2005 National League Division Series

Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros

Game 1, October 4

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...

It was a matchup between Jake Peavy

Jake Peavy

Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...

and eventual 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter

Chris Carpenter

Christopher John Carpenter is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012.Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the...

. In the bottom of the first, 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...

's one-out solo homer put the Cardinals up 1–0. Then in the bottom of the third, Peavy's control slipped away as a wild pitch and a two-run single by 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...

gave the Cards a 4–0 lead. But Sanders would provide more offense with a grand slam in the fifth. That would make the score 8–0 and give Sanders six RBIs in the game. The Padres would not go quietly though. They would scratch out a run in the seventh on a sac fly, then one more on a solo homer by Eric Young in the eighth. After the Padres put runners on the corners in the ninth, Jason Isringhausen

Jason Isringhausen

Jason Derik Isringhausen is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-New York Mets:Isringhausen was chosen as a draft-and-follow prospect by the New York Mets in the 44th round of the 1991 Major League Baseball Draft...

came on to close the deal. But four consecutive hits with two outs would make the score 8–5 and would load the bases with the go-ahead run at the plate. Ramón Hernández

Ramón Hernández

Ramón José Hernández Marin is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher who plays for the Colorado Rockies. Previously, he played with the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres , Baltimore Orioles , and Cincinnati Reds .-Career:Hernández is a career .263 hitter with 144 home runs, 651 RBI, and 455...

would not deliver as he would strike out to end the game.

Game 2, October 6

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...

Pedro Astacio

Pedro Julio Astacio is a Major League Baseball pitcher. He has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Colorado Rockies , Houston Astros , New York Mets , Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , the San Diego Padres and the Washington Nationals...

faced Mark Mulder

Mark Mulder

Mark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...

in Game 2. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when an error by Khalil Greene

Khalil Greene

Khalil Thabit Greene is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed.-High school and college:...

allowed the Cardinals to plate two unearned runs, the last one a bases-loaded walk. A fielder's choice and a squeeze play by David Eckstein

David Eckstein

David Mark Eckstein is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona...

made it 4–0 Cardinals in the fourth. But the Padres were not done. In the top of the seventh, a double and two singles made it 4–1 and put the tying run at the plate. But a double play killed the rally and the Padres would only get one. Reggie Sanders

Reggie Sanders

would get two more RBIs with a two-run double in the bottom half of the inning. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Xavier Nady

Xavier Nady

Xavier Clifford Nady VI is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is a free agent.-Amateur career:The St. Louis Cardinals originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior...

made it 6–2, but the Padres would squander the chance to tie the game. The Cards would go on to win 6–2.

Game 3, October 8

PETCO Park

Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...

in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

Matt Morris faced former Cardinals pitcher 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:...

. 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...

drove in David Eckstein

David Eckstein

with an RBI double in the top of the first. Then Eckstein would provide significant pop with his bat when he hit a two-run homer in the second to make it 3–0. But the Cards wouldn't stop there as Reggie Sanders

Reggie Sanders

would collect two more RBIs on a two-run double to make it 5–0 later in the inning. That would bring Sanders' RBI total to ten for the series. Then Yadier Molina

Yadier Molina

Yadier Benjamin Molina known affectionately by fans as "Yadi", is a Major League Baseball catcher who plays for the St. Louis Cardinals.Molina was the third catcher to play in two World Series before age 25, along with Johnny Bench and Yogi Berra. He is considered one of the best defensive...

's two-run single silenced the crowd in the top of the fifth. That made it 7–0 Cardinals. All hope seemed lost for the Padres but a one-out double in the bottom half of the fifth started a two-run rally that made it 7–2. Then Dave Roberts's solo homer in the seventh put the Padres within striking distance. Another solo home run in the eighth by Ramón Hernández

Ramón Hernández

made it 7–4. Jason Isringhausen

Jason Isringhausen

would come on to slam the door on the Padres. 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...

's groundout ended the series.

Composite box

2005 NLDS (3–0): 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...

over San Diego Padres

San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...

Game 1, October 5

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...

Andy Pettitte

Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...

faced Tim Hudson

Tim Hudson

Timothy Adam Hudson is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves. Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and played his last two years of college eligibility at Auburn University...

in Game 1. Hudson would struggle in his half of the first, giving up one run, but would get out of the inning with a crucial double play. Pettitte would allow a solo homer to 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...

to tie the game but he would otherwise cruise. The game remained 1–1 until the third when a two-run single by Morgan Ensberg

Morgan Ensberg

Morgan Paul Ensberg is a former infielder in Major League Baseball. Ensberg bats and throws right-handed...

made it 3–1 Astros. Hudson would load the bases but survive once again. In the Braves' fourth, 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...

would hit a two-run homer to make it a one-run game. A walk and a bunt single put the tying run in scoring position later in the inning but 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...

would ground into a double play to end the rally. Pettitte would help his own cause in the seventh with the game still at 4–3. He would double and later score on an RBI hit by Ensberg. It was now 5–3 and Hudson was finished. In the eighth, with Chris Reitsma

Chris Reitsma

Christopher Michael Reitsma is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played seven seasons in the majors, from until , with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, and Seattle Mariners.-Red Sox and Reds:...

pitching, the Astros would open the floodgates with a five-run rally. The lack of a steady bullpen cost the Braves dearly as the score was now 10–3 and all hope of a Game 1 victory was gone. The Braves would get a run in the eighth and ninth but would lose decisively 10–5.

Game 2, October 6

Turner Field

in Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta, Georgia

Roger Clemens

William Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...

faced 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...

in Game 2. Smoltz ran into trouble when he allowed two consecutive singles with one out. After a forceout, Jason Lane

Jason Lane

Jason Dean Lane is a Major League Baseball outfielder in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was drafted out of the sixth round in . Lane graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville, California in 1995...

singled in Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman

William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....

to make it 1–0 Astros. He would intentionally load the bases but get out of the inning with no more damage done. Then the Braves struck back against Clemens. With two outs and two men on, Brian McCann came up in his first ever postseason at-bat. He then slammed a three-run homer to right field. He became the first Brave ever to homer in his first postseason at-bat. That sparked the Braves as they would go on to score two more in the third on a two-run double by Adam LaRoche

Adam LaRoche

David Adam LaRoche , is a Major League Baseball first baseman. In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed him to a two-year deal...

. Smoltz pitched masterfully and the Braves would add two more for insurance in the seventh. The Braves' victory in Game 2 was their last postseason win until 2010.

Game 3, October 8

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 ...

Jorge Sosa

Jorge Bolivar Sosa is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. Sosa stands at 6'2" tall and reportedly weighs 218 pounds...

faced Roy Oswalt

Roy Oswalt

Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...

in Game 3. Sosa would fall behind early when a double and a sac fly gave the Astros two runs in the first. But the Braves would tie the game in the next inning with back-to-back two out RBI singles by Brian McCann and Sosa. But Mike Lamb

Mike Lamb

Michael Robert Lamb is an American professional baseball Utility Player for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. He can play the infield but shortstop, corner outfield and catcher...

would hit the go-ahead solo homer in the bottom of the third. The two pitchers would duel until the bottom of the seventh when Chris Reitsma

Chris Reitsma

once again came into a close game. But Reitsma would allow two straight hits and the Braves' bullpen could do little to stop the Astros' rally. They would strike for four runs and Reitsma once again put a close game out of reach. The Braves would scratch out a run in the eighth thanks to an RBI double by Andruw Jones

Andruw Jones

but they would get no more. The Astros would go on to win Game 3, 7–3.

Game 4, October 9

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

The final game of the series lasted eighteen innings and set records as the longest game in the history of Major League Baseball's postseason, both in terms of time and number of innings. Although the Braves started out with an early lead and were even ahead 6–1 in the eighth, a grand slam by Lance Berkman

Lance Berkman

William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....

in the eighth off Kyle Farnsworth

Kyle Farnsworth

Kyle Lynn Farnsworth is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school and college:...

and a solo home run 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....

in the ninth (with the Astros down to their last out) sent the game to extra innings. The second half of the game included three innings of relief by Roger Clemens

Roger Clemens

, appearing as a pinch-hitter in the fifteenth inning and pitching in relief for only the second time in his career (and appearing this time only because the Astros were out of pitchers). Chris Burke hit the game-ending home run

Walk-off home run

In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...

in the bottom of the eighteenth off Atlanta rookie Joey Devine

Joey Devine

Joseph Neal "Joey" Devine is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Atlanta Braves:...

, giving Houston the series victory and sending them to the NLCS to face 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...

.

In addition to being the longest postseason game in MLB history, it was also the only postseason game to include two grand slams, Lance Berkman's and Adam LaRoche

Adam LaRoche

David Adam LaRoche , is a Major League Baseball first baseman. In 2011, the Washington Nationals signed him to a two-year deal...

's. Some commentators have pointed to this game as the greatest game in Houston Astros history, and one of the best games in the history of MLB playoffs.

Even more remarkable than the game's length, perhaps, is the fact that the fan who caught Chris Burke's walk-off homer in the eighteenth was, in fact, the same fan who had caught Lance Berkman's grand slam in the eighth (Section 102, Row 2, Seat 15); the fan later donated both balls to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Composite box

2005 NLDS (3–1): 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...

over 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....

Series quotes

External links

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