2002 National League Division Series

Infobox LDS


year = 2002
champion1 = San Francisco Giants (3)
champion1_manager = Dusty Baker
champion1_games = 95-66, .590, GB: 2½
runnerup1 = Atlanta Braves (2)
runnerup1_manager = Bobby Cox
runnerup1_games = 101-59, .631, GA: 19
date1 = October 2–October 7
television1 = ABC Family (Game 1)
FOX (Games 2, 4, 5)
FX (Game 3)
announcers1 = Dave O'Brien and Tony Gwynn (Game 1)
Thom Brennaman and Steve Lyons (Games 2, 4)
Josh Lewin and Steve Lyons (Game 3)
Joe Buck and Tim McCarver (Game 5)
champion2 = St. Louis Cardinals (3)
champion2_manager = Tony La Russa
champion2_games = 97-65, .599, GA: 13
runnerup2 = Arizona Diamondbacks (0)
runnerup2_manager = Bob Brenly
runnerup2_games = 98-64, .605, GA: 2½
date2 = October 1–October 5
television2 = ABC Family
announcers2 = Chris Berman and Rick Sutcliffe (Game 1-2)
Jon Miller and Joe Morgan (Game 3)
umpires2 = Mike Reilly, Paul Emmel, Angel Hernandez, Jerry Layne, Tim Tschida, Ted Barrett (Braves-Giants, Games 1-2 & 5; Diamondbacks-Cardinals, Game 3)
Bruce Froemming, Bill Miller, Ron Kulpa, Gary Darling, Steve Rippley, Mark Hirschbeck (Diamondbacks-Cardinals, Games 1-2 & 5; Braves-Giants, Games 3-4)The by|2002 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2002 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 1, and ended on Monday, October 7, with the champions of the three NL divisions – along with a "wild card" team – participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:

*(1) Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champion, 101-59) vs. (4) San Francisco Giants (Wild Card, 95-66): Giants win series, 3-2.
*(2) Arizona Diamondbacks (Western Division champion, 98-64) vs. (3) St. Louis Cardinals (Central Division champion, 97-65): Cardinals win series, 3-0.

"The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage (Games 1, 2 and 5 at home), which was determined by playing record."

The Cardinals and Giants went on to meet in the NL Championship Series (NLCS). The Giants became the National League champion, and lost to the American League champion Anaheim Angels in the 2002 World Series.

Matchups

Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants

San Francisco wins the series, 3-2

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals

St. Louis wins the series, 3-0

Atlanta vs. San Francisco

The Atlanta Braves had won their 11th straight division title. The San Francisco Giants were making their 3rd appearance in the postseason since 1997. Barry Bonds was also looking for a little revenge because he was the left fielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates when they lost to the Braves in two straight NLCS appearances.

Game 1, October 2

Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=San Francisco|RoadAbr=SFG
R1=0|R2=3|R3=0|R4=3|R5=0|R6=2|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=8|RH=12|RE=2
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=0|H2=2|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=3|H9=0|HR=5|HH=10|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Russ Ortiz (1-0)|LP=Tom Glavine (0-1)|SV=Robb Nen (1)
RoadHR=|HomeHR=Gary Sheffield (1), Javy López (1)|

In Game 1, Russ Ortiz faced Tom Glavine. In the top of the 2nd, J.T. Snow hit a two run double, then David Bell singled Snow home to make it 3-0 Giants. But Glavine would help his own cause by hitting a two run single to left field that almost tied the game thanks to an error by Bonds in the bottom half of the 2nd. But a three run inning, capped by Rich Aurilia's two run double, seemed to silence the Braves as the Giants took a commanding 6-2 lead in the 4th. Glavine would leave after 5 innings and Benito Santiago would add insult to injury by doubling in two more runs in the 6th. But with one out in the 8th, the Braves put together a mini rally that started with Gary Sheffield's solo homer. Then a dropped fly ball put two men on for Javy López. He would then homer to put the Braves back in the game. In the 9th, the Braves put the tying run at the plate in the person of Sheffield. But instead of hitting another homer to tie the game, he hit into a game ending double play.

Game 2, October 3

Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=San Francisco|RoadAbr=SFG
R1=0|R2=1|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=1|R7=0|R8=0|R9=1|RR=3|RH=7|RE=0
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=1|H2=3|H3=0|H4=3|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=7|HH=8|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Kevin Millwood (1-0)|LP=Kirk Rueter (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=Rich Aurilia (1), Barry Bonds (1), J.T. Snow (1)|HomeHR=Javy López (2), Vinny Castilla (1)|

In Game 2, Kirk Rueter faced Kevin Millwood, who was looking to keep the Braves' hopes alive in the series. The Braves would strike first on Chipper Jones's RBI single in the 1st. But Snow homered to tie the game in the top of the 2nd. Back-to-back homers by Lopez and Vinny Castilla made it 3-1 Braves in the bottom half. Then Rafael Furcal's RBI single later in the inning made it 4-1. Mark DeRosa put the game away when he tripled in two runs and then scored on a passed ball. All the Giants would get in the game would be solo homers as the Braves evened the series with a 7-3 win.

Game 3, October 5

Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, CaliforniaLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=1|R4=0|R5=0|R6=5|R7=0|R8=0|R9=4|RR=10|RH=10|RE=0
Home=San Francisco|HomeAbr=SFG
H1=1|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=2|HH=5|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Greg Maddux (1-0)|LP=Jason Schmidt (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=Keith Lockhart (1)|HomeHR=Barry Bonds (2)|

In Game 3, Greg Maddux faced Jason Schmidt. In the bottom of the 1st, Jeff Kent doubled in the first run of the game to give the Giants the lead. Then an RBI groundout by Julio Franco tied the game in the 3rd. The game remained close until the 6th. With one out, three consecutive walks ended Schmidt's night. Then Vinny Castilla would single in two runs. Keith Lockhart would follow with a towering three run homer to make it 6-1 Braves. Bonds' homer in the bottom half made it 6-2. But the 9th saw the Braves add insurance. They would score four more runs to take a 10-2 lead. That score would stand as the Braves took a 2-1 lead in the series.

Game 4, October 6

Pacific Bell Park in San Francisco, CaliforniaLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=2|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=9|RE=0
Home=San Francisco|HomeAbr=SFG
H1=2|H2=2|H3=3|H4=0|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=X|HR=8|HH=11|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Liván Hernández (1-0)|LP=Tom Glavine (0-2)|SV=
RoadHR=|HomeHR=Rich Aurilia (2)|

In Game 4, Glavine would be sent to the mound once again, this time facing Liván Hernández. Glavine's struggles would continue, as he allowed two cheap runs in the first on a sac fly and a groundout. Then two more runs, one of them a bases loaded walk, made it 4-0. Then Rich Aurilia's three run homer made it 7-0 in the third. Glavine allowed seven earned runs in 2 and 2/3 innings. The Braves would hardly come close to winning. They would score 3 runs in the game as the Giants sent the series back to Atlanta.

Game 5, October 7

Turner Field in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=San Francisco|RoadAbr=SFG
R1=0|R2=1|R3=0|R4=1|R5=0|R6=0|R7=1|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=6|RE=2
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=1|HH=7|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Russ Ortiz (2-0)|LP=Kevin Millwood (1-1)|SV=Robb Nen (2)
RoadHR=Barry Bonds (3)|HomeHR=|

In the clinching Game 5, Russ Ortiz returned to the mound to face Kevin Millwood. Reggie Sanders's RBI single in the 2nd made it 1-0 Giants. Then Bonds would homer to make it 2-0 in the 4th. But Mark DeRosa's RBI single made it 2-1 in the 6th. But the Braves would squander the chances to bring DeRosa in. The Braves left 12 men on base in Game 5. In the 9th, with Braves trailing 3-1, Gary Sheffield came to the plate with two men on, representing the Division Series-winning run. Had he homered the series would have been over, but he struck out and Chipper Jones grounded out into a double play to end the series. This would begin the Braves' streak of four consecutive NLDS losses.

Composite Box

2002 NLDS (3-2): San Francisco Giants over Atlanta BravesLinescore
Road=San Francisco Giants
R1=3|R2=7|R3=3|R4=4|R5=1|R6=4|R7=1|R8=0|R9=1|RR=24|RH=41|RE=4
Home=Atlanta Braves
H1=1|H2=5|H3=1|H4=3|H5=1|H6=8|H7=0|H8=3|H9=4|HR=26|HH=44|HE=0Total Attendance: 220,386 Average Attendance: 44,077|

Arizona vs. St. Louis

The Arizona Diamondbacks won the West for the 2nd straight year, having a better team than the previous year when they won the 2001 World Series. The St. Louis Cardinals were making their 3rd straight postseason appearance. Having swept the defending NL Champions in the 2000 National League Division Series, they had a chance to sweep the defending World Champions in 2002.

Game 1, October 1

Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaLinescore
Road=St. Louis|RoadAbr=STL
R1=2|R2=0|R3=0|R4=3|R5=0|R6=1|R7=6|R8=0|R9=0|RR=12|RH=14|RE=1
Home=Arizona|HomeAbr=ARI
H1=1|H2=0|H3=1|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=2|HH=8|HE=2
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Matt Morris (1-0)|LP=Randy Johnson (0-1)|SV=
RoadHR=Jim Edmonds (1), Scott Rolen (1)|HomeHR=|

In Game 1, Matt Morris faced eventual 2002 Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson, who dominated the 2001 postseason with ease. But in the top of the 1st an error by Tony Womack put a runner on for Jim Edmonds, who then hit a home run to make it 2-0 Cardinals. But the Diamondbacks scratched out a run in the bottom half thanks to Steve Finley's sacrifice fly. In the bottom of the 3rd, Quinton McCracken tied the game with an RBI single. In the 4th, the floodgates began to open as Albert Pujols led off the inning with a triple and Scott Rolen followed with a two run homer. Then Edgar Rentería's RBI single later in the inning made it 5-2 Cards. Then in the top of the 7th with the score now 6-2, walks and errors by the D'Backs allowed 6 runs to score. The game was now out of reach as the Cardinals routed the defending champs 12-2.

Game 2, October 3

Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaLinescore
Road=St. Louis|RoadAbr=STL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=1|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=1|RR=2|RH=10|RE=1
Home=Arizona|HomeAbr=ARI
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=1|H9=0|HR=1|HH=6|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Jeff Fassero (1-0)|LP=Mike Koplove (0-1)|SV=Jason Isringhausen (1)
RoadHR=J.D. Drew (1)|HomeHR=|

In Game 2, Chuck Finley faced Curt Schilling. J.D. Drew got the scoring started with a solo homer in the 3rd to put the Cardinals up 1-0. Finley and Schilling dueled until Finley left with a cramp in his pitching hand. When Albert Pujols moved from left field in the 8th, he immediately created trouble by misplaying a ball hit by Greg Colbrunn. Then McCracken would make him pay by tying the game with a double. But the Cardinals would take the lead thanks to Miguel Cairo's RBI single. Then Jason Isringhausen would shut the D'Backs down 1-2-3 in the 9th for the save. Jeff Fassero would get the win in relief and Mike Koplove would get the loss.

Game 3, October 5

Busch Stadium II in St. Louis, MissouriLinescore
Road=Arizona|RoadAbr=ARI
R1=0|R2=2|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=4|RE=0
Home=St. Louis|HomeAbr=STL
H1=0|H2=1|H3=1|H4=2|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=2|H9=X|HR=6|HH=9|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Jeff Fassero (2-0)|LP=Miguel Batista (0-1)|SV=Jason Isringhausen (2)
RoadHR=David Dellucci (1), Rod Barajas (1)|HomeHR=|

Only one team had come back after being down 2-0 going on the road, and that team was the same team they had beaten to win the World Series the year before: the New York Yankees. So the task was now daunting. Things certainly looked good in the top of the 2nd against Game 3 starter Andy Benes when David Dellucci homered to put the D'Backs up 2-0. But against Miguel Batista, the Cardinals struck back when Cairo drove in a run in the bottom half of the inning. Then Pujols would tie the game with an RBI single in the 3rd. A squeeze play gave the Cardinals the lead in the 4th. Then they added a run later in the inning to make it 4-2. But Rod Barajas homered to make it a one run game in the 5th. The game remained close until the bottom of the 8th when the Cardinals added two insurance runs to make it 6-3. Isringhausen got the series winning save by once again shutting down the Diamondbacks 1-2-3 in the 9th. Dellucci would ground out to end the series.

Composite Box

2002 NLDS (3-0): St. Louis Cardinals over Arizona DiamondbacksLinescore
Road=St. Louis Cardinals
R1=2|R2=1|R3=2|R4=5|R5=0|R6=1|R7=6|R8=2|R9=1|RR=20|RH=33|RE=2
Home=Arizona Diamondbacks
H1=1|H2=2|H3=1|H4=0|H5=1|H6=0|H7=0|H8=1|H9=0|HR=6|HH=18|HE=2Total Attendance: 150,199 Average Attendance: 50,066|

Notes

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2002_NLDS1.shtml Braves vs. Giants at Baseball-Reference]
* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2002_NLDS2.shtml Diamondbacks vs. Cardinals at Baseball-Reference]