestigious chapter in the history of Quebecer Alex Anthopoulos, who in 20 years has gone from volunteering at the Montreal Expos to general manager and president of baseball operations for the champions.
Anthopoulos should receive a lot of credit for this triumph, especially for the acquisition of Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario and Jorge Soler during the season. All three played a big part in the victory, especially Soler, who was chosen as the MVP.
Read “Alex Anthopoulos: The Quebecer Who Conquered Major League Baseball”
In the celebration on the ground, however, impossible to find the Montrealer. Some media reported that he stayed at home in Georgia, struggling with COVI-19.
The Braves had most recently competed in the World Series in 1999 when they were swept away by the New York Yankees.
As an Atlanta-based roster, the Braves won the World Series in 1995 at the expense of the Cleveland Indians.
Once again, the celebration took place in an opposing stadium. The last time the World Series was won by a home club was in 2013, when Boston converted the opportunity.
“We’ve had every possible problem, every obstacle this year,” said veteran Freddie Freeman, who produced his last two points. Injuries and whatever. We overcame it all. ”
Ozzie Albies and Eddie Rosario were on base with a single and a walk on the Soler homer in third.
Two innings later, Swanson slammed another four-goal stroke, after a walk awarded to Albies. Also in fifth, Freeman produced one more run with a double, before hitting a solo homerun in seventh.
PHOTO JEROME MIRON, USA TODAY SPORTS
Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates
Swanson hit a home run at the expense of Cristian Javier-like in Game 4.
Soler, a 29-year-old Cuban, hit his third long ball since the start of the series.
The bullet traveled very far beyond left field (446 feet, by calculation). Soler was also named the MVP of the World Series.
Only one other Cuban had this honor: Livan Hernandez in 1997, with the Marlins.
The Astros screwed up a good chance to damage in the first inning, where they had two runners on base and no out.
Jose Altuve hit a single in the infield and Michael Brantley hit the goals via a Max Fried error, on a ground where Freeman gave him a short stint.
Fried put his foot next to the pillow and Brantley pounded his right ankle. The therapist went to see Fried, but Fried stayed in the game.
Fried got away with two strikeouts and one putout, though.
PHOTO THOMAS SHEA, USA TODAY SPORTS
Dansby Swanson (7)
Fried allowed just four hits in six innings, all singles. The 27-year-old southpaw struck out six batters and did not allow a walk.
Fried only needed eight shots in the second and the same number in the fourth. In the latter case, the impatience of the hitters at the local club was obvious, after a single from Carlos Correa.
Tyler Matzek followed with four strikeouts in two innings, then Will Smith took charge of the ninth.
The latest takedown was a Yuli Gurriel runner to the shortstop Dansby Swanson, who grew up in suburban Atlanta.
“The guys never gave up,” said winning manager Brian Snitker, 66, who has been with the organization for four decades.
“We lost a lot of songs over the summer, but there was always a guy to take over. ”
The retractable roof was open; by the time of the first pitch it was a very comfortable 20 degrees Celsius in Houston.
In the crowd are Lucas Giolito of the White Sox and Jack Flaherty of the Cards, Fried’s teammates at Harvard-Westlake High School in Los Angeles.
All three pitchers were in action in inaugural games this year.
Fried excelled in the regular season (14-7 and an average of 3.04). He was also very solid against Milwaukee and Los Angeles in the playoffs. However, its performance had been declining recently.
On October 21, he gave up five runs and eight hits in four and two-thirds innings at Dodger Stadium.
In Game Two in Houston, he allowed six runs and seven hits in five innings. The Astros won the game 7-2, with the roof open that night as well.
Luis Garcia, who had only had three days of respite, left after granting the circuit to Soler. In two and two-thirds innings, he gave up three runs, two hits and a walk.
“Loss is hard to swallow, but you know what, you have to get up,” said Astros manager Dusty Baker, 72. It gives even more motivation for next year. ”