The World Series.
Eddie Rosario capped a remarkable NL Championship Series by hitting a three-run homer. The Braves won 4-2 over the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, sending them to the highest stage of all.
The Braves won the best of seven playoff by four games to two. This extinguishes the demons from last year's NLCS, when Atlanta lost 2-0 and 3-1 lead against the Dodgers. They will now face the AL champion Astros.
Game 1 will be held in Houston at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, April 1.
Rosario, speaking through an interpreter, said that it was a "great moment in my life." But I want more. "I want to win the World Series."
In the 1990s, the Braves were Series regulars. They won it all in 1995 with a team that featured Hall of Famers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, and John Smoltz.
This is their only title in Atlanta. The Braves also lost the Series four times in that decade. This was a disappointing run of postseason disappointments that marred a remarkable streak that reached 14 consecutive division titles.
The Braves were swept by the Yankees in the 1999 World Series, but they couldn't make it to the postseason.
Twenty-two years of frustration and 12 playoff appearances that failed to win a pennant.
It's finally over.
"We did it," said Freddie Freeman (longtime first baseman), sounding a little bewildered.
Rosario was purchased in a rush of deals just before July 30th trade deadline. This rebuilding of the Braves' outfield left them with a depleted roster. Marcell Ozuna, a slugger, and Ronald Acuna Jr. were both injured and faced legal trouble.
They were not missed in the NLCS.
Freeman stated, "Anything that was thrown at" and "we were able overcome it."
Rosario, who set an Atlanta record, became the fifth player to score 14 hits in a postseason series. Rosario was the obvious choice for MVP of this series.
The chants of Eddie! kept them going! Eddie! Rosario, a sold-out crowd of over 43,000, finished 14 of 25 against the Dodgers (.560), with nine RBIs and three homers.
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts stated that "we just couldn't figure it out."
After a stellar relief stint by Tyler Matzek who saved him from a major jam in the seventh, Will Smith pitched a perfect ninth.
Rosario's last hit was undoubtedly the greatest of his 30-year-old Puerto Rican career.
Rosario was called up in the fourth inning after Ehire Adrianza, pinch-hitter, extended the inning by hitting a two-out double into right-field corner. Coach Ron Washington held Travis d'Arnaud, a slow-running catcher, at third. He was well aware of who was coming up next.
Rosario was involved in an extended duel against Walker Buehler. Walker Buehler was able to take three days off after Max Scherzer, the ace, couldn't go due to a sore arm.
Rosario missed the first pitch and swung. He then fouled one. He then took a ball. He fouled off two pitches more.
Rosario finally got the one he liked from the Dodgers 16-game winner -- a cutter Rosario transformed into a rocket at 105 mph down the right field line, higher than an arrow, and back into the Chop House seats.
Roberts stated, "We got him at 0-2 and couldn't give him up,"
Rosario was aware it was gone and danced down the line after delivering a 361-foot final shot to a highly-paid team that won 106 regular-season games -- 18 more than the NL East champion Braves -- but failed to win the bid to be baseball's first repeat champ since 2000 New York Yankees took their third consecutive title.
Roberts stated, "We had an incredible season." "We were only two wins away of the World Series. "I want the guys to be proud."
KILL THE NARRATIVE
The Braves will seek to erase their city's postseason misery through a variety of sports.
Atlanta is again on the brink of a rare feat, having suffered four World Series defeats in the 1990s and the NFL Falcons leading by 28-3 in the 2017 Super Bowl.
The city's only team in four major sports -- basketball, baseball, hockey, and football -- that has won a title is the '95 Braves. After Game 5, Freeman stated that the city's past would continue to be an issue until it is "killed that narrative."
You can win four times by doing this.
SNIT VS.
Brian Snitker, Braves manager, will be seeing a familiar face at the other dugout during World Series.
His son.
The Astros' hitting coach is Troy Snitker.
Brian Snitker stated that the trophy will be kept in the home of the Snitker family, which includes a World Series trophy. "I don’t know who will have it, but I believe we’ll have one.
K PATROL
After Ian Anderson, the starter, was relieved in the fourth, the Braves had a great performance from their bullpen. They got 10 strikeouts and a strong effort from their relief pitchers.
A.J. Minter struck out four batters in two perfect innings. Matzek also did the same, but in a more difficult situation. He came on in the seventh with runners at second base and third base and an already-in run after Luke Jackson failed get an out.
Matzek struck out both the side in that inning. Mookie Betts was also on the mound, and Matzek threw three consecutive pitches to endanger both runners. On his way to the mound, the pitcher raised his fist twice before letting out a loud scream.
Smith struck again in the eighth inning and gave up two more runners.
Matzek has 11 strikes with runners in scoring positions in the seventh inning and later in this postseason.
This is a great accomplishment for a guy that didn't play in 2017, but who worked his way up to the Braves after two stints in an independent league.
Matzek stated, "I was out baseball in 2017." "Now, I'm in World Series."
UP NEXT
Dodgers: They won't be playing another game until their 2022 season opener against Colorado Rockies, after a streak of seven consecutive victories in elimination. This will be at Dodger Stadium on March 31.
Braves: Charlie Morton will be facing his old team in the World Series opener. He was remembered for his appearance in the bullpen in Game 7, 2017, to pitch four innings in two-hit baseball, and he won the Astros' only title with a 5-1 victory over the Dodgers.
