The Braves didn’t finish the World Series on Sunday at Truist Park, losing to the Astros 9-5. The Braves still lead the series 3-2 as it shifts back to Houston for a Game 6.
“It would have been great (to win it at home),” manager Brian Snitker said. “I’ll take it anywhere. I don’t care where we’re at. If we win the World Series, it doesn’t matter where it is. I’d have loved to have done it in front of our fans. Hopefully, we can do it the next couple of days.”
Here are five takeaways from Sunday:
1. The Braves looked destined for a win in the first inning, when outfielder Adam Duvall slugged a grand slam off Astros starter Framber Valdez to put his team up 4-0. The Braves squandered that advantage in the next 1-1/2 frames, but it was nonetheless a highlight of Duvall’s career.
“He threw a sinker, started middle, I don’t know exactly where it ended up, but it wasn’t a terrible spot,” Duvall said. “I was looking for something that started up because I know, if he gets it down, it’s going to be a tough pitch to hit. So I saw it up and put a good swing on it.”
2. The Braves started lefty Tucker Davidson, whose last major-league appearance was in June. Davidson went two innings, giving up four runs (two earned). His third inning spiraled when normally sure-handed shortstop Dansby Swanson botched a Jose Altuve grounder to open the inning.
Davidson then walked Michael Brantley. Snitker turned to reliever Jesse Chavez, who surrendered an RBI double to Carlos Correa that cut the Braves’ lead to 4-3. The Astros evened the score with Yuli Gurriel’s groundout.
“I felt like my stuff was good for sure,” Davidson said. “After Snit told me I was going to start today, I was definitely feeling the emotion. It’s the World Series and they’re a good team. So you have to be on your best.
“I do feel like my stuff was very good. Fastball command wasn’t where I wanted it to be. I left some pitches to good hitters over the plate, and they did damage to them. I think that’s something I need to focus on more is just fastball committing coming up in these next two outings.”
3. A.J. Minter has been instrumental to the Braves’ run, but he had a rough outing Sunday. Minter was charged three runs on three hits in the Astros’ break-out fifth. He surrendered two hits before the Braves intentionally walked Alex Bregman to face Martin Maldonado with the bases loaded and two outs.
Minter walked Maldonado on five pitches, which tied the game. Marwin Gonzalez, who was 0-for-2 in the postseason, followed with a pinch-hit single that scored two and put Houston ahead for good.
“I wouldn’t even call it a bad outing,” Minter said. “I felt my stuff was just as sharp tonight as it was in other outings. I felt like I was 1-2, 0-2 on every hitter. Those guys made quality swings on two strikes. I guess I could have made some better pitches with two strikes. … For me, it was just I tried to aim the ball instead of just driving it to the mitt. That’s obviously the one thing I would take back. And then a shot to score two runs, just like that.
“I’m not worried about it. I’ve been pitching good and feeling good. And I’m still feeling good. I’ll be ready to go Game 6.”
4. First baseman Freddie Freeman gave the Braves their last lead with a solo shot in the fifth. He set the new Braves postseason record with his sixth go-ahead home run, passing Hall of Famer Chipper Jones’ five such homers.
5. Duvall’s grand slam was the 21st in World Series history. It was the second in Braves’ World Series history following Lonnie Smith’s grand slam in Game 5 of the 1992 World Series. Duvall was the first player to hit a grand slam in a potential clinching World Series game since Bill Skowron in Game 7 of the 1956 World Series.
“It’s a nine-inning ballgame,” Duvall said. “We celebrated it. We got excited, and that’s what you do when you hit home runs, but it’s a long game. That happened in the bottom of the first. It’s a nine-inning game and they didn’t quit. They kept fighting. We weren’t able to get it going again and keep the pressure on, and that’s hat’s off to their pitchers. They kept us there when they needed to.”
Stat to know
7-1 (The Braves finished 7-1 at Truist Park in the postseason.)
Quotable
“This time of the year, all throughout the postseason it’s not going to be easy. You’ve got guys that are willing to run through walls for a win. We’ve got an off day (Monday), travel day, and we’ll turn the page and get back at them.” - Duvall
Up next
The Braves can still close the Astros out Tuesday in Houston by winning Game 6. Max Fried will start for the Braves. The Astros will start Luis Garcia on short rest.
