1997 National League Division Series

Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves

San Francisco vs. Florida

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

made it back to the postseason for the first time since the 1989 World Series

1989 World Series

†: Game 3 was originally slated for October 17 at 5:35 pm; however, it was postponed when an earthquake occurred at 5:04 pm.-Game 1:Saturday, October 14, 1989 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California...

. The Florida Marlins

Florida Marlins

The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...

were in the postseason for the first time ever.

Game 1, September 30

Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...

Game 1 was a matchup between Kirk Rueter

Kirk Rueter

Kirk Wesley Rueter is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, and is the winningest left-hander in San Francisco Giants history. Rueter played for the Montreal Expos and the Giants and made most of his career appearances as a starter. Rueter attended and played for Murray State...

and Kevin Brown. Both pitchers were on even terms, allowing one run and four hits through seven innings. Both teams struck in the seventh with leadoff solo homers by Bill Mueller

Bill Mueller

William Richard Mueller is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Mueller's playing career was spent with the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , and Los Angeles Dodgers . He won the American League batting title in 2003, and helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series...

and Charles Johnson. The game was tied 1–1 in the bottom of the ninth. With the bases loaded, Edgar Rentería

Edgar Rentería

Edgar Enrique Rentería Herazo , nicknamed "The Barranquilla Baby," is a Colombian professional baseball shortstop. He throws and bats right-handed. Previously, he has played for the Florida Marlins, the St...

singled to right to give the Marlins their first ever postseason win with a walkoff.

Game 2, October 1

Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens, Florida

Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...

Shawn Estes

Aaron Shawn Estes is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. After he attended Douglas High School in Minden, Nevada, he was offered a scholarship by Stanford University...

faced Al Leiter

Al Leiter

Alois Terry "Al" Leiter is a former Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher. He is now a studio analyst for MLB Network, and a color commentator for the YES Network.-Early career :Leiter attended Central Regional High School....

in an exciting Game 2. An RBI single by Mark Lewis made it 1–0 Giants in the first. But the Marlins would strike back in the bottom half. Bobby Bonilla

Bobby Bonilla

Roberto Martin Antonio "Bobby" Bonilla is a former player in Major League Baseball who played from 1986 to 2001. Known in his playing days as "Bobby Bo," Bonilla is of Puerto Rican descent.-Playing career:...

hit a two-run homer to make it 2–1 Marlins. But a solo homer by Brian Johnson tied the game in the second. Then Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds

Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...

hit a sacrifice fly to give the Giants a 3–2 lead in the third. But the Marlins tied it in the bottom half with an RBI single by Bonilla. Stan Javier

Stan Javier

Stanley Julián Antonio Javier [hah-ve-ERR] is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and switch-hitter who played with the New York Yankees , Oakland Athletics , Los Angeles Dodgers , Philadelphia Phillies , California Angels , San Francisco Giants , Houston...

's infield hit gave the Giants the lead back in the fourth. But hits by Alex Arias

Alex Arias

Alejandro Arias is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1992–2002....

and Kurt Abbott

Kurt Abbott

Kurt Thomas Abbott is a former Major League Baseball player who played primarily as a shortstop from -....

gave the Marlins the lead in the bottom half. The Marlins would add another run on the strength of a solo homer by Gary Sheffield

Gary Sheffield

Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...

in the bottom of the sixth. It was 6–4, but the Giants refused to concede. An RBI double by Bonds made it a one-run game in the seventh. The one-run lead would stand into the ninth. With Robb Nen

Robb Nen

Robert Allen Nen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He spent most of his career as a closer. He is the son of former major league first baseman Dick Nen. He currently works in the Giants' front office as a special assistant to General Manager Brian Sabean.Nen is best...

pitching, the Giants managed to tie the game thanks to a key error by Craig Counsell

Craig Counsell

Craig John Counsell is a Major League Baseball infielder.Counsell grew up in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, and attended Whitefish Bay High School, where he played baseball. His father worked for the Milwaukee Brewers...

. However, the Marlins would not wait until extra innings to try to win. Sheffield led the inning off with a single; then he stole second. After Bonilla walked, Moisés Alou

Moisés Alou

Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...

hit the game winning single to center field. The ball was scooped up by Dante Powell, whose throw home was in line with home plate, but the ball hit the mound, allowing Sheffield to score easily. This play would be the defining moment of the series, being replayed many times on highlights, as well as mainstream shows such as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee. The Marlins took the series lead, 2–0.

Game 3, October 3

3Com Park at Candlestick Point in San Francisco, California

San Francisco, California

San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...

In Game 3, Wilson Alvarez

Wilson Alvarez

Wilson Eduardo Álvarez Fuenmayor is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher...

was looked on by the Giants to keep them alive. Opposing him would be Alex Fernandez

Alex Fernandez (baseball)

Alexander Fernandez is a Cuban American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 11-year baseball career, he pitched for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins...

, hoping to close out the series. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth. Jeff Kent

Jeff Kent

Jeffrey Franklin Kent is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen...

hit a solo home run with one out to make it 1–0 Giants. But the Marlins would put the series away when Devon White hit a stunning grand slam into the left field bleachers in the top of the sixth. Kent would hit another solo home run in the bottom half. But two RBI doubles by Charles Johnson and Craig Counsell

Craig Counsell

put any hopes of a Giants comeback out of reach. Robb Nen

Robb Nen

got Damon Berryhill

Damon Berryhill

Damon Scott Berryhill is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played ten seasons for the Chicago Cubs, the Atlanta Braves, the Boston Red Sox, the Cincinnati Reds, and the San Francisco Giants from to . He threw right and was a switch hitter...

to ground out to end the series. In response to their team being swept, Giants fans littered the field with garbage as the Marlins players celebrated.

Composite box

1997 NLDS (3–0): Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...

over San Francisco Giants

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....

Houston vs. Atlanta

The Houston Astros

Houston Astros

The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...

finally made it back to the postseason for the first time since the 1986 National League Championship Series

1986 National League Championship Series

-Game 1:Wednesday, October 8, 1986 at Astrodome in Houston, TexasGame 1 featured a pitching duel between eventual NLCS Most Valuable Player Mike Scott and Dwight Gooden. Scott allowed just five hits and walked one while striking out 14 in a complete-game effort as the host Astros prevailed 1–0...

. The Atlanta Braves

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

were hosting their first postseason series at Turner Field

Turner Field

Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...

Game 1, September 30

Turner Field

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...

Game 1 was a matchup between Darryl Kile

Darryl Kile

Darryl Andrew Kile was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991-2002 for three different teams in his career. In his first season for the Cardinals, he won 20 games in 2000 as the team reached the postseason for the first time in four years. They advanced to the...

and Greg Maddux

Greg Maddux

Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...

. Kenny Lofton

Kenny Lofton

Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...

led off the bottom of the first with a double, the first postseason hit at Turner Field. Keith Lockhart

Keith Lockhart (baseball)

Keith Virgil Lockhart is a retired second baseman and third baseman who played for 10 seasons in the major leagues from -....

flied to right, putting Lofton at third. Then Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones

Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...

hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it 1–0 Braves in the first. Then Ryan Klesko

Ryan Klesko

Ryan Anthony Klesko , is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and corner outfielder, who played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and the San Francisco Giants...

homered to lead off the second, a homer which would prove to be the game winner. The Astros would strike for a run in the fifth, thanks to an RBI single by Kile. Maddux and Kile dueled for seven innings. Kile allowed only two hits and Maddux pitched a complete game. The Astros left five men on base, a fatal error, as the Braves won 2–1.

Game 2, October 1

Turner Field

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

The Astros sent Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

Michael William Hampton is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher. During his career, Hampton was well known for being one of the best hitting pitchers of his time, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.-Early career:Mike Hampton was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in...

to the mound against Tom Glavine

Tom Glavine

Thomas Michael Glavine is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher.With 164 victories during the 1990s, Glavine was the second winningest pitcher in the National League, second only to teammate Greg Maddux's 176...

. The game was quiet through the first innings. But in the bottom of the third, Jeff Blauser

Jeff Blauser

Jeffrey Michael Blauser is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs from 1987 to 1999.-Career:...

hit a three-run homer to put the Braves ahead. The Astros, however, would tie the game thanks to a two-run double by Brad Ausmus

Brad Ausmus

Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....

and an RBI single by Mike Hampton

Mike Hampton

that scored Ausmus. The Astros would make a game of it, but only for the moment. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Hampton would surrender four consecutive walks to give the Braves the lead. Hampton would leave, but the bullpen gave up two more runs thanks to a two-run single by Greg Colbrunn

Greg Colbrunn

Gregory Joseph Colbrunn was a Major League Baseball player for 13 seasons.Colbrunn was part of the victorious Arizona Diamondbacks 2001 World Series winning team....

. The game would quickly get away thanks to a key error by Jeff Bagwell

Jeff Bagwell

Jeffrey Robert Bagwell , is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire fifteen-year Major League Baseball career as a first baseman for the Houston Astros and was a four-time All-Star...

. The Braves would strike for five in the sixth and two more in the eighth. Glavine pitched six innings for the win as the Braves routed the Astros 13–3.

Game 3, October 3

Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome

Reliant Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas, USA. The stadium is part of the Reliant Park complex...

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...

Game 3 was a battle between John Smoltz

John Smoltz

John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...

and Shane Reynolds

Shane Reynolds

Richard Shane Reynolds is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros , Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks...

. Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones

got the Braves started with a two out homer to give the Braves a 1–0 lead in the top of the first. An RBI single by Jeff Blauser

Jeff Blauser

Jeffrey Michael Blauser is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs from 1987 to 1999.-Career:...

made it 2–0 in the second. An RBI single by Michael Tucker made it 3–0 in the seventh. John Smoltz pitched brilliantly, allowing one run, a solo homer by Chuck Carr, in a complete game victory. A passed ball allowed another run to make it 4–1 Braves in the eighth. Smoltz would allow only three hits as Bill Spiers

Bill Spiers

William James Spiers III is a former infielder in Major League Baseball who played primarily as a shortstop and third baseman from 1989-2001. He was also a punter for Clemson University. He was a first round draft pick in the 1987 amateur draft...

grounded out to end the series.

Composite box

1997 NLDS (3–0): Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....

over Houston Astros

Houston Astros

Series quotes

External links

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