Freddie Freeman hits a solo homer to center field, giving the Braves a 5-4 lead over the Brewers. (1:01).
Atlanta Braves will be returning to the National League Championship Series in dramatic fashion for the second consecutive season.
Two-out, first-pitch homer by Freddie Freeman of the Braves was hit to center field by Josh Hader, the Milwaukee Brewers All-Star closer. This lifted the Braves to a 5-4 win, which closed out the NL division series in four.
Freeman's heroics brought an end to a back-and forth affair in which the Braves & Brewers combined for nine runs, the total runs they scored during the first three games a well-pitched series.
Although Freeman is the Braves' face, the reigning NL MVP, and potential future Hall of Famer, is Freeman. His homer off Hader was a stunning feat.
Hader, one the most dominant relievers in his generation, had never allowed any postseason homers. Hader had only allowed seven homers to lefties during his regular season career, and none since Sept. 12, 2019, when the Chicago Cubs' Jason Heyward did it.
But, Freeman was able to score a game-winning run against Hader in the 10th innings of an Atlanta game on May 18, 2019.
This time, the stakes were much higher.
Milwaukee broke a 0-for-20 drought by snapping a four-run lead for the Brewers with RBI hits by Omar Narvaez (RBI) and Lorenzo Cain (RBI).
Atlanta scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to Eddie Rosario’s two-out and two-run single.
Milwaukee retook the lead in the fifth thanks to a huge two-run homer by Game 1 hero Rowdy Terez, who hit a 448-footer into Truist Park's forest and water display.
The Braves also did that in the bottom fifth.
The series returned to its original form as both bullpens of each team strung together zeros, setting Freeman's stage.
Atlanta now has back-to-back NLCS berths for the first time in five years, following a 1999-end streak of five years.
Atlanta was one game shy of the World Series last season when it lost Game 7 of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Arlington, Texas.
As they wait for the winner of the San Francisco Giants - Dodgers series, the Braves may have a chance to avenge their loss.
