World Series Game 3: Atlanta Throws a Two-Hit Shutout
The 2021 World Series headed to Trust Park in Atlanta for Game 3 tied at one apiece. After stealing one on the road in Houston, the Atlanta franchise would need a victory to take the edge in the series.
Prior to the game, the home team held a ceremony to honor the late franchise icon and baseball legend Henry Aaron, who passed away in January.
Atlanta leads 2-1
W: Ian Anderson
L: Luis Garcia
S: Will Smith
Austin Riley struck first for Atlanta with an RBI double on a Garcia cutter deflected into the left field corner by a diving Alex Bregman. This would be the only run allowed by Houston until the 9th inning.
While Houston’s pitchers were sharp, only allowing six hits in the game, they were outdueled by Atlanta. Anderson pitched five scoreless no-hit innings for the home team.
This was the longest World Series pitching appearance without a hit since Don Larsen‘s perfect game in 1956.
It sounds like Ian Anderson will not be going back to the mound, so he exits with 5 IP and no hits allowed. Only Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956 was a longer World Series outing without allowing a hit: https://t.co/krOArSpy0R
— Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) October 30, 2021
The Atlanta pen continued the no-hitter until the 8th, when Aledmys Díaz deposited a single into left field between shortstop Dansby Swanson and left fielder Eddie Rosario.
Díaz, representing the tying run, was replaced by pinch-runner Jose Siri, who advanced to 3rd base with two outs on a throwing error by Travis d’Arnaud during a stolen base attempt. Michael Brantley popped out to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the 8th, d’Arnaud launched a 96.8 mph Kendall Graveman sinker over the center field fence to add an insurance run for the home team.
Bregman led off the Astros 9th with a single against Atlanta closer Smith, which was Houston’s second hit of the game. Smith retired the next three Astros batters to lock down the save and a 2-1 series advantage for the Atlanta squad.
Game 4 will start at 8:09 PM ET on Saturday. The pitching matchup is TBD.
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