HOUSTON, Texas — Bottom of the ninth inning, Astros Michael Brantley is on first. Yuli Gurriel is in the batter’s box. Will Smith delivers on the 0-2 count. Gurriel swings. Grounds out to shortstop Dansby Swanson. Swanson to Freeman.
Ball game over.
The Atlanta Braves are the 2021 World Series Champions!
In a sea of Braves road-grey, players are throwing themselves into each other’s arms, sharing a moment that will forever live on in baseball’s history until the end of time. As the Braves embraced each other, their bonds were forever cemented in the 117-year history of the game. It took 26 years for the Braves to bask in the glory of winning a World Series championship.
As tears flowed, the emotions of a rigorous 162-game regular season, a daunting postseason, and transcendent World Series hovered over the stage that sat in the infield in Minute Maid Park.
“I’m still numb,” Freddie Freeman — the captain and career-long Brave — said after becoming a World Series champion.
Freeman — who has adopted the captain role since coming up with the franchise — pitched in on the life-changing night, with a speedy home run and RBI double that would help secure the Braves World Series win. The solo blast from Freeman would tie for him with Fred McGriff (5) with the most home runs by a Braves player in the postseason.
In the top of the third inning, complete and utter silence hovered over the Astros dugout and their fans that packed the seats to watch their team battle, clinging onto the hope that they would force a Game 7. But there was pandemonium in and around the Braves dugout when July 30th acquisition Jorge Soler annihilated an 83-mph slider out of that left the ballpark. Yes, out of the ballpark, 446-feet towards Preston street. Lifting the Braves to a promising 3-0 lead.
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 02: Jorge Soler #12 of the Atlanta Braves hits a three-run home run in the third inning during Game 6 of the 2021 World Series between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Milliseconds after smoking the 3-2 pitch from Astros starter Framber Valdez, Soler faced his teammates in the dugout, pumped his chest with his fist and pointed to them, and yelled, “I’m here!”
The game-leading home run would solidify Soler’s World Series resume, which would grant him the 2021 World Series M.V.P. Award.
The genuine bond that was formed within the clubhouse can only be described by the men in uniform. A bond that goes beyond a language barrier, the longevity of a season, or personal accomplishments. “It felt like we had very good chemistry from the very beginning,” Soler said, drenched in champagne with his M.V.P. award sat on the table in front of him. “It felt like we all truly supported each other and helped each other out whenever we could.”
HOUSTON, TX – NOVEMBER 02: Jorge Soler #12 of the Atlanta Braves Willie Mays World Series MVP trophy after the Braves defeated the Houston Astros in Game 6 to clinch the 2021 World Series at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
The monster home run would knock García out of the game. It would be the second start in the World Series the sophomore pitcher gave up less than two hits in a start and suffered the loss. García’s Game 6 line would end after going 2.2 innings with two hits, giving up three runs, one walk, and mustering three strikeouts.
In the first inning, García entered Game 6 with a heightened form of aggressiveness. Relying heavily on his four-seam fastballs and throwing three-straight first pitch four-seamers. García would lose that control in the third inning after a slew of first-pitch cutters and changeups slowed down his confidence resulting in a three-run inning.
Georgia native Dansby Swanson added his second home run of the World Series with a loud two-run homer to left field to extend the Braves lead to 5-0. As the Astros fans fell silent, Braves fans exalted all of their energy and beaming emotions, as the realization of their team becoming World Series champions began to beacon.
“I’m a little numb,” Swanson said as he tried to let the moment sink in. “It truly is so special. Atlanta is such a unique place. It’s had a grasp on me ever since I was a little kid. To be able to share that moment with the city of Atlanta is amazing.”
Game 6 starter Max Fried stepped on the mound in the first inning and found himself getting into hot water through two batters, before a dangerous play at first base where the 27-year-old nearly rolled his ankle and had it stepped on by a hustling Michael Brantley.
”It didn’t feel good, but at that point, it’s the World Series. You just got to figure out how to get through.”
From that moment on, Fried stepped onto the mound with an empowering tenacity that helped pave the road that would lead the Astros towards a grueling offseason. The fueled masterpiece against a fearless Astros order was no easy task, but Braves manager Brian Snitker put a vast amount of faith into Fried, who would deliver six scoreless innings, never surrendering a walk and blanking six ‘Stros.
“What this organization has accomplished in six years, we lost 97 games in 2015, and six years later we’re world champions,” Freeman said as he soaked in the feeling of being a World Series champion. “That’s extremely hard to do. And what this organization, the front office did to do that, it’s special. It’s a special group, what we were able to accomplish in such a short time.”
