World Series Game 4: Braves vs Astros

By Karl de Vries and Jason Kurtz, CNN

Updated 10:39 a.m. ET, October 31, 2021
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12:17 a.m. ET, October 31, 2021

Braves win Game 4, take 3-1 World Series lead

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

Will Smith of the Braves celebrates the teams 3-2 win against the Astros in Game 4.
Will Smith of the Braves celebrates the teams 3-2 win against the Astros in Game 4. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

The Atlanta Braves are one win away from the franchise's first world championship since 1995.

Highlighted by back-to-back 7th inning homers from shortstop Dansby Swanson and a pinch-hitting Jorge Soler, Atlanta edged the visiting Astros 3-2 on Saturday night. The Braves can capture the crown in front of their home crowd on Sunday night.

Houston had most of the momentum in the game's early innings, but failed to capitalize on scoring opportunities, ultimately stranding 11 baserunners, and Astros hitters were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

Atlanta starter Dylan Lee registered just a single out, handing the ball over to Kyle Wright with the bases loaded in the first inning. But Wright allowed only one of his inherited runners to cross, and gave the Braves a solid 4.2 innings of work in relief. A solo shot by Jose Altuve in the fourth inning was Wright's sole miscue of significance, as Houston held only a slim 2-0 lead through five innings.

Star third baseman Austin Riley got the Braves on the board in the 6th with an RBI single to left. The 24-year-old also turned in a key defensive play in the second inning, robbing Altuve of an RBI on a hard-sinking liner.

After Swanson and Soler's homers in the 7th, Altuve was again victimized by the Braves defense, as left fielder Eddie Rosario ran down a blast at the warning track in the top of the 8th to preserve Atlanta's 3-2 lead.

Braves closer Will Smith pitched a perfect 9th inning, forcing Yordan Alvarez to ground out to first baseman Freddie Freeman for the final out of the night. Atlanta reliever Tyler Matzek earned the victory for the Braves, while Houston's Cristian Javier -- who allowed both Swanson and Soler's dingers -- suffered the loss.

The Braves are now 7-0 at home this postseason. An eighth win at Truist Park on Sunday would deliver the franchise just its second title since moving to Atlanta.

11:36 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Eddie Rosario chases down Altuve blast to keep Atlanta on top

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario catches a fly ball hit by the Astros' Jose Altuve during the eighth inning.
Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario catches a fly ball hit by the Astros' Jose Altuve during the eighth inning. (Brynn Anderson/AP)

Eddie Rosario's running catch in left field ended the top of the 8th inning, preserving Atlanta's slim 3-2 lead.

Batting with two down and the bases empty, Houston's second baseman Jose Altuve had designs on his second homer of the ballgame. But Rosario's play on the warning track turned Altuve away, ending the frame and keeping Atlanta in front by one.

It's 3-2 Braves in the bottom of the 8th.

11:16 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Braves take Game 4 lead with back-to-back 7th inning HRs

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

Dansby Swanson of the Braves celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning.
Dansby Swanson of the Braves celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson picked the right time to launch his first homer of the 2021 postseason.

His 7th inning solo blast off Astros reliever Cristian Javier landed in the right field seats before bouncing back onto the field, tying the game at 2-2 and delighting the hometown Atlanta crowd in the process.

And if the Braves faithful were delighted by that, they'd be ecstatic four pitches later when pinch hitter Jorge Soler followed with a solo shot of his own.

Soler's blast to left missed Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez's outstretched glove by mere inches, barely clearing the wall and giving Atlanta its first lead of the game.

It's now 3-2 Braves as we head to the 8th.

11:00 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Braves get on the board with Riley RBI

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

Austin Riley of the Braves hits an RBI single during the sixth inning.
Austin Riley of the Braves hits an RBI single during the sixth inning. (Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Braves' third baseman Austin Riley turned in a fabulous defensive play in the second inning. Four frames later, his liner to left has the Braves on the scoreboard for the first time in Game 4.

Batting with two down and two on in the bottom of the sixth, Riley's rip off Astros reliever Phil Maton plated left fielder Eddie Rosario and cut the Astros' lead in half, 2-1.

Rosario's double gave the Braves their first runner in scoring position all evening, and after a walk to Freddie Freeman and a strikeout by second baseman Ozzie Albies, Riley came through with the RBI.

But Maton limited the damage from there, striking out catcher Travis d'Arnaud with the bases loaded to end the threat.

Atlanta has left five runners on base, while the Astros have stranded 10.

It's now 2-1 Astros in the 7th.

10:25 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Astros have stranded 10 runners through 6 innings

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

If the Astros fail to hold on and win Game 4, it won't be difficult to dissect how things went wrong.

Houston has left 10 men on base through six innings and is 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position, though they hold a 2-0 lead.

Atlanta reliever Kyle Wright, who entered the game with the bases loaded and only one out in the 1st, skillfully worked out of one sticky situation after another. His night is over after 4.2 innings, the longest outing by a reliever in Braves' postseason history.

Wright's only real mistake came in the 4th on a solo home run from Astros' second baseman Jose Altuve.

RHP Chris Martin took over the pitching duties for the Braves and was pinch-hit for in the bottom half of the 6th.

10:03 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Four scoreless innings for Greinke

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

Zack Greinke of the Astros delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in Game Four.
Zack Greinke of the Astros delivers a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in Game Four. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Veteran right-hander Zack Greinke gave the Astros exactly what they wanted in Game 4, keeping the Braves' bats at bay for four scoreless frames.

RHP Ryan Stanek is now pitching for the Astros.

The 38-year-old Greinke, who was making his second start of the 2021 postseason, allowed only four hits -- a single in each inning -- while striking out three Braves. He did not walk anyone and benefited from a pair of inning-ending double plays.

Batting 8th -- instead of the 9th spot traditionally reserved for pitchers -- Greinke also added a hit to his line, becoming the first pitcher with a World Series base knock since Corey Kluber in 2016.

It's 2-0 Astros in the bottom of the 5th.

9:49 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Altuve HR makes it 2-0 Astros

From CNN's Karl de Vries

Astros' Jose Altuve watches his home run during the fourth inning.
Astros' Jose Altuve watches his home run during the fourth inning. (David J. Phillip/AP)

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve widened the Astros' lead to 2-0 by going deep against Braves hurler Kyle Wright in the top of the 4th.

The blast is the leadoff man's second home run of the 2021 World Series. It's also his 23rd career postseason home run, which makes him second on the all-time list, behind Manny Ramirez's 29.

2-0 Astros midway through the 4th.

9:01 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Riley's hot corner gem keeps Game 4 at 1-0

By CNN's Jason Kurtz

Braves third baseman Austin Riley turned in a defensive gem in the top of the 2nd.

With runners at first and second and only one out, Riley snared a hard-sinking liner off the bat of Jose Altuve, robbing the Astros' leadoff hitter of extra bases and a likely RBI.

Braves reliever Kyle Wright then induced an inning-ending groundout from left fielder Michael Brantley.

Through two frames, the Astros have already stranded four runners.

1-0 Astros through the first two innings.

9:19 p.m. ET, October 30, 2021

Trump participates in the 'Tomahawk chop'

From CNN's Karl de Vries

Former first lady Melania Trump and President of the United States Donald Trump do "the chop" prior to Game Four of the World Series on October 30 in Atlanta.
Former first lady Melania Trump and President of the United States Donald Trump do "the chop" prior to Game Four of the World Series on October 30 in Atlanta. (Elsa/Getty Images)

Former President Trump participated in the "Tomahawk chop" during Game 4 of the World Series in Atlanta.

The stadium-wide chant, a longtime tradition at Braves games, has been under renewed scrutiny in recent years as part of a national discussion about racism and racial imagery in professional sports.

Several advocacy groups and observers have accused the chant of mocking Native American groups and decried it as racist. But many Braves fans, including Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, have dismissed the criticism, and the stadium has led the fans in doing the chant in both Games 3 and 4 of the series.

Trump has frequently sought to capitalize politically on such controversies as part of an effort to galvanize White voters who make up much of his political base.