In a storybook ending to a crazy game and series, Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman homered off All-Star Brewers reliever Josh Hader in the eighth inning, lifting the Braves to a 5-4 Game 4 win Tuesday that put his team in its second consecutive National League Championship Series.
The Braves defeated the Brewers three games to one in the best-of-five NL Division Series. After dropping Game 1, the Braves won three straight.
Here are five takeaways from Tuesday:
1. It was fitting the hero was Freeman, the reigning NL MVP and face of the franchise. Freeman capped his three-hit night by depositing Hader’s slider into the left-center seats, setting up closer Will Smith to finish the Brewers’ season in the ninth. Left-handed hitters hit.133 with a double and no homers off Hader across 45 at-bats in the regular season.
“You couldn’t script this any better, having Freddie Freeman hit the go-ahead homer off probably the best closer in the game,” manager Brian Snitker said.
2. It was Freeman’s fifth career postseason homer, the fourth of which put the Braves ahead. Freeman didn’t rank his career moments, but he said Tuesday’s blast was near the top.
“These are the things that, when I’m done playing hopefully a long, long time from now, I’ll be able to look back and kind of remember this moment,” he said. “It’s special. This is what you dream of when you’re a kid. You really do, hitting a homer to clinch a playoff. And for it to happen, it’s kind of amazing. It really is. So kind of hard to put into words right now.”
3. Braves pinch-hitters collected six RBIs in the series, the second-most pinch-hit RBIs since the Braves have been in Atlanta (1966). Joc Pederson homered twice and produced four RBIs. Eddie Rosario had a key two-out single with the bases loaded Tuesday that erased Milwaukee’s two-run lead.
4. The Braves’ pitching held the Brewers to six runs across four games, including two shutouts. Milwaukee was 0-for-20 with runners in scoring position before collecting two such hits in the fourth. In the first three games, Braves starters – Charlie Morton, Max Fried and Ian Anderson – combined to allow two runs on nine hits over 17 innings, striking out 24 and walking one.
Morton started Game 4 on short rest and pitched 3-1/3 innings. He was charged two runs. Huascar Ynoa surrendered a two-run homer to Rowdy Tellez that accounted for the only runs Braves relievers allowed over the games.
“All our pitching the whole series; we knew runs were going to be at a premium looking at their starting staff and bullpen,” Snitker said. “Our guys, it was a well-pitched series. Runs were hard to come by and our guys kept taking the ball. Some of these guys were four out of five days pitching but they all wanted the ball today. They knew how big this game was. … It’s been an unbelievable group. The starters, Charlie wanting the ball today, he threw great, too.”
The Braves held the Brewers scoreless for 22-1/3 consecutive innings at one point, the third-longest streak in franchise postseason history.
5. The Truist Park crowd was loud over the past two days. Game 3 welcomed 41,479 fans; Game 4 had 40,195 fans. Snitker credited them for helping the team rally twice Tuesday and said it was an experience he’ll always remember.
“I was sitting there in the ninth inning trying to think if I remembered what it was like last year in Houston (when the Braves swept the NLDS at a neutral site), I couldn’t remember,” Snitker said. “I’ll never forget this. The fans were amazing today. I always praise them but Braves country came out strong. Those guys appreciate it, feed on it. That was huge, a big part of what kept them going in this game. We really appreciate the support. It was loud. It was really cool. There were a couple times I sit back and take it in.”
Stat to know
13 (The Braves will play their 13th NLCS in franchise history.)
Quotable
“That was the perfect ending.” – Snitker on Freeman’s homer
Attendance
40,195
Up next
The Braves will wait to see if they’ll face the Giants or Dodgers in the best-of-seven NLCS. The series begins Saturday either in San Francisco or Atlanta. The Braves would have homefield if the Dodgers win because while Los Angeles has a better record, as a wild-card team it’s a lower seed.
We’re super excited,” catcher Travis d’Arnaud said. “They both had over 100 wins. They both had the best NL records, too? So I mean they’re both great teams. We’re looking forward to playing either one of them. It’s going to be a hell of a series. A lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it.”
