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Jake Klausner
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Game Four Of The World Series
Braves Win Game 4, One Win Away
Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the seventh inning to help lift the Braves over the Astros, 3-2. They are now one win away from their first World Series title since 1995.
It was a pretty uneventful game up to that point. The Braves had been down for most of the game. Jose Altuve hit his fifth postseason homer and third of the World Series in the top of the fourth to give the Astros a 2-0 lead.
That looked to be enough, as Atlanta has no answer for Astros pitcher Zach Greinke, who went four innings with no runs, four hits, and three K's. Greinke also became the first pitcher since Corey Kluber in 2016 to get a hit in the World Series.
The Braves offense finally came alive in the sixth when Austin Riley came through, yet again, with an RBI single to put the Braves within. Swanson and Soler put the Braves up with back-to-back jacks in the seventh.
Houston's bullpen had been rock-solid all postseason, but tonight, they lost to the better team. Despite getting off to a 2-0 start, the Astros offense couldn't muster up anything. They stranded the bases loaded in the first, which was their undoing. They got a home run later in the game, but they had their chance to do some early damage.
I've got to give major props to Kyle Wright coming in for Dylan Lee in the first inning for the Braves. After Lee left the game with the bases loaded, Wright came in and inherited a run but managed to get out of the inning. Besides the Altuve homer in the fourth, Wright pitched a solid game tonight, as did the entire Braves bullpen.
Today, Eddie Rosario made another essential play in the field, robbing Altuve of a hit in the top of the eighth inning. Rosario continues to make big play after big play for the Braves. I still think it's crazy that the Braves got Rosario for free at the trade deadline.
For the Braves, they are now unbeaten at home in the postseason. They head into game five, needing one more win to clinch their first World Series in more than 15 years.
The Braves will be starting Tucker Davidson tonight for game five. Davidson will be making his first-ever postseason appearance. I'm not sure he thought he'd be put in this type of situation, but you have to be prepared for anything.
It's unfortunate for the Braves because, under normal circumstances, they would've gone with Morton. The Braves are without Morton for the remainder of the postseason due to a broken fibula he suffered in game one.
The Astros, on the other hand, are expected to go with left-hander Framber Valdez, who is also coming off a rough outing in game one, but manager Dusty Baker has confidence in the southpaw; Otherwise, he wouldn't be out there.
The Atlanta Braves have a chance to do something that no one thought they could do. They have accomplished so much this season, despite so many losses in the regular season fixtures. The Braves played almost the entire season without one of the best players in MLB in Ronald Acuna Jr. and the organization's bonafide starting pitcher, Mike Soroka. Not to mention, they lost Marcell Ozuna during the season amid an assault charge.
Despite losing so much this season, the Braves fought through adversity and look where they are now: one win away from destiny. This team is no fluke.
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Jake Klausner will be covering the World Series for ThePyrrhic.com. Keep your eyes peeled for more from Jake. Follow him on Twitter @jake_klausner