The 2021 World Series is over, and the Atlanta Braves are champions, defeating the Houston Astros in six games. The Braves, who came into the postseason as a bit of a dark horse, found their groove against the best baseball had to offer. They're celebrating their fourth championship as a franchise and their first since 1995.
From the first pitch of the series to the final celebration, we've got you covered with results and analysis from every game in the Fall Classic.
Play: ESPN Playoff Baseball Classic
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World Series
Best-of-seven series
Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves
Atlanta wins 4-2
Game 1: Braves 6, Astros 2
Top performers:
Jorge Soler: 2-5, HR, R, 2 RBIs
Charlie Morton: 2.1 IP, 0 R, H, 3 K, 2 BB, out for rest of series with leg injury
Game 1 box score | Game 1 highlights
Passan: Morton threw 16 pitches on a broken leg -- and then apologized that it wasn't more
Baker on Game 1 loss: 'Our team doesn't worry'
Game 2: Astros 7, Braves 2
Top performers:
Jose Altuve: 2-4, HR, 2 R, RBI
Jose Urquidy: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 7 K
Game 2 box score | Game 2 highlights
Altuve shrugs off slump to help Astros take Game 2
Game 3: Braves 2, Astros 0
Top performers:
Ian Anderson: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 K, 3 BB
Braves bullpen (A.J. Minter, Luke Jackson, Tyler Matzek, Will Smith): 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 K, 0 BB
Game 3 box score | Game 3 highlights
Keown: Analytics? Ha! Braves went old-school in pulling Ian Anderson from no-hit bid
Passan: Inside the Braves'' post-win wine club
Braves' bullpen delivers after Brian Snitker pulls Ian Anderson in Game 3
Game 4: Braves 3, Astros 2
Top performers:
Dansby Swanson: 1-3, HR
Jorge Soler: 1-1, PH HR
Game 4 box score | Game 4 highlights
How to balls to left field put Braves one win from a World Series title
Soler's pinch-hit blast puts Braves on cusp
Astros strand 11, rue missed chances in loss
Game 5: Astros 9, Braves 5
Top performers:
Martin Maldonado: 1-3, BB, 3 RBIs
Yuli Gurriel: 3-5, 2 R, RBI
Adam Duvall: 1-4, HR, R, 4 RBIs
Carlos Correa: 3-5, R, 2 RBIs
Game 5 box score | Game 5 highlights
How Martin Maldonado saved Astros' season by not swinging
Game 6: Braves 7, Astros 0
Top performers:
Jorge Soler: 1-3, HR, BB, 2 R, 3 RBIs
Freddie Freeman: 2-4, HR, R, 2 RBIs
Ozzie Albies: 2-3, BB, 2 R
Dansby Swanson: 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBIs
Max Fried: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 6 K
Game 6 box score | Game 6 highlights
Passan: F-bombs, wine and a lot of love: How the Braves rose from their darkest moment
Atlanta's Baby Braves are all grown up -- and now they're MLB champions
'It's storybook stuff': Inside Brian Snitker's long and winding road to a World Series title (ESPN+)
Keown: 'You get over it': For 24th time, manager Dusty Baker heads home without a World Series title
Three questions for the Astros after their World Series loss (ESPN+)
The inside story of where Jorge Soler's home run went once it left Minute Maid Park
Full coverage
Passan: The Houston Astros' core is ready for one last stand (ESPN+)
Jealous, but 'super pumped': Three MLB aces set for high school reunion at World Series (ESPN+)
Passan: The Braves -- and the chop -- are light-years behind the times
Best. Trades. Ever? Where the Braves' outfield ranks in MLB history (ESPN+)
Glanville: Dusty Baker makes these Astros about so much more than a scandal
Who's got the best tools in the Astros-Braves World Series? (ESPN+)
'I love this time of year': Why Carlos Correa is made for October
16 days, 10 games, 1 pearl necklace: How the Braves stunned baseball to reach the World Series
Atlanta Braves or Houston Astros? Who will win MVP? Our expert Fall Classic predictions
MLB World Series betting guide: Braves and Astros square off
How the Astros got here
It has been a long, strange trip for the Houston Astros in the American League. Coming off their sign-stealing scandal and a sub-.500 performance in the abbreviated 2020 season, it was worth asking whether Houston was truly as elite as their reputation. That answer turned out to be a resounding yes. First, the team took care of the Chicago White Sox in convincing fashion. Then they faced the suddenly surging Red Sox, who seemed to have them on the ropes after a barrage of home runs led Boston to take a 2-1 series lead. The Astros didn't panic, however, and shut down the Red Sox's bats with ease in the next three games.
How the Braves got here
In the National League, the Atlanta Braves won three straight in the NLDS after going down in the first game to the Milwaukee Brewers. That only set them up to take on the winner of the San Francisco Giants-Los Angeles Dodgers series, a matchup that would determine which team with a historically successful regular season the Braves would have to overcome. They proved more-than-adequate to the challenge, starting off the series with a pair of walk-off wins in Atlanta and staving off a comeback attempt by the star-studded Dodgers.
League Championship Series
NLCS: Braves defeat Dodgers in six games
Rosario's home run sends Braves past Dodgers, into World Series
ALCS: Astros defeat Red Sox in six games
Alvarez powers Astros to third World Series in five years
League Division Series
NLDS: Dodgers defeat Giants in five games
Keown: A tense Game 5 was a fitting end to this series
NLDS: Braves defeat Brewers in four games
How the Braves rebuilt their outfield without Ronald Acuna Jr. -- and saved their season (ESPN+)
ALDS: Red Sox defeat Rays in four games
Fenway magic is in the air as Red Sox roll into ALCS
ALDS: Astros defeat White Sox in four games
Astros for real? MLB's villains look to win back baseball's respect (ESPN+)
Wild card games
Red Sox defeat Yankees 6-2
Passan: The roar of October baseball is finally back
Dodgers defeat Cardinals 3-1
Taylor, Bellinger unlikely heroes as Dodgers walk off