World Series Game 5: Braves aim for a fourth Major League title - and just their second since moving to Atlanta in 1966 - as the Astros hope to survive to play back in Houston on Tuesday
- Occupants of Atlanta since 1966, the Braves can give the city its second World Series title with a Game 5 win
- Trailing 3-1, the Astros are hoping to push the series back to Houston with a win in Atlanta on Sunday night
Occupants of Atlanta since 1966, the Braves can give the city its second World Series title with a victory in Game 5 on Sunday.
The Braves used back-to-back home runs from Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler in the seventh inning Saturday to rally for a 3-2 victory and take a 3-1 series lead over the Houston Astros.
The last time the Braves won a World Series, Brad Pitt's 'Seven' was the top movie. Mariah Carey owned that month with the single 'Fantasy.' That was 1995, with the Braves hoping this year that their fantasy won't have to go a full seven.
The Braves had a line on a title last season, but could not finish off the National League Championship Series despite a 3-1 lead. They already avenged that disappointment, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in this year's NLCS.
Now they have the Astros on the ropes with that same 3-1 advantage that slipped away in the playoffs last year.
'It's such a cool moment for this city, but we got one more,' said Swanson, an Atlanta-area native, who was traded to the Braves from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December of 2015, just over six months after he was drafted No. 1 overall. 'They have a great ballclub over there and we can't take anything for granted. We have to come out (Sunday) and be ready to play our game.'
The Braves are undecided who their Game 5 starter will be after Charlie Morton suffered a fractured right fibula when he was hit with a comebacker in Game 1. Left-hander Max Fried said he was willing to take the mound on short rest, but manager Brian Snitker did not announce his pitcher after the Game 5 victory.
The Astros are sending Game 1 starter Framber Valdez to the mound Sunday. Valdez was roughed up for five runs over two innings in Game 1, giving up eight hits along with home runs from Soler and Adam Duvall.
Valdez already has eight postseason appearances (seven starts) over the past two seasons and is 4-2 with a 3.73 ERA.
But Valdez's Game 1 start is not the Astros' biggest concern. Houston has scored just two combined runs over the past two games and left 11 runners on base in Game 4, including seven over the first four innings.
'They have good pitchers and they have been executing every pitch,' said Houston's Jose Altuve, who has two home runs in the World Series but is just 4-for-18 in four games. 'They are not giving us a lot of pitches to hit. We're trying hard as hitters, we have a good lineup, but sometimes you have to give credit to the other team.'
No. 3 hitter Alex Bregman is just 1-for-14 in the series with five strikeouts and no extra-base hits. Cleanup hitter Yordan Alvarez is 1-for-11. Carlos Correa is 2-for-14.
Astros manager Dusty Baker was asked after Game 4 if he would consider a lineup change that has Bregman lower in the order.
'Well, yeah, I thought about it,' Baker said. 'I'll let you know tomorrow when I make the lineup out.'
A Atlanta Braves fan holds up a sign during batting practice before Game 5 of the World Series against the Houston Astros
Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies walks across the field ahead of Game 5 of the World Series against the Astros
A fan watches during batting practice before Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday at Atlanta's Truist Park
Atlanta Braves designated hitter Jorge Soler smiles during batting practice before Game 5 on Sunday at Truist Park
A general view of the field prior to Game Five of the World Series at Atlanta's Truist Park on Sunday afternoon
DONALD AND MELANIA TRUMP DO TOMAHAWK CHOP
Only months after calling for a boycott of Major League Baseball, former President Donald Trump did the tomahawk chop with Atlanta Braves fans at Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday night.
Trump stood beside former first lady Melania, as they chopped away with fans before the game between the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros from a private suite.
It was the first time Melania had been seen in public since July, when she was spotted leaving the Trump Tower in New York City with son Barron, and the first time she had been seen with her husband since April.
Trump was expected to be joined by political allies, including US Senate candidate Herschel Walker.
Former President Donald Trump and his wife Melania perform the tomahawk chop before for Game 4 of baseball's World Series between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves
The Tomahawk Chop sees people move their arm forwards and backwards with an open palm, simulating chopping that would be done with a Tomahawk, a single-handed ax, originally constructed by Native Americans.
Among the reasons the chop has been slammed for being offensive and promoting a racist stereotype or caricature of Native Americans.
'The name ''Braves,'' the tomahawk adorning the team's uniform, and the ''tomahawk chop'' that the team exhorts its fans to perform at home games are meant to depict and caricature not just one tribal community but all Native people, and that is certainly how baseball fans and Native people everywhere interpret them,' National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp said in a statement on Wednesday.
'In our discussions with the Atlanta Braves, we have repeatedly and unequivocally made our position clear -- Native people are not mascots, and degrading rituals like the 'tomahawk chop' that dehumanize and harm us have no place in American society,' Scott added.
Trump released a statement in a mass email to his supporters Saturday about his planned World Series appearance:
'Looking forward to being at the World Series in Atlanta tonight. Thank you to the Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred, and Randy Levine, president of the New York Yankees, for the invite. Melania and I are looking forward to a wonderful evening watching two great teams!'
MLB denied ever making the invitation and said in a statement, 'He requested to attend the game.'
Among the reasons the chop is offensive is because it promotes a racist stereotype or caricature of Native Americans but the Trump's followed thousands of others in the crowd
Former football player and political candidate Herschel Walker interacts with former first lady and president of the United States Melania and Donald Trump. Trump was an owner of the New Jersey Generals when Walker played for the team in the now-defunct league, and they have maintained a relationship
The visit to Truist Park provided Trump an opportunity to be seen with Walker, the former University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winner and running back with the Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings and USFL New Jersey Generals.
Trump was an owner of the Generals when Walker played for the team in the now-defunct league, and they have maintained a relationship. Trump has encouraged Walker to run for Senate.
Indigenous peoples advocacy groups say the Braves' name and 'tomahawk chop' chant are both racist, but the Trump's went ahead and did it anyway
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell endorsed Walker on Wednesday. Walker is seeking to unseat Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock.
Trump encouraged a boycott of MLB games after Manfred removed the All-Star Game from Atlanta. The game instead was held in Denver.
President Joe Biden supported moving the game, though some Braves fans and businesses near Truist Park complained they were being unfairly punished.
Manfred's decision announced in April followed a protest of Georgia's new voting law, which includes an ID requirement for mail-in votes. Critics say the law will negatively affect communities of color.
Trump may have selected Atlanta in hopes of a more positive reception than he received in his last World Series appearance. When still in office, he was booed when he sat in the stands at Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Astros and Washington at Nationals Park.
Trump was not shown on the Truist Park video board before the game however one moment that was caught on camera between former president Trump together with his wife Melania happened when the former first lady's smile quickly drain away from her face.
It came just as the crowd had been cheering for the couple who even joined in the Braves signature 'Tomahawk' gesture prior to the start of the game.
Trump and Melania were both seen to be smiling broadly with the former president looking comfortable as he gestured and pointed to spectators who were waving back to him.
While television cameras were trained on the couple, Melania suddenly appeared to grow tired of the wave and point routine, and quickly turned away, rolling her eyes and her signature smile gone in an instant.
- Associated Press
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