In Game 3 of the 2021 World Series, Atlanta Braves starter Ian Anderson stole the show with five no-hit innings against the Houston Astros. The Braves won the game and took a 2-1 series lead.
The Braves’ decision to go to the bullpen while Anderson was throwing a no-hitter was hotly debated, but Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said it was a personal feeling, not the analytics, that suggested Anderson shouldn’t face the top of the Houston lineup a third time.
The Game 4 starting pitching matchup was one of the most unusual we will ever see in a World Series game. Braves starter Dylan Lee is easily the most anonymous, least accomplished pitcher to start a World Series game. Lee lasted only four batters and was pulled.
On the other side was Zack Greinke, who leads active pitchers in innings pitched. Greinke started once in the ALCS and lasted just four outs, inducing no swings-and-misses in the 37 pitches he threw. In Game 4, he pitched four scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out three.
Here are the biggest moments from Game 4:
Back-to-back homers put Atlanta on top
DANS💣#BattleATL pic.twitter.com/AxyBWaNHdh
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 31, 2021
Powered by Soler. 💪#WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/zWKXXC2j44
— MLB (@MLB) October 31, 2021
Braves on the board, but could it have been more?
We knew this game was likely to turn into a battle of the bullpens and here we are. Astros lefty Brooks Raley held lefties to a .191 average in the regular season, but in the sixth, Eddie Rosario doubled off him and Freddie Freeman walked. Phil Maton came on and fanned Ozzie Albies on a 3-2 fastball at the top of the zone for the second out, but Maton hung a 2-2 curveball to Austin Riley, who drilled an RBI single to left field. Yordan Alvarez made an ill-advised throw home — he had no chance to get Rosario — which allowed Riley to reach second base (Alex Bregman was at third base instead of in cutoff position). You are correct if you’ve noticed a lot of bad outfield throws this postseason (and a couple memorable good ones as well). Anyway, terrible fundamental there by the Astros that could have haunted them, but after intentionally walking the ice-cold Joc Pederson to face red-hot Travis d’Arnaud, Maton froze d’Arnaud on a fastball down the middle to escape the jam.
ON THE BOARD, CUZ AUSTIN RILEY 3:16 SAID SO!#BattleATL pic.twitter.com/yZvw8pVN4Z
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) October 31, 2021
Altuve is at it again
After leaving seven runners on through the first three innings, the Astros finally make it 2-0 on Jose Altuve s 23rd career postseason home run (moving past Bernie Williams for second on the all-time postseason list behind Manny Ramirez’s 29). It was a long 434-foot blast to center field and, believe it or not, his first home run to center all season. Of his previous 35 home runs including the postseason, 34 had gone to left field or left-center and one to right field.
Way back, way gone.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/MEej7uQCVS
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 31, 2021
Oh, and let’s see what the organist plays next time Altuve steps up to the plate: This time it was “It’s a Small World.” Last night it was “I’m a Little Teapot.” Not so funny when the little guy crushes one over the fence.
Keeping things close
Fascinating sequence in the top of the third as the Braves escape another bases-loaded jam, this time with no damage. With runners at first and third and two outs, the Braves intentionally walk Yuli Gurriel, the AL batting champ, to have Kyle Wright face the No. 8 hitter — pitcher Zack Greinke, who was batting ahead of catcher Martin Maldonado. Greinke singled in his first at-bat and is one of the best hitting pitchers in the game, but he also batted just twice all regular season. It’s a high-leverage run-scoring chance, but if you pull Greinke you need seven innings from your bullpen. On the other hand, Greinke hasn’t pitched well since mid-August. Dusty Baker let him hit and Greinke grounded out. We’ll see if that turns out to be the right move.
We’ll see if that turns out to be the right move.
A rough start for the rookie
Well, that could have been a lot worse for the Braves. Rookie southpaw Dylan Lee faced four batters and gave up an infield single and walked the two left-handed batters he faced, but Kyle Wright came on with the bases loaded and one out and induced an RBI groundout from Carlos Correa then struck out Kyle Tucker on a 96-mph fastball up in the zone. Tucker would probably like another hack at a 1-2 fastball down the middle that he fouled off. It was a big gamble for the Braves starting a pitcher with just 4.2 innings in the majors, even if they were hoping to just get one inning out of him. In the end, Snitker is fortunate that it’s 1-0 instead of 3-0 considering both these pitchers weren’t even on the original playoff roster for the Braves in the NLDS.
Atlanta can rest easy
The pearl necklace worn by Braves outfielder Joc Pederson has become the accessory du jour for the postseason. The necklace got noticed in early October when Pederson was wearing it when he crushed a three-run homer to beat the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the NLDS.
“I take them off when I sleep,” Pederson said on Oct. 11. “I got them through my jeweler. And, yes, they’re real pearls.”
But, in Game 3 of the World Series, the necklace broke. Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated reported that Pederson had his jeweler flown to Atlanta with a replacement.
And, to a sigh of relief to the superstitious, Pederson has his pearls for Game 4.
Rest easy Braves fans! The pearl necklace is on! #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/KM1IuffAzU
— Marly Rivera (@MarlyRiveraESPN) October 30, 2021
Greinke in great company
In the National League park, the pitcher bats. Greinke will bat eighth in the lineup, ahead of catcher Martin Maldonado. That spot in the lineup puts Greinke in some rare company.
Zack Greinke is just the 2nd pitcher to hit above 9th in the lineup in the #WorldSeries.
The other is Babe Ruth in 1918 (Game 4), who hit 6th.
h/t: @SlangsOnSports pic.twitter.com/GqYP3McMmJ
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 30, 2021
Greinke only had two at-bats this season. He is a career-.225 hitter.
Pregame looks
All good, new day, new game, let’s gooooooo #ForTheH 🍍 pic.twitter.com/VZLM5hXaSb
— Yulieski Gurriel (@el_yuly10) October 30, 2021
Checking in for Game 4.
Will Houston even the series tonight? pic.twitter.com/L6Kw0CFEYx
— MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2021
game cut
🤝
4 pic.twitter.com/rD5igexBV9— Cut4 (@Cut4) October 30, 2021
