Dominant pitching leads to Braves win over Astros in World Series Game 3

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — The Atlanta Braves waited 22 years to play a World Series game in front of a home crowd again. On Friday night, they did not disappoint a sold-out crowd at Truist Park.

The Braves defeated the Astros, 2-0, behind stellar pitching performances that only gave up two hits to a Houston offense that rocked them in Game 2.

Dominance on the mound was much needed as Atlanta’s offense only scored the two runs and left nine men on base. Atlanta now holds a 2-1 series lead and have not lost a postseason game at home.

“The guys like playing here. I mean, they do. Guys ask me during the season, how come you win on the road and you don’t win at home and vice versa? I don’t know what it is. I know the guys like playing here. They like being at home. They like our atmosphere. Just everything internally. Our fans are awesome,” manager Brian Snitker said.

In need of a good outing from their starting pitcher, Ian Anderson delivered for the Braves and got things rolling. He threw five hitless, scoreless innings and struck out four batters he faced.

“You want to go out there and give the team innings. I think your mindset changes a little bit. Obviously, losing Game 2, we wanted the focus on putting zeros up and however many innings that’s for. That’s kind of what I was thinking,” Anderson said.

Anderson is 4-0 in his postseason career with a 1.26 ERA.

A.J. Minter, Luke Jackson, Tyler Matzek and Will Smith showed once again why they have been one of the best bullpens in the postseason.

The Braves pitching staff came close to a combined no-hitter until the Astros got a bloop single to left field in the eighth inning. There had been only two no-hitters in MLB postseason history: Don Larsen’s perfect game for the Yankees in 1956 World Series and Roy Halladay’s no-hitter in the 2020 NLDS.

“The no-hitter is cool and all, but what it comes down to is we want to win the game. That’s what it’s all about. Snit trusted the bullpen to come in and do our job. I think Ian probably would say the same thing,” Matzek said.

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Atlanta’s two runs of the game came courtesy of a RBI double by Austin Riley in the third and a solo home run from Travis d’Arnaud in the eighth.

Friday night’s win is the first World Series win by the Braves at home since they won the 1995 championship at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

Before the game, the Braves honored the late Hank Aaron with a special ceremony with his wife Billye Aaron and his son throwing out the first pitch.

Snitker said winning the game and honoring his mentor was everything he thought it would be.

“The fans were unbelievable. I’m sure outside in The Battery everything was just crazy. No, it was really cool. Really cool,” he said. “I thought -- you know, I got to hug Billye, you know, and (pausing) tell her how much I missed Hank.

Game 4 is set for Saturday nigh at 8:09 p.m. Zach Greinke will start for the Astros while the Braves will use an opener and bullpen game.

Braves put the finishing touches on field for World Series

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