Freddie Freeman reminisces about how incredible it was to witness the birth of his son, and end the MLB season as World Series Champions. (1:21).
The 2021 baseball season is over. The Atlanta Braves won the title of the most unlikely World Series champion in recent memory. On Tuesday, the Atlanta offense was at its peak, with Jorge Soler scoring a moonshot in third inning to drive in three runs. This allowed the Braves their first World Series title since 1995.
Max Fried's strong performance on the mound was the key to the Braves lifting the championship trophy. Fried lasted six innings and allowed four hits. He also struck out six. This was a huge turnaround for Fried, a 27-year old lefty who had struggled in his previous two postseason starts. He went 4.2 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and struck out six.
Fried's pitch distribution was the most significant change in Fried’s approach to the Astros lineup. The Braves lefty relied heavily on his slider, and his cutter in Game 2. He threw both pitches only 30.2% of his time. His altered approach saw his slider and cutter use drop to 14.9%, 9.5%, respectively. There was also an increase in the use of his four-seamer (24.4 - 40.5%), sinker (10.5 -16.2%), and changeup (4.7 - 14.9%). Fried was able to locate his pitches closer to the strike zone and left less pitches above the plate's heart. Atlanta had two games in which it taxed its relief corp with bullpen games. Atlanta needed Fried to win the World Series.
Atlanta proved that the baseball playoffs are a fact. It doesn't matter how great your roster appears on paper (*stares intently at the Yankees or Dodgers*), when it comes down to the baseball playoffs, it doesn’t matter. The Braves were on fire when they needed it, and rode a pitching team of great arms deep into the playoffs. They also found an unlikely postseason hero in Eddie Rosario. When the Mets topped the NL East, and star outfielder Ronald Acua Jr. was injured, it was easy to dismiss Atlanta from ever making the playoffs. Despite having talent like Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout, stars will not get you far in baseball.
Baseball can be as individualistic as it is, so players must perform on all levels of the team. Atlanta was the best team in baseball at the highest stakes.
These are the top moments and plays of Game 6:
Freeman sends one pilot
In what was likely his final home run with the Braves as a player, Freddie Freeman made it count, putting a dagger in the Houston Astros' eyes and moving Atlanta closer to winning the World Series. Freeman's 85.5 mph slider from Rynestanek to left field was hit by Freeman with two outs in seventh inning. This made it 7-0 Atlanta's score. Freeman, who is currently in the final year of his $8-year, $135 Million contract, hit.300/.393 this season with 31 homers. Freeman has been with the Braves for the entire 12 year of his career.
The Braves continue to pile on the points
Atlanta extends their lead. The Braves began the inning with an Ozzie Albies walked and a Travis d'Arnaud hitout. Shortstop Dansby Swanson then smashed a 94.6 mph fastball from Cristian Javier. It sailed 108.8 mph for 411 yards, extending the Astros lead by 5-0. Blake Taylor replaced Javier and got Eddie Rosario to ground-out before walking Jorge Soler. Atlanta extended their lead further with Freddie Freeman's double on a flyball that bounced off the left field fence. Soler scored and Atlanta increased its lead to 6-0. Taylor was replaced by Phil Maton who got Austin Riley out of center field and struck out Kyle Tucker. However, it was too little too late for the Braves to extend their lead in the World Series clincher. The Braves are now in the lead after Soler's hit.
Braves get the lead early with Soler Smash
Jorge Soler hit one on the tracks and into the... Soler System, his third-inning homer that gave Atlanta the win 3-0. Soler was started by Garcia with a cutter in dirt. Soler then threw through another cutter to even the score at 1-1. Garcia then followed with balls on a fourseamer and cutter to make it 3-1, before throwing a strike. Soler had fouled off two pitches: an 80.5 mph slider, and a 95 mph four-seamer. Soler then blasted an 83.4-mph cutter onto the Minute Maid Field tracks. The ball traveled 446 feet. Atlanta was now in control of Game 6.
SOLER HAS LEFT THE BUILDING. pic.twitter.com/IOc5wXreRb MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2021
Astros get celebrity support
They have the support of some celebrities and are hoping to force a Game 7. Adrian Peterson, the NFL running back, made his predictions for Games 6 and 7. Travis Scott, a hip-hop artist, was there to hype up the crowd before the game.
Astros in 7!!! Adrian Peterson (@AdrianPeterson), November 3, 2021
Advice for a father-to-be
Correa was given some parenting advice before he concentrated on Game 6. His wife is expecting their first child, and Kevin Millar, a former MLB first baseman, offered some parenting advice to Correa on his "Intentional Talk" show. Millar is a father to four children, so he knows a lot about diaper changing.
