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Dialuna 25 OctOber 2021

Braves vs Astros: A World Series 6 decades in the making

cheered. At every other ball- for the Braves. met a lot, starting when the
park, they’re heckled — and 1962 expansion Houston
worse — as the game’s worst In an era of social reckoning Colt .45s took on the Mil-
villains. that saw the Cleveland Indi- waukee Braves. There were
ans change their name to the the days of catcher Joe Torre
“Ever since the news came Guardians and Washington’s trying to throw out young Joe
out, the bad news that we’ve NFL team get rid of a name Morgan, the Niekro brothers
had to deal with about what considered racist, the scene pitching against each other
happened in 2017, I think in Atlanta is sure to draw in- and fireballing Nolan Ryan
we’ve all wanted to prove creased attention. facing Dale Murphy.
what kind of class of play-
ers that we are and team that On the field — and the The .45s became the Astros
we are,” AL Championship bench — a lot of eyes will be in 1965 and from 1997-2005,
Series MVP Yordan Alvarez on Baker. the clubs played five times in
said. the NL Division Series, with
He won the World Series as Atlanta winning three of the
(AP) - Freddie Freeman and The Toy Cannon teeing “I wasn’t here with the team a player with the Los Angeles matchups. Houston moved
swinging onto baseball’s up home run derby at the in 2017, but I’ve gotten booed Dodgers in 1981 and has tak- from NL Central to the AL
biggest stage for the first Astrodome, or Greg Mad- just as equal as anybody else. en five teams to the playoffs West in 2013.
time, Jose Altuve & Co. dux, Tom Glavine and John So I think we all have the as a manager but never won
back for more. Luis Gar- Smoltz vs. Jeff Bagwell and same mentality that we really the crown. Snitker certainly followed all
cia, Framber Valdez and a Craig Biggio on a June eve- want to win a World Series to of them. The 66-year-old At-
fresh set of Houston arms ning on TBS. demonstrate that we are just a Baker took this job in 2020 in lanta manager has spent four
facing Ozzie Albies, Aus- great team,” he said. the wake of Houston’s cheat- decades in the Braves’ or-
tin Riley and these eager, Because of scheduling and ing scandal — “there’s a few ganization as a player, coach
young Atlanta bats. COVID-19, the Astros and The Astros are in the World things I still hadn’t accom- and skipper.
Braves haven’t seen each oth- Series for the third time in plished” — and at 72, with
And the endless quest for Mr. er since 2017. They’ll now five years and got there mi- a lifetime of credentials, gets He tuned in Friday night
Dusty Baker. meet for Game 1 on Tuesday nus ace Justin Verlander, who another chance. when the Astros and son Troy
night in Houston. missed the season while re- beat Boston in the clinching
Braves-Astros, a lot to savor covering from Tommy John “Last year I felt like a substi- Game 6 of the ALCS.
in this World Series — even The Astros opened as a 3-2 surgery. tute teacher, really. I was an
a family faceoff. Atlanta man- favorite, according to Fan- outsider,” Baker said. “But “That was neat. Proud of
ager Brian Snitker’s son, Troy, Duel Sportsbook. The Braves overcame a sea- this year, they made me feel him. Got to FaceTime with
is a Houston hitting coach. son-ending knee injury to like I was one of them and him. Watched the celebra-
But before we begin, let’s dynamic star Ronald Acuña they were definitely always tion,” he said, hours before
“It’s like the Snitkers are go- just say it: There are many Jr. in July and surged after one of me. That’s what it’s all the Braves finished off the
ing to have a World Series baseball fans who might not being stuck at 52-55 in ear- about. Everybody talks team- Dodgers in Game 6 of the
trophy in their house here,” be thrilled to see either team ly August. Boosted by NL work, they talk about a team, NLCS.
dad said Saturday night. “I here in late October. Championship Series MVP but it’s a feeling that you get
don’t know who is going to Eddie Rosario, Atlanta is for each other.” “I told him the first time, it’s
own it, but we’re going to Altuve and Astros teammates making its first appearance in not this easy, you know, it’s
have one. So that’s a pretty Carlos Correa, Alex Bregman the Fall Classic since 1999. Baker’s history in this match- really hard to get there, as
cool thing, too.” and Yuli Gurriel will forever up runs especially deep. Play- we’re seeing. But it’s been a
wear the label of cheaters af- Yet while the roster and sta- ing with Braves great Hank great experience for him and
A matchup six decades in the ter being part of a team that dium have changed, the Aaron in 1968, he got first I’m happy for him. I said, I
making, pairing former Na- devised an illegal, sign-steal- sights and sounds in Atlanta major league hit at the As- hope I can join you,” he said.
tional League rivals who’ve ing scheme on its way to the still remain. Throughout the trodome in a loss to Jimmy
played more than 700 times, 2017 championship. NLCS, fans at Truist Park Wynn and Houston. Hours later, he and the
including five postseason se- emphatically chopped and Braves were on their way.
ries. Think of The Hammer At Minute Maid Park, they’re chanted during big moments Over the years, these teams

Kontaveit wins Kremlin Cup in comeback over Alexandrova

(AP) — Anett Kontaveit twice August and the Ostrava Open last Karatsev in the men’s final later Sun- day.
came back from the brink of de- month. On the women’s tour only
feat to beat Ekaterina Alexan- top-ranked Ash Barty has won more
drova 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 and win the than three titles this season, with five.
Kremlin Cup on Sunday to stay in Barbora Krejcikova also has three.
contention for a place at the WTA
Finals. “Unfortunately I couldn’t manage
to achieve more today and I’m re-
Kontaveit turned the second set ally very sad but I’m going to work
around from 4-0 down and mounted on this and hope something like that
another comeback to win the decider won’t happen again next time,” Alex-
with a break of serve when Alexan- androva said.
drova served for the match at 5-4 up.
Next week either Kontaveit or Ons
“I’m still a little bit speechless,” Kon- Jabeur can secure the last spot at the
taveit said. “Congratulations to Ekat- WTA Finals. Jabeur has a points lead,
erina. You played such great tennis meaning Kontaveit would need to
today.” win the Transylvania Open in Roma-
nia and hope Jabeur does not reach
Playing in Moscow with a wild card, the semifinals in Courmayeur, Italy.
the Estonian won her third title on
tour in as many months after win- Marin Cilic will be playing for his
ning the Cleveland Ladies Open in third Kremlin Cup title against Aslan