HOUSTON – The Braves are World Series champions for the first time since 1995 and the second time since moving to Atlanta.
They defeated the Astros 7-0 in Game 6 of the World Series on Tuesday night, securing the title behind three home runs and a brilliant outing by Max Fried.
1. Manager Brian Snitker, who’s been in the organization for over four decades, joins mentor and Hall of Famer Bobby Cox as the only individuals to oversee a championship team in Atlanta.
“Gosh, that’s another surreal moment, quite honestly,” Snitker said. “I can’t wait to take that trophy back and show (Cox) either. I’m honored, blessed to be able to sit here in front of you guys as a world champion. Like I say, it’s something you dream about, but I don’t know that you ever feel like it’s going to be a reality, honestly.”
2. Designated hitter Jorge Soler was unanimously voted World Series MVP. He hit three homers in the series, including a three-run blast in Game 6. He’s the fourth player in franchise history to hit three homers in a World Series, following Lonnie Smith (1991), Ryan Klesko (1995) and Hank Aaron (1957).
Soler joins Tom Glavine as Atlanta-era World Series MVPs.
“It means a lot to me, to my family, to the organization, and it’s something really special,” Soler said. “I got off to a rough start at the beginning of the season, and I felt like I started to heat up a little bit before the trade deadline. I was traded over here, and it was challenging at first. I felt a little out of my comfort zone. I didn’t really know people. It was kind of tough to go to a new place and start making those acquaintances and everything.
“Within a week, I felt right at home. Everyone in that clubhouse welcomed me in, and it felt instantly, after a little while, just like a family. It’s top to bottom, from the entire organization since I joined, I always felt extremely welcome here.”
3. Fried was phenomenal, rebounding from two underwhelming starts to pitch six scoreless innings against the high-powered Astros. He held them to four hits, striking out six without issuing a walk.
Another Glavine reference: Both the Braves’ past two World Series-clinching victories featured lefties twirling gems. Glavine was the star of Game 6 in 1995, allowing one hit over eight innings.
“It’s indescribable,” Fried said. “It’s something you dream about as a kid. Something you always want to happen and you dream about, and to be able to kind of have this moment, it’s really special.
“But to be honest, I just got lucky that it was -- today was the day. We have a bunch of guys that really -- I don’t know. All those guys in the clubhouse over there deserve this. It’s so awesome. Just couldn’t be happier for everyone.”
4. Soler, shortstop Dansby Swanson and first baseman Freddie Freeman homered in the victory. Freeman, a Braves mainstay who endured through the rebuilding seasons to reach this point, finally has his championship.
“I’ve said it many times, this organization drafted me when I was 17, and then they gave me the opportunity to be in the big leagues at 20 years old, and they gave me the starting job the next year,” Freeman said. “They didn’t really owe me anything. I owed everything to them because they gave me the opportunity to live out a childhood dream.
“So in my mind, I wanted to do everything I possibly could to help get this team back to winning because I came up when we were winning. So what this organization has accomplished in six years, we lost 97 games in 2015, and six years later we’re world champions. 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.”
Freeman, a multi-time All-Star, MVP and champion, enters free agency this winter. That storyline will dominate the Braves’ offseason for as long as he’s unsigned. But that situation will be addressed later.
5. Overall, this is the Braves’ fourth World Series title, following 1995, 1957 and 1914. The Braves also won their other Atlanta championship in six games over the Indians. They’re the only franchise of the three major Atlanta professional teams (Falcons, Hawks) to win a title. Atlanta United won the MLS Cup in 2018.
Stat to know
2 (The Braves won their second title since moving to Atlanta.)
Quotable
“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. The one quick story is I was here in Houston when the Super Bowl happened (and the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead), and it just kind of feels like no better story could be written than God making us come back here and winning the World Series in Houston. So everything comes full circle.” – Swanson, a Cobb County native
Up next
The Braves will have a busy offseason with several notable free agents, including Freeman, Soler, Eddie Rosario and potentially Joc Pederson and Adam Duvall.
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