The Braves are going to the World Series for the first time since 1999. They defeated the Dodgers 4-2 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series on Saturday at Truist Park. They’ll face the Astros in the World Series.
“I think this might be the definition of pure joy,” first baseman Freddie Freeman said. “It really is. It hasn’t hit me at all. I don’t really know how to feel. Usually we’re sitting in our locker, just thinking about the whole season and getting ready for next year, and we actually did it.”
Here are five takeaways from Saturday:
1. The Braves were powered by left fielder Eddie Rosario’s three run homer off Dodgers starter Walker Buehler in the fourth, which shattered a 1-1 tie. Rosario had one of the greatest postseason series of all-time, going 14-for-25 (.560) with a double, triple, three home runs and nine RBIs.
Rosario, whom the team acquired as part of its historically successful trade deadline moves, was named NLCS MVP.
“It’s truly a great moment, not just in my career, but in my life as well,” Rosario said via team interpreter Franco Garcia. “But I want more. I want to win the World Series.”
On winning series MVP, Rosario added: “I always believed in myself. I always knew that I could win an MVP trophy like this and it was something I always hoped for, regardless of what anyone said or thought of me. But I want more. Also, this is obviously my greatest accomplishment of my career so far, this trophy and this award, so it’s something to definitely be proud of.”
2. Rosario’s NLCS MVP run is another notch in general manager Alex Anthopoulos’ belt. He executed one of the greatest trade deadlines in MLB history, remaking his outfield and turning a middling team into an NL pennant winner.
With his outfield decimated, Anthopoulos added outfielders Joc Pederson, Adam Duvall, Jorge Soler and Rosario in July. Each played a key role in getting the team back into contention and now in the World Series.
“I’m going to go with yes,” Freeman said when asked if it’s safe it’s one of the greatest trade deadlines in MLB history. “Getting Joc (earlier in July), and just letting us know that we believe in you, and losing Ronald (Acuna) at the All-Star break and then what he did getting him, getting Adam back, getting (reliever) Richard (Rodriguez) who helped us tremendously, Jorge. I would have to say yes.
“We had to pick up Ronald, and it feels like everyone on the team picked it up in the second half. It’s two different teams, really, from the first half to the second half, if you really look at it. And then it took I think it was around a month (until Rosario debuted). So we just had little weapons waiting in the wings all over the place and then we unleashed them and here we are sitting in the World Series.”
3. Left-hander Tyler Matzek was sensational, but none of his past outings could top what he did Saturday. Anthopoulos said after the game: “Both of those guys could have been co-MVPs to me,” referencing Rosario and Matzek.
Reliever Luke Jackson had struggled, giving up three consecutive hits as the Dodgers cut the deficit to 4-2. Matzek entered with baserunners at second and third. He proceeded to strike out Albert Pujols, Steven Souza and Mookie Betts, fanning the latter on three pitches.
“Honestly, the fuel that drives me to do that is just the love I got for my teammates,” Matzek said. “I know how hard they work. All off-season, all season, I see them grinding. I see them battling through injuries, rehabbing to get back, and knowing that those guys are doing all that just to win baseball games is kind of the fuel to my fire. So when I go out there and I have a chance to help the team go to the next level, I’m going to let it all hang out and do what I need to do.”
Lefty A.J. Minter was also vital. He covered two innings for the second time in the series. He held the Dodgers to one hit, striking out five without issuing a walk over that stretch.
“I felt like I’ve let this team down so many different times in the past few years and I let the fans down,” Minter said, referencing past struggles. “I felt like I just went out there and I just wanted to give it all for them. We all have our story and I’ve been through failure, and I felt like I wouldn’t be in this spot tonight if I hadn’t gone through that failure, it just made me prepare for this moment and that’s what life is all about. Nothing’s supposed to be easy, it’s not supposed to be given to you and you have to earn it.”
4. Braves pitching held the Dodgers to 4-1/2 runs per game, a number that’s inflated by the Dodgers’ 11-run outburst in Game 5. The Dodgers were 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position Saturday. The Braves held the Dodgers to an 11-for-45 mark with runners in scoring position over the series.
5. While the Braves would’ve been thrilled to clinch the pennant anywhere, they did it Saturday in front of 43,060 fans at Truist Park. They held their postgame ceremony on the field, speaking directly to their supporters, who’ve endured a large sum of postseason disappointments over the years. Not this time.
“This was just perfect,” manager Brian Snitker said. “That was something special out there. Just the fans, that place was rocking today, has been the whole series, all year. Braves country’s a real thing. It is a powerful, powerful element to our game. And those guys appreciate that. They love their fans. It’s amazing how they came out today and supported those guys.”
Stat to know
14 (Rosario’s 14 hits were a franchise record for a postseason series.)
Freeman quotable
“Going from 97 losses six years ago to doing this, it’s special. And to lose, in my opinion, the best player in the National League (Acuna) and we’re up here going to the World Series, it’s amazing what this team did.”
Snitker quotable
“The Snitkers are going to have a World Series trophy in their house here. I don’t know who is going to own it, but we’re going to have one.” – Snitker, whose son Troy is a hitting coach for the Astros
Up next
The World Series begins Tuesday in Houston. The Astros won their league championship series in six games over the Red Sox.
