World Series score: Braves capture first title since 1995 after slugging way

The Atlanta Braves are World Series champions for the first time since 1995. The Braves won the 2021 World Series on Tuesday, defeating the Houston Astros 7-0 (box score) in Game 6 to take the series, 4-2. The Braves, who won the title at Houston’s Minute Maid Park, were paced by an offensive onslaught and a gem from left-hander Max Fried in the title-clinching win.

Atlanta jumped out to a sizable lead thanks to two multi-run home runs early in the game. Jorge Soler delivered a massive three-run blast in the third inning to put Atlanta up early. Statcast had Soler’s home run traveling 446 feet with an exit velocity of 109.6 mph.

Soler, who was named World Series MVP, entered the game having homered twice as part of a 5 to 17 start to the Fall Classic. In Game 6, he hit the loudest homer of the postseason:

Then, in the fifth, the Braves plated a pair of runs on a Dansby Swanson homer. Swanson’s wasn’t quite as impressive as Soler’s, but it did have an exit velocity of 108.8 mph and it carried some 411 feet, again according to Statcast. A Freddie Freeman double later in the fifth (and then a homer in the seventh) gave the Braves what proved to be an insurmountable 7-0 lead. 

Here are three other things to know about the Braves’ championship victory, including Fried’s gem.

1. Fried recovers from rocky start

The funny thing about Max Fried’s start is that it could’ve easily gone south. Fried allowed the first two runners he faced to reach base: one on an infield single, the other on an error that saw Fried make multiple mistakes as he attempted to cover first on a throw from Freddie Freeman. Fried didn’t look to Freeman early enough to receive the ball as he was in motion, and also failed to find the bag with his foot. As a consequence of the latter part, Fried had his ankle/shin area stepped on by the runner, Houston left fielder Michael Brantley.

Fried, who had dealt with his fair share of misfortune this postseason run, was nevertheless able to right the ship. He escaped the first inning without allowing damage, and from there he was automatic. All told, Fried threw six shutout innings, surrendering just four hits and no walks on the night. He punched out four batters and he generated seven swinging strikes on 74 pitches. He was ever-efficient, too, stringing together three consecutive innings during the middle frames in which he delivered a single-digit number of pitches.

Manager Brian Snitker didn’t ask too much from Fried, either, pulling him to begin the seventh so that he could turn things over to his bullpen.