World Series Game 4: Braves vs Astros

Will Smith of the Braves celebrates the teams 3-2 win against the Astros in Game 4.

The Atlanta Braves are one win away from the franchise’s first world championship since 1995.

Highlighted by back-to-back 7th inning homers from shortstop Dansby Swanson and a pinch-hitting Jorge Soler, Atlanta edged the visiting Astros 3-2 on Saturday night. The Braves can capture the crown in front of their home crowd on Sunday night.

Houston had most of the momentum in the game’s early innings, but failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, ultimately stranding 11 baserunners, and Astros hitters were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Atlanta starter Dylan Lee registered just a single out, handing the ball over to Kyle Wright with the bases loaded in the first inning. But Wright allowed only one of his inherited runners to cross, and gave the Braves a solid 4.2 innings of work in relief. A solo shot by Jose Altuve in the fourth inning was Wright’s sole miscue of significance, as Houston held only a slim 2-0 lead through five innings.

Star third baseman Austin Riley got the Braves on the board in the 6th with an RBI single to left. The 24-year-old also turned in a key defensive play in the second inning, robbing Altuve of an RBI on a hard-sinking liner.

After Swanson and Soler’s homers in the 7th, Altuve was again victimized by the Braves defense, as left fielder Eddie Rosario ran down a blast at the warning track in the top of the 8th to preserve Atlanta’s 3-2 lead.

Braves closer Will Smith pitched a perfect 9th inning, forcing Yordan Alvarez to ground out to first baseman Freddie Freeman for the final out of the night. Atlanta reliever Tyler Matzek earned the victory for the Braves, while Houston’s Cristian Javier – who allowed both Swanson and Soler’s dingers – suffered the loss.

The Braves are now 7-0 at home this postseason. An eighth win at Truist Park on Sunday would deliver the franchise just its second title since moving to Atlanta.

Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario catches a fly ball hit by the Astros' Jose Altuve during the eighth inning.

Eddie Rosario’s running catch in left field ended the top of the 8th inning, preserving Atlanta’s slim 3-2 lead.

Batting with two down and the bases empty, Houston’s second baseman Jose Altuve had designs on his second homer of the ballgame. But Rosario’s play on the warning track turned Altuve away, ending the frame and keeping Atlanta in front by one.

It’s 3-2 Braves in the bottom of the 8th.

Dansby Swanson of the Braves celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning.

Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson picked the right time to launch his first homer of the 2021 postseason.

His 7th inning solo blast off Astros reliever Cristian Javier landed in the right field seats before bouncing back onto the field, tying the game at 2-2 and delighting the hometown Atlanta crowd in the process.

And if the Braves faithful were delighted by that, they’d be ecstatic four pitches later when pinch hitter Jorge Soler followed with a solo shot of his own.

Soler’s blast to left missed Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez’s outstretched glove by mere inches, barely clearing the wall and giving Atlanta its first lead of the game.

It’s now 3-2 Braves as we head to the 8th.

Austin Riley of the Braves hits an RBI single during the sixth inning.

Braves’ third baseman Austin Riley turned in a fabulous defensive play in the second inning. Four frames later, his liner to left has the Braves on the scoreboard for the first time in Game 4.

Batting with two down and two on in the bottom of the sixth, Riley’s rip off Astros reliever Phil Maton plated left fielder Eddie Rosario and cut the Astros’ lead in half, 2-1.

Rosario’s double gave the Braves their first runner in scoring position all evening, and after a walk to Freddie Freeman and a strikeout by second baseman Ozzie Albies, Riley came through with the RBI.

But Maton limited the damage from there, striking out catcher Travis d’Arnaud with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Atlanta has left five runners on base, while the Astros have stranded 10.

It’s now 2-1 Astros in the 7th.

If the Astros fail to hold on and win Game 4, it won’t be difficult to dissect how things went wrong.

Houston has left 10 men on base through six innings and is 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, though they hold a 2-0 lead.

Atlanta reliever Kyle Wright, who entered the game with the bases loaded and only one out in the 1st, skillfully worked out of one sticky situation after another. His night is over after 4.2 innings, the longest outing by a reliever in Braves’ postseason history.

Wright’s only real mistake came in the 4th on a solo home run from Astros’ second baseman Jose Altuve.

RHP Chris Martin took over the pitching duties for the Braves and was pinch-hit for in the bottom half of the 6th.

Zack Greinke of the Astros delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in Game Four.

Veteran right-hander Zack Greinke gave the Astros exactly what they wanted in Game 4, keeping the Braves’ bats at bay for four scoreless frames.

RHP Ryan Stanek is now pitching for the Astros.

The 38-year-old Greinke, who was making his second start of the 2021 postseason, allowed only four hits – a single in each inning – while striking out three Braves. He did not walk anyone and benefited from a pair of inning-ending double plays.

Batting 8th – instead of the 9th spot traditionally reserved for pitchers – Greinke also added a hit to his line, becoming the first pitcher with a World Series base knock since Corey Kluber in 2016.

It’s 2-0 Astros in the bottom of the 5th.

Astros' Jose Altuve watches his home run during the fourth inning.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve widened the Astros’ lead to 2-0 by going deep against Braves hurler Kyle Wright in the top of the 4th.

The blast is the leadoff man’s second home run of the 2021 World Series. It’s also his 23rd career postseason home run, which makes him second on the all-time list, behind Manny Ramirez’s 29.

2-0 Astros midway through the 4th.

Braves third baseman Austin Riley turned in a defensive gem in the top of the 2nd.

With runners at first and second and only one out, Riley snared a hard-sinking liner off the bat of Jose Altuve, robbing the Astros’ leadoff hitter of extra bases and a likely RBI.

Braves reliever Kyle Wright then induced an inning-ending groundout from left fielder Michael Brantley.

Through two frames, the Astros have already stranded four runners.

1-0 Astros through the first two innings.

Former first lady Melania Trump and President of the United States Donald Trump do "the chop" prior to Game Four of the World Series on October 30 in Atlanta.

Former President Trump participated in the “Tomahawk chop” during Game 4 of the World Series in Atlanta.

The stadium-wide chant, a longtime tradition at Braves games, has been under renewed scrutiny in recent years as part of a national discussion about racism and racial imagery in professional sports.

Several advocacy groups and observers have accused the chant of mocking Native American groups and decried it as racist. But many Braves fans, including Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, have dismissed the criticism, and the stadium has led the fans in doing the chant in both Games 3 and 4 of the series.

Trump has frequently sought to capitalize politically on such controversies as part of an effort to galvanize White voters who make up much of his political base.

Jose Altuve, right, of the Astros celebrates with Kyle Tucker after scoring a run against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning.

Shortstop Carlos Correa’s RBI groundout has given the Astros an early 1-0 lead, but it could have been much worse for Atlanta.

Entering the game in relief of Dylan Lee, Braves right-hander Kyle Wright worked around three inherited runners, striking out center fielder Kyle Tucker to end the frame and limit the damage.

Lee, who was making his first career start, faced only four batters, allowing an infield hit and walking a pair before being removed with the bases loaded.

In total, Houston sent six batters to the plate in the top of the first, but saw only second baseman Jose Altuve score as Wright deftly navigated out of trouble.

Former football player and political candidate Herschel Walker interacts with former first lady Melania Trump and former President Donald Trump prior to Game Four of the World Series on October 30 in Atlanta.

Former President Trump and former first lady Melania Trump are attending Game 4 of the World Series at Truist Park in Atlanta tonight.

He thanked MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and New York Yankees’ president Randy Levine for the invite.

Accompanying the Trumps is former NFL star Herschel Walker, who is running for a US Senate seat in Georgia. The former president’s support of Walker, which came initially over reservations from much of the GOP establishment, has given the former running back a boost ahead of next year’s primary. Republicans are hoping to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock in the general election.

Atlanta Braves CEO Terry McGuirk told USA Today on Wednesday that Trump would not be sitting with team or MLB officials and that the Braves were giving Trump his own suite.

Keep reading.

Members of the grounds crew remove the rain tarp before Game 4 on Saturday, October 30, in Atlanta.

The Atlanta Braves will look to further capitalize on their home field advantage and build on their 2-1 series edge when they play the Houston Astros tonight in Game 4 of the 2021 World Series.

First pitch is scheduled for 8:09 p.m. ET. Like Friday night, it could be another raw evening for baseball, with precipitation in the air and temperatures in the low 50s. Truist Park, the Braves’ home, does not have a retractable roof.

Both teams are looking at “bullpen games,” which means to expect a parade of relievers all night. The Braves will begin by handing the ball to lefty Dylan Lee, while the Astros will have veteran Zack Greinke on the mound. Lee — who made his MLB debut earlier this year and has only 4.2 career innings in the big leagues — could only see an inning, though not before making history as the first pitcher in major league history to make his first career MLB start in the World Series.

Greinke, with a Cy Young award and six All-Star Game appearances on his resume, could go a bit deeper. But the 38-year-old veteran right-hander spent time in recent weeks sidelined with a sore neck and Covid-19, has been seldom used so far this postseason (2.1 innings in two appearances) and faltered down the stretch for Houston in the regular season. He’s only pitched 4.2 innings over the past five weeks.

The lack of a designated hitter will again be a factor with the World Series in a National League home ballpark. The Astros will continue with the same eight hitters they used on Friday night, though Greinke, who hits well for a pitcher, will bat eighth, moving catcher Martin Maldonado down to the ninth spot. For the Braves, the left-handed hitting Joc Pederson will supplant Jorge Soler in right field.

In the house tonight: Former President Trump.

The Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros will face off tonight in Game 4 of the World Series.

The Braves are looking to capitalize on home advantage for Games 4 and 5.

If you’re planning to tune in for the rest of the best-of-seven series, here’s a look at the schedule:

All of the games will begin at 8:09 p.m. ET, except for Game 5, which will begin at 8:15 p.m. ET. The games will all be shown on TV by Fox.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson throws during the first inning in Game 3 of baseball's World Series on Friday, October 29, in Atlanta.

Starter Ian Anderson threw five no-hit, scoreless innings to inspire the Atlanta Braves to a 2-1 advantage over the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series, winning 2-0 in Game 3 on Friday.

The 23-year-old dazzled the crowd over five innings, walking three and striking out four, as Atlanta hosted a World Series game for the first time since 1999.

Anderson became just the second rookie to throw at least five no-hit innings in a World Series game — the other being Jeff Tesreau in 1912.

Anderson was then pulled by Brian Snitker as he turned to the bullpen to start the sixth inning.

However, the decision was vindicated after a spotless night for the Braves’ bullpen, with four scoreless innings, two hits and no walks. Closer Will Smith picked up the save with a scoreless 9th.

Houston starter Luis Garcia also pitched well, allowing only one run while striking out six in 3.2 innings, but took the loss.

Relievers A.J. Minter and Luke Jackson carried the no-hitter into the 8th before a bloop base hit off the bat of Aledmys Diaz in front of left fielder Eddie Rosario cost the Braves a chance to become the second team in World Series history to throw a no-hitter.

Atlanta scored in the 3rd when Austin Riley lashed an RBI double down the left field line to score Rosario.

The rest of the night was a one-run nail-biter, with Travis d’Arnaud providing much-needed insurance with a 437-foot monster home run to center field in the bottom of the 8th to make it 2-0.

Read more here.