2001 National League Division Series

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals

Houston vs. Atlanta

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....

won their tenth straight division title, despite having the worst record (88–74) among playoff teams. With that record, 2001 was also the Braves' worst season since 1990

1990 Atlanta Braves season

The Atlanta Braves season of 1990 was the team's 25th in Atlanta, and the 115th in franchise history as a member of the National League. The Braves won 65 and lost 97, en route to their sixth place finish in the NL West, 26 games behind the World Champion Cincinnati Reds...

, when they had the worst record in baseball. 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...

were in the playoffs for the seventh time, hoping to avenge two postseason losses in the 1990s to the Braves. At 93–69, and having home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Astros were heavily favored to win this series.

Game 1, October 9

Enron Field

Minute Maid Park

Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....

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 ...

In Game 1, 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...

faced Wade Miller

Wade Miller

Wade Thomas Miller is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros from through the Boston Red Sox in and the Chicago Cubs in and . He bats and throws right-handed...

. Brian Jordan

Brian Jordan

Brian O'Neal Jordan is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder and National Football League safety. In the NFL, he played for the Atlanta Falcons, while he played in the MLB for the St...

drove in the first two runs of the game, hitting a sac fly in the first and a solo homer in the fourth. But the Astros would strike back against Maddux. 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....

's two-run homer tied the game in the fifth for the Astros. Then 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...

's groundout in the sixth gave the Astros the lead. But the Braves refused to concede. They struck for four runs in the eighth, an inning capped by 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...

's dramatic three-run homer. Both teams would homer in the ninth but 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...

got the save as the Braves won 7–4.

Game 2, October 10

Enron Field

Minute Maid Park

Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....

in Houston, Texas

Houston, Texas

In Game 2, 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...

and Dave Mlicki

Dave Mlicki

David John Mlicki is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. After attending Oklahoma State University he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 17th round of the 1990 amateur draft...

started a classic pitching duel. In the top of the second, B.J. Surhoff

B.J. Surhoff

William James "B. J." Surhoff is a former catcher, outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball. Over his 18-year major league career, he played every position except pitcher...

doubled to lead off the inning. Then Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones

Andruw Rudolf Jones is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Jones made his debut during the 1996 season. In the 1996 World Series, Jones became the youngest player to ever homered in the postseason...

singled to the shortstop and an error by Julio Lugo

Julio Lugo

Julio Cesar Lugo is a Dominican professional baseball infielder but is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. Lugo is the older brother of baseball pitcher Ruddy Lugo....

put Surhoff on third. Rey Sánchez

Rey Sánchez

Rey Francisco Sánchez Guadalupe is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He attended high school in California and was drafted in the 13th round of the amateur baseball draft by the Texas Rangers. He played in their minor league system until , when he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for minor...

would then ground into a double play by Surhoff would score to make it 1–0 Braves. In all but two innings the Astros had a hit and they would strand five in the game. Glavine pitched eight innings and Smoltz recorded his second consecutive postseason save.

Game 3, October 12

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...

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...

In Game 3, 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...

faced John Burkett

John Burkett

John David Burkett is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He compiled 166 wins, 1,766 strikeouts, and a 4.31 earned run average. He pitched from 1987–2003, with the San Francisco Giants, Florida Marlins, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox. His best season came in 1993 when he...

. In the bottom of the second, Paul Bako

Paul Bako

Gabor Paul Bako II is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Bako is an example of a baseball "journeyman", having played for 11 different major league teams during his 12-year career...

's two-run homer put the Braves up 2–0. In the third, Julio Franco

Julio Franco

Julio César Robles Franco is a former Major League Baseball infielder and designated hitter. In , Franco was the oldest active player in the major leagues at the age of 49....

homered to make it 3–0. Then a squeeze play by Bako in the fourth made it 4–0. Reynolds only lasted four innings and Burkett cruised until giving up a two-run homer to Daryle Ward

Daryle Ward

Daryle Lamar Ward is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and plays in the Minor League farm system. He has not played in the Majors since 2008. He bats and throws left-handed. The 6-foot-2, 240 pound Ward was drafted by the Detroit Tigers...

in the sixth. Chipper Jones

Chipper Jones

's two-run homer provided insurance in the bottom of the eighth and Smoltz once again dominated the ninth. Ausmus flied to center to end the series. Once again, the Astros had been denied by the Braves for their first ever postseason series win. This, to date, is the last postseason series win by the Braves.

Composite box

2001 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

Arizona vs. St. Louis

The St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...

were making their second straight postseason appearance and they hoped to avenge their NLCS loss against the New York Mets

New York Mets

The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...

in 2000. The Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...

were making their second playoff appearance and they too were stunned by the Mets in 1999, having won 100 games that year.

Game 1, October 9

Bank One Ballpark

Chase Field

Chase Field is a baseball stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in , just in time for the Diamondbacks' first game as an expansion team...

in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...

Game 1 was a game of excellent starting pitching. Matt Morris faced Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling

Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...

, who made the most of his first playoff start in eight years. Both pitchers were on even terms until the bottom of the fifth when Arizona struck first when Steve Finley

Steve Finley

Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...

singled home Damian Miller

Damian Miller

Damian Donald Miller is a former Major League Baseball catcher who last played for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school years:...

. The game remained 1–0 as Schilling managed to pitch a complete-game three-hit shutout.

Game 2, October 10

Bank One Ballpark

Chase Field

in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

In Game 2, Woody Williams

Woody Williams

Gregory Scott "Woody" Williams is a former right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He made his major league debut for the Toronto Blue Jays on May 14, 1993.-Baseball career:...

faced Randy Johnson

Randy Johnson

Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....

. Johnson seemingly had the Cardinals in the first when he got Plácido Polanco

Plácido Polanco

Plácido Enrique Polanco is a Major League Baseball player who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies and has also played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. He is a third baseman, but in the past has played second base and shortstop...

to ground into a double play. But 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...

walked and up came the soon-to-be-named NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols

José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...

. He then hit his first playoff home run to make it 2–0 Cardinals in the top of the first. Then Polanco's sac fly made it 3–0 in the third. The D'Backs would scratch out a run in the eighth, but an error by Miguel Batista

Miguel Batista

Miguel Descartes Batista Jerez is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals, St...

gave the Cardinals a commanding 4–1 lead in the ninth. Steve Kline got the save in the bottom of the ninth to even the series.

Game 3, October 12

Busch Stadium (II)

Busch Memorial Stadium

Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....

in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

In Game 3, Batista returned to the mound to start. Opposing him would be 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...

. Both pitchers worked their way through each inning and kept it scoreless into the fourth. But Jim Edmonds's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth gave the Cardinals the lead. Luis Gonzalez responded with a homer off the right field pole to make it a one-run game in the sixth. Then the Diamondbacks came back in dramatic fashion. After Kile allowed a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, Mike Matthews

Mike Matthews

Michael Scott Matthews is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched from to . Matthews graduated from Woodbridge Senior High School in Woodbridge, Virginia....

came on in relief. 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....

tied the game with an RBI single with one out. A fielder's choice put two men on for eventual NLCS MVP 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...

. He then hit a three-run home run to right that put the D'Backs ahead by three. However, Renteria would homer to make it a two-run game. But Byung-Hyun Kim

Byung-Hyun Kim

Byung-Hyun Kim is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is best known for his years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox. In 2001, Kim took over mid-season as the Diamondbacks' closer and saved 19...

closed the door in the ninth. Tragically, this wound up being Kile's final playoff game.

Game 4, October 13

Busch Stadium (II)

Busch Memorial Stadium

Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....

in St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...

Albie Lopez

Albert Anthony "Albie" Lopez is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Mesa Community College. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 20th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft. Lopez was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the second round of the expansion...

looked to close the door on the Cards. Opposing him would be Bud Smith

Bud Smith

Robert Allan "Bud" Smith is a retired American baseball player. Smith was active at the Major League level in 2001 and 2002, playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.- No-hitter and Major League career :...

. Smith got into trouble in the top of the first when Steve Finley

Steve Finley

singled home a run to make it 1–0 Diamondbacks. But J.D. Drew's RBI single tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. Then Jim Edmonds

Jim Edmonds

James Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former American Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Chicago Cubs, and the Cincinnati Reds...

hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the second to put the Cardinals up for good. Then Fernando Viña

Fernando Viña

Fernando Viña is a retired Cuban-American Major League Baseball second baseman and current MLB analyst for Oakland Athletics...

's two-run homer in the third gave the Cardinals insurance. Both bullpens held the other team to nothing for the rest of the game as the series was once again tied.

Game 5, October 14

Bank One Ballpark

Chase Field

in Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona

In the clinching Game 5, Matt Morris once again faced Curt Schilling

Curt Schilling

. Both pitchers were on their game, allowing only one run throughout the entire game. Morris was the first to falter in the bottom of the fourth when he gave up a solo home run to Reggie Sanders

Reggie Sanders

Reginald Laverne Sanders is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Sanders was 24 years old when he made his major league debut on August 22, , after being selected in the 7th round of the amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds...

. Schilling was masterful and was four outs away from winning the series. He was working on a 1–0 four-hit shutout when J.D. Drew tied the game with a solo homer of his own in the eighth. Schilling pitched a complete game and the D'Backs now had to get him the win. A leadoff double by Matt Williams gave the D'Backs a good chance. A sac bunt by Damian Miller

Damian Miller

Damian Donald Miller is a former Major League Baseball catcher who last played for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school years:...

put pinch runner Midre Cummings

Midre Cummings

Midre Almeric Cummings is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Cummings played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies , Boston Red Sox , Minnesota Twins , Arizona Diamondbacks , Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Baltimore Orioles .Cummings was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st...

on third. After Colbrunn was walked intentionally, Cummings tried to steal home on the squeeze play attempt and got caught. Colbrunn went to second and Danny Bautista

Danny Bautista

Daniel Bautista Alcántara is a former MLB baseball outfielder. He is more commonly known as Danny Bautista....

came on to pinch run. Then Tony Womack

Tony Womack

Anthony Darrell Womack is a former second baseman and shortstop in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks, then with several other teams during his last four years...

delivered the series winning single to left field. The Diamondbacks won their first postseason series ever and were now going to their first ever NLCS.

Composite box

2001 NLDS (3–2): Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...

over St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis Cardinals

Series quotes

External links

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