Five Atlanta pitchers combined on a two-hitter, Austin Riley hit a run-scoring double and Travis d’Arnaud homered to help the Atlanta Braves post a 2-0 victory over the visiting Houston Astros on Friday night in Game 3 of the World Series.
The Braves, who didn’t allow a hit through seven innings, took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Saturday night in Atlanta.
Riley’s two-bagger in the third inning and d’Arnaud’s blast in the eighth were all the offense Atlanta needed.
The Braves’ attempt to throw the second no-hitter in World Series history ended in the eighth when Houston pinch hitter Aldemys Diaz dropped a leadoff single into left field off left-hander Tyler Matzek.
Braves left fielder Eddie Rosario seemed to have trouble tracking the ball, which landed just in front of him. Pinch-runner Jose Siri stole second with two outs and moved to third on a throwing error by catcher d’Arnaud before Matzek retired Michael Brantley on an infield popup.
Braves left-hander Will Smith allowed a leadoff single to Alex Bregman in the ninth before retiring the next three hitters to complete the shutout. Smith earned his first save of the World Series and fifth of the 2021 postseason.
Atlanta right-hander Ian Anderson (1-0) worked five hitless innings, and left-hander A.J. Minter and right-hander Luke Jackson followed with one hit-free inning apiece.
Anderson was removed despite throwing just 76 pitches. He struck out four and walked three.
Astros right-hander Luis Garcia (0-1) allowed one run and three hits over 3 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four.
The Braves scored in the third when Rosario walked and Freddie Freeman singled to left-center to start the inning. One out later, Riley ripped a run-scoring double inside the third base line to score Rosario.
Houston threatened with two outs in the fourth when Anderson walked Yordan Alvarez and hit Carlos Correa with a pitch. However, the Astros came up empty when Kyle Tucker bounced back to Anderson.
Anderson retired the side in the fifth before getting the hook from Braves manager Brian Snitker.
Atlanta got an insurance run with two outs in the eighth when d’Arnaud sent a sinker from Houston right-hander Kendall Graveman over the fence in center. The blast traveled 437 feet.
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The lone no-hitter in World Series history occurred when Don Larsen of the New York Yankees fired a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956.
The only other no-hitter in postseason play was thrown by Philadelphia Phillies’ Roy Halladay against the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 National League Division Series.
–Field Level Media