WINS FOR BRAVES, ASTROS

THE Atlanta Braves thrashed the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Houston Astros handed out another drubbing to the Boston Red Sox as both teams moved to within one victory of a World Series showdown on Wednesday.

The Braves, who had suffered an agonising late defeat to the Dodgers in game three on Tuesday, roared back with a 9-2 thrashing of the reigning champions at Dodger Stadium to take a 3-1 lead in the National League Championship Series.

The Astros were similarly impressive on the road, demolishing the Red Sox 9-1 at Fenway Park.

The Braves can clinch a World Series berth with victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Thursday.

The Astros, meanwhile, will take a 3-2 lead back to Houston, needing just one win to clinch the American League crown and a place in the World Series.

The Dodgers’ fightback on Tuesday was viewed by some as a possible momentum shift. But the Braves stomped over that idea, smashing Dodgers starting pitcher Julio Urias for three home runs from Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall and Freddie Freeman.