Braves Report podcast: Grand letdown sends series back to Houston

Braves manager Brian Snitker, left, removes relief pitcher A.J. Minter from the mound after Minter allowed a two-run RBI single by Houston Astros pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez (not pictured) during the fifth inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves manager Brian Snitker, left, removes starting pitcher Tucker Davidson from the mound during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies dives safely into third base on a single by third baseman Austin Riley (not pictured) during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Astros third baseman Alex Bregman celebrates a run with left fielder Michael Brantley (23) off of a two-RBI single by pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez (not pictured) during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Houston Astros pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez hits a two-RBI single during the fifth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves relief pitcher Jesse Chavez gets out of the way of a ground ball hit by Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado (not pictured) during the fourth inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall celebrates his grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 with teammates in the dugout during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta.Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall hits a grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves players and fans react after center fielder Adam Duvall (14) hit a grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall reacts with first base coach Eric Young Sr. (2) after Duvall hit a grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta.Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall celebrates his grand slam home run with third base coach Ron Washington to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall reacts as he crosses home plate after he hit a grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall, facing, celebrates with left fielder Eddie Rosario (8) after Duvall hit a grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves center fielder Adam Duvall celebrates a grand slam home run to put the Braves up 4-0 during the first inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves starting pitcher Tucker Davidson delivers to a Houston Astros batter during the first inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a solo home run to put the Braves up 5-4 during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman hits a solo home run to put the Braves up 5-4 during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman jogs around the bases after hitting a solo home run to put the Braves up 5-4 during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman celebrates his solo home run to put the Braves up 5-4 during the third inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves pitcher Jesse Chavez delivers to a Houston Astros batter during the third inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies runs to third base on a single by third baseman Austin Riley (not pictured) as Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve is shown during the first inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter delivers to a Houston Astros batter during the fourth inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

Braves pitcher Drew Smyly delivers to a Houston Astros batter during the seventh inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Braves relief pitcher Chris Martin delivers during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker scores a run before the tag by Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud off of a single by Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado (not pictured) during the seventh inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Atlanta Braves right fielder Jorge Soler reacts as he strikes out for the final out in the game as Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado is shown in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. The Astros won 9-5. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Atlanta Braves right fielder Jorge Soler reacts to flying out during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker calls the bullpen before the start of the ninth inning against the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Houston Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel (10) and third baseman Alex Bregman celebrate the final out as the Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, right, and relief pitcher Kendall Graveman (31) celebrate the final out as the Astros beat the Atlanta Braves 9-5 in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Atlanta Braves fans react during the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Houston Astros four runs in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. The Astros won game 5, 9-5. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Atlanta Braves players and fans react during the bottom of the ninth inning trailing the Houston Astros four runs in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. The Astros won game 5, 9-5. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

10/31/21 - Atlanta - Atlanta Braves fans react during the top of the ninth inning as the Braves were down 5-9 to the Houston Astros in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday, October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com

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Credit: Curtis Compton

Braves manager Brian Snitker, left, removes relief pitcher A.J. Minter from the mound after Minter allowed a two-run RBI single by Houston Astros pinch hitter Marwin Gonzalez (not pictured) during the fifth inning in game 5 of the World Series at Truist Park, Sunday October 31, 2021, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / curtis.compton@ajc.com

By AJC Sports

Nov 1, 2021

All the anticipation of a champagne bottle ready to be uncorked in celebration was put back on ice. The Braves lost Game 5 of the World Series to the Astros Sunday night. The best-of-seven series now switches back to Houston with the Braves still holding a 3-2 lead.

The on-the-scene staff of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, including Mark Bradley, breaks down the game with what it means going forward as the Braves try to win the World Series for the first time since 1995.