2005 National League Division Series

Infobox LDS


year = 2005
champion1 = St. Louis Cardinals (3)
champion1_manager = Tony La Russa
champion1_games = 100-62, .617, GA: 11
runnerup1 = San Diego Padres (0)
runnerup1_manager = Bruce Bochy
runnerup1_games = 82-80, .506, GA: 5
date1 = October 4–October 8
television1 = ESPN:HD (Games 1, 3)
ESPN2:HD (Game 2)
announcers1 = Jon Miller and Joe Morgan (Games 1, 3)
Dave O'Brien , Steve Phillips, and Eric Karros (Game 2)
champion2 = Houston Astros (3)
champion2_manager = Phil Garner
champion2_games = 89-73, .549, GB: 11
runnerup2 = Atlanta Braves (1)
runnerup2_manager = Bobby Cox
runnerup2_games = 90-72, .556, GA: 2
date2 = October 5–October 9
television2 = ESPN:HD (Games 1, 4)
FOX:HD (Game 2-3)
announcers2 = Dave O'Brien , Steve Phillips, and Eric Karros (Game 1)
Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons (Game 2)
Josh Lewin and Steve Lyons (Game 3)
Dave O'Brien Rick Sutcliffe (Game 4)
umpires2 = Ed Montague, Bill Hohn, Bruce Dreckman, Jerry Layne, Angel Hernandez, Tim Timmons (Cardinals-Padres)
Joe Brinkman, Marvin Hudson, Jeff Nelson, Gary Cederstrom, Eric Cooper, Sam Holbrook (Braves-Astros)The by|2005 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2005 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Sunday, October 9, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a "wild card" team – participating in two best-of-five series. They were:

*(1) St. Louis Cardinals (Central Division champions, 100-62) vs. (3) San Diego Padres (Western Division champions, 82-80): Cardinals win series, 3-0.
*(2) Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champions, 90-72) vs. (4) Houston Astros (Wild Card, 89-73): Astros win series, 3-1.

"The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage, which was determined by playing record. Although the team with the best record was normally intended to play the wild card team, the Cardinals played the Padres, rather than the wild card Astros, because the Cardinals and Astros are in the same division."

The Cardinals and Astros went on to meet in the NL Championship Series (NLCS). The Astros became the National League champion, and lost to the American League champion Chicago White Sox in the 2005 World Series.

Matchups

t. Louis Cardinals vs. San Diego Padres

St. Louis wins the series, 3-0

Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros

Houston wins the series, 3-1

t. Louis vs. San Diego

Game 1, October 4

Busch Stadium II in St. Louis, MissouriLinescore
Road=San Diego|RoadAbr=SD
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=1|R8=1|R9=3|RR=5|RH=13|RE=1
Home=St. Louis|HomeAbr=STL
H1=1|H2=0|H3=3|H4=0|H5=4|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=8|HH=10|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Chris Carpenter (1-0)|LP=Jake Peavy (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=Eric Young (1)|HomeHR=Jim Edmonds (1), Reggie Sanders (1)|

It was a matchup between Jake Peavy and eventual 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter. In the bottom of the 1st, Jim Edmonds's one out solo homer put the Cardinals up 1-0. Then in the bottom of the 3rd, Peavy's control slipped away as a wild pitch and a two run single by Reggie Sanders gave the Cards a 4-0 lead. But Sanders would provide more offense with a grand slam in the 5th. That would make the score 8-0 and give Sanders 6 RBIs in the game. The Padres would not go quietly though. They would scratch out a run in the 7th on a sac fly, then one more on a solo homer by Eric Young in the 8th. After the Padres put runners on the corners in the 9th, Jason Isringhausen 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. Ramon Hernandez would not deliver as he would strike out to end the game.

Game 2, October 6

Busch Stadium II in St. Louis, MissouriLinescore
Road=San Diego|RoadAbr=SD
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=1|R8=1|R9=0|RR=2|RH=10|RE=1
Home=St. Louis|HomeAbr=STL
H1=0|H2=0|H3=2|H4=2|H5=0|H6=0|H7=2|H8=0|H9=X|HR=6|HH=6|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Mark Mulder (1-0)|LP=Pedro Astacio (0-1)|SV=|

Pedro Astacio faced Mark Mulder in Game 2. The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the 3rd when an error by Khalil Greene 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 made it 4-0 Cardinals in the 4th. But the Padres were not done. In the top of the 7th, 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 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 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 in San Diego, CaliforniaLinescore
Road=St. Louis|RoadAbr=STL
R1=1|R2=4|R3=0|R4=0|R5=2|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=7|RH=13|RE=1
Home=San Diego|HomeAbr=SD
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=1|H8=1|H9=0|HR=4|HH=9|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Matt Morris (1-0)|LP=Woody Williams (0-1)|SV=Jason Isringhausen (1)
RoadHR=David Eckstein (1)|HomeHR=Dave Roberts (1), Ramón Hernández (1)|

Matt Morris faced former Cardinals pitcher Woody Williams. Albert Pujols drove in David Eckstein with an RBI double in the top of the 1st. Then Eckstein would provide significant pop with his bat when he hit a two run homer in the 2nd to make it 3-0. But the Cards wouldn't stop there as 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 10 for the series. Then Yadier Molina's two run single silenced the crowd in the top of the 5th. That made it 7-0 Cardinals. All hope seemed lost for the Padres but a one out double in the bottom half of the 5th started a two run rally that made it 7-2. Then Dave Roberts's solo homer in the 7th put the Padres within striking distance. Another solo home run in the 8th by Ramon Hernandez made it 7-4. Jason Isringhausen would come on to slam the door on the Padres. Ryan Klesko's groundout ended the series.

Composite Box

2005 NLDS (3-0): St. Louis Cardinals over San Diego PadresLinescore
Road=St. Louis Cardinals
R1=2|R2=4|R3=5|R4=2|R5=6|R6=0|R7=2|R8=0|R9=0|RR=21|RH=29|RE=2
Home=San Diego Padres
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=2|H6=0|H7=3|H8=3|H9=3|HR=11|HH=32|HE=2Total Attendance: 150,041 Average Attendance: 50,014|

Atlanta vs. Houston

Game 1, October 5

Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=Houston|RoadAbr=HOU
R1=1|R2=0|R3=2|R4=1|R5=0|R6=0|R7=1|R8=5|R9=0|RR=10|RH=11|RE=1
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=2|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=1|H9=1|HR=5|HH=9|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Andy Pettitte (1-0)|LP=Tim Hudson (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=|HomeHR=Chipper Jones (1), Andruw Jones (1)|

Andy Pettitte faced Tim Hudson 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 to tie the game but he would otherwise cruise. The game remained 1-1 until the 3rd when a two run single by Morgan Ensberg made it 3-1 Astros. Hudson would load the bases but survive once again. In the Braves' 4th, Andruw Jones 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 would ground into a double play to end the rally. Pettitte would help his own cause in the 7th 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 8th, with Chris Reitsma 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 8th and 9th but would lose decisively 10-5.

Game 2, October 6

Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=Houston|RoadAbr=HOU
R1=1|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=1|RH=8|RE=1
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=0|H2=3|H3=2|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=2|H8=0|H9=X|HR=7|HH=11|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=John Smoltz (1-0)|LP=Roger Clemens (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=|HomeHR=Brian McCann (1)|

Roger Clemens faced John Smoltz in Game 2. Smoltz ran into trouble when he allowed two consecutive singles with one out. After a forceout, Jason Lane singled in Lance Berkman 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. Smoltz pitched masterfully and the Braves would add two more for insurance in the 7th. The Braves' victory in Game 2 was their last postseason win to date.

Game 3, October 8

Minute Maid Park in Houston, TexasLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|RR=3|RH=8|RE=0
Home=Houston|HomeAbr=HOU
H1=2|H2=0|H3=1|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=4|H8=0|H9=X|HR=7|HH=12|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Roy Oswalt (1-0)|LP=Jorge Sosa (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=|HomeHR=Mike Lamb (1)|

Jorge Sosa faced Roy Oswalt in Game 3. Sosa would fall behind early when a double and a sac fly gave the Astros two runs in the 1st. 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 would hit the go ahead solo homer in the bottom of the 3rd. The two pitchers would duel until the bottom of the 7th when 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 8th thanks to an RBI double by 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 in Houston, TexasLinescore
Compact=yes
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=4|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=1|R9=0|R10=0|R11=0|R12=0|R13=0|R14=0|R15=0|R16=0|R17=0|R18=0|RR=6|RH=13|RE=0
Home=Houston|HomeAbr=HOU
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=4|H9=1|H10=0|H11=0|H12=0|H13=0|H14=0|H15=0|H16=0|H17=0|H18=1|HR=7|HH=10|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Roger Clemens (1-1)|LP=Joey Devine (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=Adam LaRoche (1), Brian McCann (2)|HomeHR=Lance Berkman (1), Chris Burke (1), Brad Ausmus (1)|

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 in the eighth and a solo home run by Brad Ausmus 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, 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 in the bottom of the eighteenth off Atlanta rookie Joey Devine, giving Houston the series victory and sending them to the NLCS to face the St. Louis Cardinals.

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'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. [ [http://www.oddsboard.com/article.asp?AID=19 2005 Houston Astros Playoff Stats ] ] [ [http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2005/10/the_greatest_ga.php The Baseball Analysts: The Greatest Game Ever Played ] ] [ [http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article_perspectives.jsp?ymd=20051009&content_id=1244436&vkey=perspectives&fext=.jsp The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Baseball Perspectives ] ]

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 18th was, in fact, the same fan who had caught Lance Berkman's grand slam in the eighth.Fact|date=October 2007

Composite Box

2005 NLDS (3-1): Houston Astros over Atlanta BravesLinescore
Compact=yes
Road=Houston Astros
R1=4|R2=0|R3=3|R4=1|R5=1|R6=0|R7=5|R8=9|R9=1|R10=0|R11=0|R12=0|R13=0|R14=0|R15=0|R16=0|R17=0|R18=1|RR=25|RH=41|RE=4
Home=Atlanta Braves
H1=1|H2=5|H3=6|H4=2|H5=1|H6=0|H7=2|H8=3|H9=1|H10=0|H11=0|H12=0|H13=0|H14=0|H15=0|H16=0|H17=0|H18=0|HR=21|HH=41|HE=0Total Attendance: 173,943 Average Attendance: 43,486|

ee also

*2005 National League Division Series Box Score

Quotes

"Swing and a drive to left field... way back... this one is GOOOONE!... The Astros win it... It's Chris Burke with a late inning walk off home run to give Roger Clemens the win and send the Astros to their second straight NLCS in 18 innings.. Houston pulls it out to go back to the League Championship for the second straight year!" - Dave O'Brien calling Chris Burke series winning home run in the 18'th inning to win for Houston.

"And the pitch. Swinging...riding it to left and IT'S GOOONNNEE, IT'S GOOONNNEE, IT'S GOOONNNEE!!! CHRIS BURKE!!! AND HOLY TOLEDO, WHAT A WAY TO FINISH!" - Astros radio announcer Milo Hamilton calling Chris Burke's 18th inning, walkoff home run to win the series.

Notes