Astros–Braves rivalry
| First meeting | April 27, 1962 Colt Stadium Braves 2, Colt .45s 1 |
|---|---|
| Latest meeting | April 23, 2023 Truist Park Astros 5, Braves 2 |
| Next meeting | TBD |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 738 |
| Most wins | Braves, 399 |
| Regular season series | Braves, 383–330 (.537) |
| Postseason results | Braves, 16–9 |
| Largest victory | Astros: 13–0 (1978) Braves: 16–0 (2005) |
| Longest win streak |
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| Current win streak | Astros, 4 |
| Post-season history | |
| |
The Astros–Braves rivalry is a Major League Baseball (MLB) interleague rivalry played between the Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves. The Astros and Braves were originally division rivals from the National League West until 1993, when the Astros moved to the National League Central and the Braves moved to the National League East. The two teams enjoyed a fierce rivalry during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with five Division Series matchups within this period. The rivalry's importance diminished once the Astros fell from prominence and eventually moved to the American League West in 2013. However, their rivalry resumed after they faced off in the 2021 World Series.[1][2]
As of 2023, the Astros and Braves played 738 times, 713 of which came in the regular season. The Braves won 383 regular season games to the Astros' 330, and are 16–9 in postseason games and 4–2 in postseason series.[3][4]
Background[edit]
The Astros and Braves had been a part of the National League together between 1962 and 2012, and were in the National League West between 1969 and 1993. But from the 1960s to the 1980s, neither team was able to enjoy sustained success, and it was not until the 1990s that the Astros and Braves were beginning to find a winning formula at the same time, with the Braves' Big Three of Tom Glavine, Greg Maddux and John Smoltz leading them to 14 division titles between 1991 and 2005, along with winning the 1995 World Series, and the Astros' Killer B's of Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio and Derek Bell turning the team into contenders by the end of the decade. By the time the two teams met in the postseason for the first time, they no longer shared the same division, with the Braves already in the National League East and the Astros in the National League Central.
After both teams began rebuilding in the mid-2000s, the rivalry faded from prominence, and once the Astros moved to the American League West in 2013, the two teams only met every three years until 2023. The rivalry would be renewed, however, in the 2021 World Series, this time with new core players such as José Altuve, Yordan Álvarez and Alex Bregman for the Astros, and Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley for the Braves.
History[edit]
1997 National League Division Series[edit]
The Braves and Astros first met in the postseason during the 1997 National League Division Series. In Game 1, Greg Maddux hurled a complete game 2–1 win, with Ryan Klesko homering off Houston pitcher Darryl Kile for the game's decisive run. Then in Game 2, Atlanta exploded for 13 runs in a 13–3 rout, and Houston pitcher Mike Hampton gave up eight walks and six runs in 4 2/3 innings. In Game 3, Atlanta completed the sweep behind a complete game 4–1 win from John Smoltz, and a three-hit performance from Chipper Jones.[5][6]
1999 National League Division Series[edit]
Their second postseason meeting came in the 1999 National League Division Series. In Game 1, Houston broke through with a 6–1 win, with Shane Reynolds outdueling Maddux and the Astros putting up four ninth-inning runs off Atlanta reliever Mike Remlinger, highlighted by a three-run home run from Ken Caminiti. However, the Braves would win the next three games. In Game 2, Kevin Millwood tossed a complete-game one-hitter in a 5–1 win. Game 3 saw Houston tie the game in the seventh with a Bill Spiers RBI single off Remlinger. The game went into extra innings, and during the 10th inning, Walt Weiss made a spectacular play to home plate, and Eddie Pérez nailed a runner out at home to preserve the tie. In the 12th inning, Brian Jordan's two-run double proved to be the difference in a 5–3 Braves win, with Millwood preserving the win on one day's rest. In Game 4, the Braves ended the series with a 7–5 win, with Smoltz pitching seven innings of four-run ball. Game 4 would mark the Astros' final game at the Astrodome.[5][6]
2001 National League Division Series[edit]
The Astros and Braves met for a third time in the 2001 National League Division Series. As in 1997, the series ended in a 3–0 sweep for the Braves. In Game 1, Chipper Jones blasted a three-run home run past Houston closer Billy Wagner in the eighth inning that eventually ended in a 7–4 Atlanta win. Maddux pitched six innings and allowed three runs, and Smoltz picked up the two-inning save. In Game 2, Atlanta won 1–0, with Tom Glavine tossing eight shutout innings. The Braves completed the sweep with a 6–2 victory, as Paul Bako, Julio Franco and Chipper Jones each homered in support of John Burkett.[5][6]
2004 National League Division Series[edit]
The Astros finally overcame the Braves hurdle in the 2004 National League Division Series, earning the franchise's first postseason series win. In Game 1, Roger Clemens allowed three runs in seven innings, and four different Astros homered against the Atlanta pitching staff. In Game 2, Rafael Furcal's two-run walk-off home run helped Atlanta tie the series with a 4–2 win. Then in Game 3, Houston won 8–5 in a high-scoring affair, despite home runs from Braves batters Johnny Estrada and Andruw Jones. In Game 4, Atlanta again evened the series with a 6–5 win. Trailing 5–2 in the sixth inning, Adam LaRoche tied the game with a three-run home run off Chad Qualls, and in the ninth, J. D. Drew's RBI single proved to be the difference. However, the Astros blew out the Braves in Game 5 with a 12–3 win, with series hero Carlos Beltrán adding two more home runs to hike his total to four.[5][6]
2005 National League Division Series[edit]
The Astros repeated over the Braves in the 2005 National League Division Series, this time taking a 3–1 series victory. In Game 1, Andy Pettitte outdueled Tim Hudson by tossing seven innings of three-run ball, and Morgan Ensberg drove in five runs on three hits in a 10–5 win. In Game 2, Brian McCann drilled a three-run second inning home run off Clemens, and Smoltz tossed seven innings of one-run ball in Atlanta's 7–1 win. In Game 3, the Braves bullpen allowed four runs in the decisive seventh inning, helping Houston to a 7–3 victory. Roy Oswalt stifled the Braves offense, allowing only three runs in seven innings. Game 4 would prove to be the most iconic in the series, as Houston won 7–6 in 18 innings to clinch the NLDS. After Atlanta took an early 6–1 lead in large part to an Adam LaRoche grand slam, Lance Berkman knocked a grand slam of his own to cut Atlanta's lead to 6–5. In the ninth, Brad Ausmus' solo home run off Kyle Farnsworth tied the game, sending the game into extra innings. Finally, a walk-off home run from Chris Burke off Atlanta reliever Joey Devine sealed the win for Houston. [5][6]
2021 World Series[edit]
The Astros and Braves would meet in the postseason for a sixth time in the 2021 World Series, with Houston having moved to the American League in 2013. In Game 1, Jorge Soler opened the scoring with a lead-off home run off Framber Valdez,[7] and Adam Duvall blew the game open with a two-run home run in the third inning, leading Atlanta to a 6–2 win.[8] The Astros then responded with a 7–2 win in Game 2, highlighted by a four-run second inning and a seventh-inning home run from José Altuve.[9] In Game 3, the Braves reclaimed the series lead with a 2–0 win, as Ian Anderson, A. J. Minter and Luke Jackson did not allow a hit in seven innings.[10] Atlanta then extended the series lead with a 3–2 win, thanks to back-to-back go-ahead eighth inning home runs from Dansby Swanson and Jorge Soler.[11] In Game 5, Houston avoided elimination with a 9–5 win as Marwin González broke a 5–5 tie with a two-run single in the fifth inning and Martin Maldonado drove in three runs.[12] In Game 6, the Braves won the World Series with a 7–0 victory, as World Series MVP Soler drilled a three-run home run in the third inning to aid Atlanta's clinching win.[13][14]
References[edit]
- ↑ Hablinski, Zach (9 February 2022). "Ranking Five of the Astros' All-Time Greatest Rivals". FanSided (Climbing Tal's Hill). Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ↑ Pingue, Frank (25 October 2021). "Astros and Braves ready to renew rivalry in World Series". Reuters. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ↑ "Astros–Braves head-to-head records". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
- ↑ "Astros–Braves head-to-head records (including postseason)". mcubed.net. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Farber, Ben (25 October 2021). "The Braves and Astros have plenty of playoff history". SB Nation (Battery Power). Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Simon, Andrew (24 October 2021). "Top Astros-Braves playoff moments". MLB.com. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
- ↑ McCalvy, Adam (October 26, 2021). "Soler hits first true World Series leadoff HR". New York: MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
- ↑ Chandler Rome (October 26, 2021). "A false start by Framber Valdez costs Astros in Game 1 loss". Houston Chronicle. Houston: Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved October 28, 2021.
- ↑ Waldstein, David (October 27, 2021). "World Series: Astros Beat Braves to Win Game 2". The New York Times. Houston. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ↑ Blinder, Alan (October 29, 2021). "Atlanta Flirts With a No-Hitter and Takes Series Lead". The New York Times. Atlanta. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ↑ "Swanson, Soler home runs push Braves past Astros in World Series Game 4". WSB-TV. October 30, 2021. Archived from the original on October 31, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Nightengale, Bob (November 1, 2021). "Astros stay alive with Game 5 comeback vs. Atlanta, forcing World Series back to Houston". USA Today. Atlanta: Gannett. Retrieved November 1, 2021.
- ↑ McCalvy, Adam (November 3, 2021). "Soler clears train tracks, hauls in Series MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved November 4, 2021. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Castrovince, Anthony (November 2, 2021). "Braves win 1st World Series title since 1995". MLB.com. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
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