Players of the Atlanta Braves celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., October 23, 2021. /CFP
The Atlanta Braves defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) at Truist Park on Saturday. That victory put an end to the series and sent the Braves to the World Series for the first time since 1999.
They will meet the Houston Astros, which eliminated the Boston Red Sox in the American League series. Game 1 of this year's World Series will happen at Minute Maid Park on October 26.
Saturday's contest was a relatively low-scoring game compared with the previous matchups. The Braves scored one run early in the first inning while no Dodger even touched first base during the first two innings. Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson struck out four batters.
Eddie Rosario (R) of the Atlanta Braves hits a three-run homer during the fourth inning in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park, October 23, 2021. /CFP
Cody Bellinger's RBI single in the top of the fourth inning pulled the Dodgers even 1-1. However, Eddie Rosario's three-run homer put the Braves ahead again 4-1 in the bottom of the same inning.
"It's truly a great moment, not just in my career, but in my life as well, but I want more. I want to win the World Series," said Rosario, who was named the NLCS MVP.
A.J. Minter replaced Anderson from the fifth inning but carried on his dominance by holding the Dodgers to no runs during the following two innings. Brusdar Graterol, who took the place of Phil Bickford after the first four innings, managed to keep the score from going any further for the Dodgers.
Tyler Matzek of the Atlanta Braves pitches during the eighth inning in Game 6 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Truist Park, October 23, 2021. /CFP
The Dodgers launched a counterattack in the seventh inning. Chris Taylor connected on a double to deep left. A.J. Pollock brought him home on an RBI double to pull LA within two runs (4-2). But Tyler Matzek replaced Minter on the mound and struck out three Dodgers in a row. He continued to pitch in the eighth inning and took care of another three batters before closer Will Smith came in and retired another three in a row to end the game.
"What Minter and Matzek did today was just phenomenal. And Matzek's been doing it the entire series. I would like to cut that MVP thing up and give him a little piece of it, because that guy was just spectacular the whole series," said Brian Snitker, manager of the Braves.
"I think this might be the definition of pure joy. It really is. I really don't, it hasn't hit me at all. I don't really know how to feel," said Braves franchise stalwart Freddie Freeman, who will play his first World Series. "We're not done yet, boys! We still have work to do."
Players of the Los Angeles Dodgers look on during the 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game 6 of the NLCS at Truist Park, October 23, 2021. /CFP
No team has won consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees won three in a row between 1998 and 2000. Thirteen teams have tried. The Dodgers are just the latest team to fall short in defending their title.
"It's still not lost on any of us that we didn't accomplish our goal. But for me, I'm giving credit to the Braves, because they outplayed us, plain and simple," said Dave Roberts, manager of the Dodgers.