Dixie bracket: 2019 Braves defeat 1973 Astros in five games

Game One: Astros 11, Braves 7
WP: Reuss (2-1)
LP: Swarzak (1-1)
HR: Riley (1), Hechavarria (1), Wynn (2)

Game Two: Braves 6, Astros 5
WP: Swarzak (2-1)
LP: York (0-1)
Save: Jackson (1)
HR: Freeman (1), Cedeno (2), Wynn (3), McCann (2)

Game Three: Braves 7, Astros 5
WP: Teheran (2-0)
LP: Roberts (2-1)
Save: Jackson (2)
HR: Helms (1), Wynn (4), Swanson (1), Riley (2)

Game Four: Braves 10, Astros 6
WP: Foltynewicz (1-0)
LP: Wilson (1-2)
HR: Albies 2 (3), Swanson (2)

Game Five: Braves 6, Astros 3
WP: Soroka (2-0)
LP: Reuss (2-2)
Save: Jackson (3)
HR: L May (2)

There was only one quality start in the five games -- Mike Soroka in the finale -- and the deeper Atlanta lineup ultimately overpowered Houston.

Game One,  played in suburban Atlanta's SunTrust Park, went to the Astros, however. Both starters, Soroka and Jerry Reuss, gave up five runs in the first two innings. Adeiny Hechavarria hit a three-run pinch-hit homer to help the Braves even the score. But Jim Wynn promptly untied it with a homer off Anthony Swarzak, and even though there were still plenty of runs scored, the Braves never again caught up. Wynn scored three runs for the Astros.

Houston jumped out to a 5-0 lead after two innings of Game Two, with Wynn and Cesar Cedeno each hitting two-run homers off Max Fried. Fried managed to get though six innings -- the Atlanta bullpen was vulnerable after working six innings in the previous game -- but Astros starter Ken Forsch carried a 5-1 lead into the seventh. But the first three men reached in the seventh, and Forsch departed with the bases loaded. Dansby Swanson greeted Jim York with an RBI single, and Brian McCann followed with a grand slam to take the lead. Shane Greene and Luke Jackson each worked a hitless inning to preserve the lead.

The series moved to the Astrodome for Game Three. The Braves scored two in the top of the first; the Astros scored four in the bottom of the inning, with Wynn hitting a solo homer to lead off and Tommy Helms a three-run shot with two outs. The Braves evened the score in the second and took the lead in the third on an Austin Riley homer, and the Astros never caught up. Julio Teheran held the Astros scoreless from the second inning until there were two outs in the seventh.

The Astros again scored early in Game Four, and the Braves knocked Don Wilson from the game in the second, with Swanson and Ozzie Albies each hitting a homer. Albies hit another homer in the third. Houston scored three in the fourth to make the score 8-5 Atlanta, but the Braves scored two more in the sixth and held the Astros to one run in the final five innings.

Soroka held Houston to one hit and two walks in five innings of Game Five, leaving for a pinch-hitter (who drove in a run with a single) in the top of the sixth. He turned over a 5-0 lead. Jacob Webb and Josh Tomlin combined to allow three runs, but the Braves got one run back in the top of the ninth, and Jackson wrapped up the game and the series with his third save, all of them 1-2-3 innings with one strikeout.

Player availability: No injuries, rested bullpen for Atlanta going into the third round

Projected rotation: Fried-Teheran-Foltynewicz-Kuechel-(Fried)-(Teheran)-(Foltynewicz). Keuchel replaces Soroka; If Atlanta advances, whoever starts the final game of the series is deactivated and the new pitcher works Game Four of the following series.