Two years ago today (October 17, 2021), the Atlanta Braves were facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2 of the NLCS. After having little expectations for the postseason with only 88 wins in the regular season, Atlanta had put themselves in a prime position to capture a World Series title.
The Braves returned with a vengeance after falling to the Dodgers in the 2020 NLCS. In Game 1 of the 2021 series, the Braves won in walk-off fashion thanks to an Austin Riley double. Game 2 had all sorts of emotions that also ended up with the Braves victorious in their final at-bat.
The Dodgers got out to an early 2-0 lead but that was erased when former Dodger, Joc Pederson, stepped to the plate and did this off of Max Scherzer. We didn't call it Joctober for nothing.
Joc Pederson's 2-run homerun ties Game 2 of NLCS 2-2.#JocPederson #NLCS #ForTheA #BattleATLpic.twitter.com/661ux5ztvS
— ABC Islands Sportsbook (Official) (@betabcislands) October 18, 2021
The game stayed close all night into the late innings. With the Braves trailing by one in the bottom of the 8th inning, Austin Riley had some more October magic with a game-tying double that saw Ozzie Albies scoring from first base.
Atlanta took a tie game to the bottom of the 9th inning. With two away in the inning and the game-winning run in the form of Dansby Swanson on second base, postseason hero Eddie Rosario stepped to the plate. He did what he did in October.
Rosario ripped a hard ground ball right up the middle, despite the shift, Corey Seager was unable to handle the hot shot and Swanson scored from second to put the Braves up 2-0 in the series.
This was the moment that it felt like destiny for the Braves to win it all in 2021. After coming so close in years prior to beating the Dodgers in the postseason, it felt like Atlanta was finally over the hump and had proven they were now the better team. If you don't believe me, listen to the Braves faithful when it happened.
Unfortunately, we will not get to witness great moments like these in 2023 but we will be on the lookout for more in the future and will continue to remember the great times the Atlanta Braves have had in the playoffs. Maybe even more so in 2021 when they came out on top.