It’s been 19 years since the Braves last won a playoff series. I was one year out from graduating college when this happened. Driving home yesterday from work I heard a lot of people making a big deal about this series win for the Braves because it was just a wild card series win. But this is a big deal for Braves Country. This city and this state has suffered way too much with all the losing ways. Out of the 14 straight division titles during the 1990’s under the watchful eye of manager Bobby Cox, the team only won one World Series title. From losing all the other series, the Super Bowl losses from the Falcons, the I don’t even want to turn the TV on to watch the Hawks, yes, this is a big deal for Atlanta Braves fans. Let us, let them, enjoy it, even for a day. I had a little better giddy up this morning heading into the office.
I read so many stories that had the Cincinnati Reds winning this series, and that was just because of all the past postseason failures from the Braves. Both teams pitching was absolutely spectacular during this 2-game series that could have gone three games if it wasn’t a sweep. Starting pitcher Kyle Wright never had to pitch because it didn’t go to game three. He will be well rested for the National League Division Championship which begins on Tuesday.
Entire Braves pitching staff went 27 scoreless inning. Game one had the Braves winning 1-0 in a pitching jewel by SP Max Fried and company and in the bottom of the 13th inning as 1B Freddie Freeman solidified the win and hopefully MVP with a hit up the middle to score the only run of the game.
Game two had another pitching gem as 22-year old rookie Ian Anderson led the charge throwing six scoreless inning and was backed by CF Ronald Acuna’s RBI double that split the gap in left center that went all the way to the wall to score 2B Austin Riley. The Braves opened it up in the bottom of the 8th with these:
The Braves will now be in a bubble as they advance to the NLDS in Houston, TX (Houston Astros stadium) as they will face the winner of the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins. Marlins lead series 1-0 with game two tonight.
Photo Courtesy of UPI.com
Twitter Courtesy of Atlanta Braves
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