Braves' Return To Atlanta Up 3-2 'Great Position To Be In': Freddie Freeman

ATLANTA — It’s a Braves homecoming.

Not the kind with corsages and awkward teen dancing, but one expected to be even more loaded with angst.

The Braves return home to a National League Championship Series Game 6 after having their pitching staff bullied by Los Angeles Dodger bats, unable to close out a 3-1 series lead and leaving many to wonder if Atlanta faces yet another disappointing end to a promising season.

Atlanta leads 3-2 in the series and took one of three games in L.A., which is nothing to sniff at considering the incredible showing the Braves had in the 9-2 Game 4 drubbing they gave the Dodgers.

But turnabout is fair play and L.A. responded with 17 hits for an 11-2 final in Game 5.

It cannot be said enough that, like earlier this week, the Braves held a 3-1 lead over the Dodgers midway through the 2020 NLCS before giving up three straight losses to wash out of the series and record perhaps the second-worst collapses in recent Atlanta sports memory (we’re looking at you, Atlanta Falcons … 28-3).

But Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman told mlb.com the cloud from last year’s letdown will remain until the team vanquishes that memory. He said they have a good chance to do that in this series.

“That’s going to be the narrative,” said Freeman, who batted in the team’s only runs Thursday. “Every day it’s brought up. So I don’t think we have a choice until we kill that narrative. We’re up 3-2 going home. It’s a great position to be in.”

The Braves remain one win away from a World Series berth when they take the field Saturday back home in Atlanta in front of their fans.

The NLCS returns to Truist Park in Atlanta on Saturday for Game 6, which begins Saturday at 5:08 p.m. EST. Play will be broadcast on TBS and with radio play-by-play at 680 the Fan. Subscribers to YouTube TV and Hulu Live can stream the game.

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