2010 National League Division Series
Encyclopedia
The 2010 National League Division Series
(NLDS) were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 National League Championship Series
. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—a "Wild Card"—played in two series from October 6 to 11. TBS televised all games in the United States.
Under MLB's playoff format, no two teams from the same division were matched up in the Division Series, regardless of whether their records would normally indicate such a matchup. Home field advantage went to the team with the better regular-season record with the exception of the wild card team, which defers home field advantage regardless of record. The matchups were:
The Phillies and Reds had met in the postseason once before: in the 1976 NLCS
, which the Reds won 3–0. The Giants and Braves also had one prior postseason series—the 2002 NLDS
—which the Giants won 3–2.
) at Citizens Bank Park
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In his first career postseason start, Phillies ace Roy Halladay
hurled a no-hitter
, giving up only one walk (to Jay Bruce
in the fifth inning). Halladay's was only the second postseason no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, and the first since Don Larsen
's perfect game
in the 1956 World Series
. He threw only 104 pitches.
During the 2010 regular season, Halladay had thrown a perfect game
on the road against the Florida Marlins
on May 29. He thus became the first and only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the regular season and a no-hitter in the postseason in the same year. Halladay is also the fifth major league pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same year, and the first since Nolan Ryan
in 1973.
The Phillies' offense got started early when Shane Victorino
sliced a double down the left field line in the first inning. After stealing third base, Chase Utley
brought him home with a sacrifice fly
. Victorino went 2-for-4 in the game and also had two RBIs on a single in the second inning that scored Wilson Valdez
and Halladay. Halladay had reached earlier in the inning on an RBI single of his own, helping his own cause and becoming the first pitcher in major league history to outhit the opposing team in a postseason game.
Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez
lasted only innings before Travis Wood
was called upon in relief by manager Dusty Baker
. Volquez gave up four hits, four runs (all earned), and two walks. He faced eleven batters, retiring only five.
) at Citizens Bank Park
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On the fourth pitch he saw, Brandon Phillips hit a solo home run to lead off the first inning. This is both the first hit and first run since for the Reds in the postseason. Laynce Nix
scored another run in the top of the second inning on two throwing errors and a wild pitch.
Jay Bruce hit a lead-off solo homer in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 3–0. In the top of the fifth inning, Phillips hit a lead-off double, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on Joey Votto
's sacrifice fly.
The Phillies mounted their attack in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Domonic Brown reached first base on a fielder's choice, then the Phillies loaded the bases on two consecutive defensive errors. Chase Utley
delivered a two-out RBI single to get the Phillies on board. But Arroyo struck out Ryan Howard
to limit the damage at two.
The Phillies scored again in the sixth inning. Jayson Werth
walked, stole second, then scored after two batters were hit by pitches and a bases-loaded walk by Reds relievers Arthur Rhodes
and Logan Ondrusek
.
The Reds sent flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman
to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He hit Chase Utley, the third time by Reds' relievers in the night, then struck out Ryan Howard. Werth hit a ground ball to Reds third baseman Scott Rolen
, but Utley was called safe at second base. The next batter Jimmy Rollins
hit a fly ball to right field, but the Reds right fielder Jay Bruce lost it in the lights; Reds second baseman Phillips also missed the relay catch. These two crucial errors—the third and fourth on the night—let both Utley and Werth score. Rollins scored later on Raúl Ibáñez
's single and Carlos Ruiz's RBI force-out. Reds reliever Nick Masset
replaced Chapman and got Shane Victorino
to ground out to end the inning. The Phillies took the 6–4 lead on Reds' errors into the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Utley hit a one-out single then stole second. Masset intentionally walked Howard, to set up a potential double play for the next batter. However, Werth hit an RBI single to left field to score Utley.
Phillies closer Brad Lidge closed the ninth for the save.
The six combined errors tied an LDS record previously set by the Athletics
and Red Sox in the 2003 ALDS.
) at the Great American Ball Park
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati was again dominated by Phillies' starting pitching. Cole Hamels
pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine while allowing five hits. Plácido Polanco
scored for the Phillies on Orlando Cabrera
's throwing error in the top of the first inning. Chase Utley
added another run to the lead by hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning. With one out in the top of the ninth inning, Carlos Ruiz hit a double
off Aroldis Chapman
on a pitch that was clocked by PITCH f/x
at 103.5 mph, making it the fastest pitched ball ever to result in a hit. For the series, Cincinnati was shut out two times and scored just four runs, making them among the very few teams to lose in a shutout twice. (The 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers
lost in three shutouts to the Baltimore Orioles
in the World Series in a sweep.)
over Cincinnati Reds
) at AT&T Park
in San Francisco, California
Game 1 was a pitching duel that matched the Giants' two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum
, in his first postseason start, against the Braves' Derek Lowe
, a seasoned veteran of postseason play.
The game's only run came in the fourth inning. Giants rookie catcher Buster Posey
singled to left, stole second in a controversial play where he was called safe while appearing to be out, and then scored on a two-out single by Cody Ross
. That run was the only one Lincecum needed, as the Giants' ace was dominant, pitching a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out a franchise record 14 while walking only one.
) at AT&T Park
in San Francisco, California
The Giants took a quick 3–0 lead as Pat Burrell hit a three-run home run, following Freddy Sanchez
's single and Buster Posey
's walk in the bottom of the first inning.
Braves manager Bobby Cox
was ejected from the game in the top of the second inning, arguing that Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff
's foot did not stay on base on Álex González's ground-out.
Giants starter Matt Cain
also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Cody Ross
, who had doubled earlier.
Braves first baseman Derrek Lee
hit a lead-off single in the top of the sixth inning and advanced to second base on Pat Burrell
's fielding error. Brian McCann singled him home in the next at-bat to end the 14 scoreless innings streak for the Braves in this series.
The Braves struck back in the top of the eighth inning. After consecutive singles by Lee and McCann, the Giants brought in closer Brian Wilson for a six-out save. However, the next hitter, Melky Cabrera
, hit an RBI ground ball that scored Lee from third base and Cabrera beat the throw to first base due to Giants' third baseman Pablo Sandoval
's throwing error. Following Brooks Conrad
's sacrifice bunt, Álex González's RBI double scored both runners and tied the game at 4–4.
The game remained tied and went to extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth inning, two consecutive bunts—one single, one sacrifice—knocked Braves closer Billy Wagner
out of the game because of injury. Braves reliever Kyle Farnsworth
hit the next batter, Freddy Sanchez, then walked Huff to load the bases. However, Posey grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the top of the eleventh inning, Rick Ankiel
hit a go-ahead solo home run into McCovey Cove
on the fly to give the Braves a 5–4 lead. Farnsworth threw a scoreless eleventh inning for the win and the series was tied at 1–1.
) at Turner Field
in Atlanta, Georgia
Game 3 was yet another dramatic matchup of strong pitching. The Giants sent lefty Jonathan Sánchez
to the mound, who turned in a strong performance, pitching a no-hitter through six innings. The Braves countered with right-hander Tim Hudson
, who matched Sánchez for seven innings, allowing only one unearned run.
The Giants took an early lead in the second inning after leaving the bases loaded in the first. Third baseman Mike Fontenot
started the inning by driving a triple off the right field wall. The next batter, Cody Ross
, lofted a pop fly that was dropped by Atlanta second baseman Brooks Conrad
, giving San Francisco a 1–0 lead. That run seemed to be all Sánchez would need, as he shut out the Braves for innings.
With a runner at first and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Giants still nursing their 1–0 lead, Giants setup man Sergio Romo
, a right-hander, relieved Sánchez to face the right-handed Troy Glaus
as a pinch-hitter. Braves manager Bobby Cox
countered by sending left-handed batter Eric Hinske
to the plate instead. With two strikes on him, Hinske turned on a hanging slider from Romo and drove it just inside the right field foul pole for a home run, giving the Braves a 2–1 lead, and electrifying the crowd at Turner Field.
Rookie right-hander Craig Kimbrel
came out of the bullpen to start the top of the ninth for the Braves, relieving Jonny Venters
, who had struck out the side the previous inning. Kimbrel retired Ross on a popout to Conrad, for the first out. Travis Ishikawa
then pinch-hit for Romo and drew a walk. After striking out leadoff man Andrés Torres
, Kimbrel gave up a single to second baseman Freddy Sanchez
, and was removed from the game, leaving runners on first and second base, with two outs. Another rookie Brave, lefty Michael Dunn
came on and gave up a game-tying single to Aubrey Huff
. Dunn was then pulled for a right-hander, Peter Moylan
, who induced a grounder from Buster Posey
, which proceeded to bounce through the legs of Conrad, the second baseman's third error of the game. Sanchez scored on the play, giving the Giants a 3–2 lead. Kyle Farnsworth
came on and got the third out, but the damage was done. The Giants brought in their closer Brian Wilson for the bottom of the ninth. He held the lead, giving up a single to Brian McCann, but retiring Nate McLouth
on a grounder to end the game.
) at Turner Field
in Atlanta, Georgia
With their backs against the wall, the Braves sent Derek Lowe
to the mound on three days' rest. The Braves scored first in the bottom of the third inning when Brian McCann's sacrifice fly drove in Omar Infante
.
Lowe took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Giants tied the game with one out on Cody Ross' first-pitch homer off a Lowe cutter
. McCann answered with another in the bottom of the inning off the Giants' rookie starter, Madison Bumgarner
, to take back the lead.
Lowe was relieved after innings. After walking Aubrey Huff
and allowing an infield single to Buster Posey
, Bobby Cox
made his way out to the mound, apparently to remove Lowe from the game. However, after talking to him, Cox elected to leave Lowe in, prompting huge cheers from the Atlanta fans. The next batter, Pat Burrell
, walked on a 3–1 pitch near the inside corner and Lowe's night was done. He struck out eight while allowing only two hits and walking two. Braves' relievers Peter Moylan
and Jonny Venters
could not hold the lead as the Giants scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning on Juan Uribe
's RBI fielder's choice and Cody Ross' RBI single. The Braves might have been able to escape the one-out, bases-loaded jam, however, Álex González's throwing error, his second in the game, cost them. Both errors were debatable. The first, was a ball hit in the hole he didn't field cleanly with the speedy Andrés Torres
running. The second, was again, another crucial controversial call that went against the Braves in the series. With two on and one out and a weakly hit groundball, González elected to go to second, throwing it high, causing Omar Infante to edge up, however, the umpire ruled he came off the base.
Left-handed Giants reliever Javier López
entered the game with two outs in the eighth, and pinch-runner Nate McLouth
as the tying run at second base, and struck out Jason Heyward
. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Braves had one last chance to rally. With one out, Giants closer Brian Wilson walked Rick Ankiel
and Eric Hinske
to put the winning run on base. However, Omar Infante struck out swinging and Melky Cabrera
grounded out to end the game and the series.
This was Braves manager Bobby Cox's last game. After the game ended, he came out of the dugout briefly to acknowledge the fans. He was greeted with loud cheers from the entire stadium, as well as an ovation from the Giants' players and coaches.
over Atlanta Braves
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
(NLDS) were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 National League Championship Series
2010 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIn one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants...
. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—a "Wild Card"—played in two series from October 6 to 11. TBS televised all games in the United States.
Under MLB's playoff format, no two teams from the same division were matched up in the Division Series, regardless of whether their records would normally indicate such a matchup. Home field advantage went to the team with the better regular-season record with the exception of the wild card team, which defers home field advantage regardless of record. The matchups were:
- (1) Philadelphia Phillies2010 Philadelphia Phillies seasonThe Philadelphia Phillies' 2010 season was the 128th season in the history of the franchise. The team was the two-time defending National League champion, having appeared in the 2008 and 2009 World Series...
(Eastern Division champions, 97–65) vs. (3) Cincinnati Reds2010 Cincinnati Reds seasonThe Cincinnati Reds' 2010 season was the 121st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball. The Reds began their season at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5, losing 6 to 11. Cincinnati was coming off a 78-84 season and fourth place in the NL Central. The Reds were managed by...
(Central Division champions, 91–71): Phillies won the series, 3–0. - (2) San Francisco Giants2010 San Francisco Giants seasonThe San Francisco Giants are an American Major League Baseball team. Their 2010 season marked their 128th year in Major League Baseball, and their fifty-third year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season...
(West Division champions, 92–70) vs. (4) Atlanta Braves2010 Atlanta Braves seasonThe 2010 Atlanta Braves Season featured the Braves' attempt to reclaim a postseason berth for the first time since 2005. The Braves once again were skippered by Bobby Cox, in his 25th and final season managing the team. It was their 45th season in Atlanta, and the 135th of the franchise...
(Wild Card qualifier, 91–71): Giants won the series, 3–1.
The Phillies and Reds had met in the postseason once before: in the 1976 NLCS
1976 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 9, 1976 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaReds starter Don Gullett held the Phils to two hits in eight strong innings and helped his own cause with an RBI single in the sixth and a two-run double in the eighth...
, which the Reds won 3–0. The Giants and Braves also had one prior postseason series—the 2002 NLDS
2002 National League Division Series
-Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals:-Atlanta vs. San Francisco:The Atlanta Braves had won their eleventh straight division title. The San Francisco Giants were making their third appearance in the postseason since 1997...
—which the Giants won 3–2.
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds
†: No-hitter by Roy HalladayRoy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves
Game 1, October 6
5:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
In his first career postseason start, Phillies ace Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
hurled a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, giving up only one walk (to Jay Bruce
Jay Bruce
Jay Allen Bruce is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds. He was selected 12th overall in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft....
in the fifth inning). Halladay's was only the second postseason no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, and the first since Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
's perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
in the 1956 World Series
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers during the month of October 1956. The Series was a rematch of the 1955 World Series...
. He threw only 104 pitches.
During the 2010 regular season, Halladay had thrown a perfect game
Roy Halladay's perfect game
On May 29, 2010, Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched the twentieth perfect game in baseball history, against the Florida Marlins in Miami. He retired all 27 batters, striking out 11...
on the road against the Florida Marlins
2010 Florida Marlins season
The Florida Marlins' 2010 season was the 18th season for the Major League Baseball franchise. The Marlins played their home games at Sun Life Stadium. On 23 June 2010, Fredi González was fired as manager and replaced with Edwin Rodríguez...
on May 29. He thus became the first and only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the regular season and a no-hitter in the postseason in the same year. Halladay is also the fifth major league pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same year, and the first since Nolan Ryan
Nolan Ryan
Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr. , nicknamed "The Ryan Express", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers....
in 1973.
The Phillies' offense got started early when Shane Victorino
Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:...
sliced a double down the left field line in the first inning. After stealing third base, Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
brought him home with a sacrifice fly
Sacrifice fly
In baseball, a sacrifice fly is a batted ball that satisfies four criteria:* There are fewer than two outs when the ball is hit.* The ball is hit to the outfield....
. Victorino went 2-for-4 in the game and also had two RBIs on a single in the second inning that scored Wilson Valdez
Wilson Valdéz
Wilson Antonio Valdez is a Major League Baseball utility infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.-Early career:Valdez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Expos on February 4, 1997...
and Halladay. Halladay had reached earlier in the inning on an RBI single of his own, helping his own cause and becoming the first pitcher in major league history to outhit the opposing team in a postseason game.
Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez [VOL-kez] , is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. He bats and throws right-handed....
lasted only innings before Travis Wood
Travis Wood
Travis A. Wood , is an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. He throws left-handed and bats right-handed....
was called upon in relief by manager Dusty Baker
Dusty Baker
Johnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former player and current manager in Major League Baseball, currently the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed a 19-year career as a hard-hitting outfielder, mostly with the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers...
. Volquez gave up four hits, four runs (all earned), and two walks. He faced eleven batters, retiring only five.
Game 2, October 8
6:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
On the fourth pitch he saw, Brandon Phillips hit a solo home run to lead off the first inning. This is both the first hit and first run since for the Reds in the postseason. Laynce Nix
Laynce Nix
Laynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....
scored another run in the top of the second inning on two throwing errors and a wild pitch.
Jay Bruce hit a lead-off solo homer in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 3–0. In the top of the fifth inning, Phillips hit a lead-off double, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on Joey Votto
Joey Votto
Joseph Daniel "Joey" Votto, is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 2010 NL MVP, the recipient of the National League Hank Aaron Award for 2010, and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year in 2010.-Early life:Votto was born on...
's sacrifice fly.
The Phillies mounted their attack in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Domonic Brown reached first base on a fielder's choice, then the Phillies loaded the bases on two consecutive defensive errors. Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
delivered a two-out RBI single to get the Phillies on board. But Arroyo struck out Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
to limit the damage at two.
The Phillies scored again in the sixth inning. Jayson Werth
Jayson Werth
Jayson Richard Gowan Werth is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies. He bats and throws right-handed.-Background:Werth was born in...
walked, stole second, then scored after two batters were hit by pitches and a bases-loaded walk by Reds relievers Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Rhodes
Arthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles...
and Logan Ondrusek
Logan Ondrusek
Logan Jared Ondrusek is a right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. He grew up and went to school in Shiner, Texas, and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 13th round of the 2005 MLB June Amateur Draft.-Minor League Career:Ondrusek began his minor league career with the rookie Billings...
.
The Reds sent flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman
Albertin Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz is a Cuban-Andorran Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Chapman bats and throws left-handed. He is listed at 6'4" tall and weighing 195 pounds . He currently holds the record for the fastest recorded pitch speed in Major League Baseball,...
to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He hit Chase Utley, the third time by Reds' relievers in the night, then struck out Ryan Howard. Werth hit a ground ball to Reds third baseman Scott Rolen
Scott Rolen
Scott Bruce Rolen is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is an eight-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
, but Utley was called safe at second base. The next batter Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
hit a fly ball to right field, but the Reds right fielder Jay Bruce lost it in the lights; Reds second baseman Phillips also missed the relay catch. These two crucial errors—the third and fourth on the night—let both Utley and Werth score. Rollins scored later on Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Javier Ibáñez is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.Over his career, Ibáñez, who did not make 500 plate appearances until the age of thirty, has batted .280 with 377 doubles, 252 home runs and 1054 runs batted in over sixteen Major League seasons...
's single and Carlos Ruiz's RBI force-out. Reds reliever Nick Masset
Nick Masset
Nicholas Allen Masset is a right-handed pitcher for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds. He was selected in the eighth round of the entry draft by the Texas Rangers. After graduating from Pinellas Park High School, Masset attended St...
replaced Chapman and got Shane Victorino
Shane Victorino
Shane Patrick Victorino is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed.-Career:...
to ground out to end the inning. The Phillies took the 6–4 lead on Reds' errors into the eighth inning.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Utley hit a one-out single then stole second. Masset intentionally walked Howard, to set up a potential double play for the next batter. However, Werth hit an RBI single to left field to score Utley.
Phillies closer Brad Lidge closed the ninth for the save.
The six combined errors tied an LDS record previously set by the Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and Red Sox in the 2003 ALDS.
Game 3, October 10
8:00 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at the Great American Ball Park
Great American Ball Park
The Great American Ball Park is a Major League Baseball park in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is the home of the National League's Cincinnati Reds. It opened in 2003, replacing the Reds' former home, Cinergy Field, which was known as Riverfront Stadium from its opening in June 1970 until the 1996...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
Cincinnati was again dominated by Phillies' starting pitching. Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels
Colbert Michael "Cole" Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels throws a four-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a curveball, and a cut fastball, which he added in 2010...
pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine while allowing five hits. 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...
scored for the Phillies on Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Luis Cabrera, nicknamed "O-Cab" and "The OC", is a Colombian-American baseball infielder.He won a World Series championship in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. He has played for the Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins,...
's throwing error in the top of the first inning. Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
added another run to the lead by hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning. With one out in the top of the ninth inning, Carlos Ruiz hit a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
off Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman
Albertin Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz is a Cuban-Andorran Major League Baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. Chapman bats and throws left-handed. He is listed at 6'4" tall and weighing 195 pounds . He currently holds the record for the fastest recorded pitch speed in Major League Baseball,...
on a pitch that was clocked by PITCH f/x
Pitch f/x
PITCHf/x, created and maintained by Sportvision, is a system that tracks the trajectories of pitched baseballs. This system, which made its debut in the 2006 MLB playoffs, is installed in every MLB stadium.- Usage :...
at 103.5 mph, making it the fastest pitched ball ever to result in a hit. For the series, Cincinnati was shut out two times and scored just four runs, making them among the very few teams to lose in a shutout twice. (The 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers
1966 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League championship with a 95–67 record , but lost to the Baltimore Orioles in four games in the World Series.-Regular season:...
lost in three shutouts to the Baltimore Orioles
1966 Baltimore Orioles season
The Baltimore Orioles season involved the Orioles finishing first in the American League with a record of 97 wins and 63 losses, nine games ahead of the runner-up Minnesota Twins. It was their first AL pennant since 1944, when the club was known as the St. Louis Browns. The Orioles swept the NL...
in the World Series in a sweep.)
Composite box
2010 NLDS (3–0): Philadelphia Phillies2010 Philadelphia Phillies season
The Philadelphia Phillies' 2010 season was the 128th season in the history of the franchise. The team was the two-time defending National League champion, having appeared in the 2008 and 2009 World Series...
over Cincinnati Reds
2010 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 2010 season was the 121st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball. The Reds began their season at home against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 5, losing 6 to 11. Cincinnati was coming off a 78-84 season and fourth place in the NL Central. The Reds were managed by...
Game 1, October 7
9:30 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
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...
Game 1 was a pitching duel that matched the Giants' two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
, in his first postseason start, against the Braves' Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
, a seasoned veteran of postseason play.
The game's only run came in the fourth inning. Giants rookie catcher Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
singled to left, stole second in a controversial play where he was called safe while appearing to be out, and then scored on a two-out single by Cody Ross
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played with the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , and Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants...
. That run was the only one Lincecum needed, as the Giants' ace was dominant, pitching a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out a franchise record 14 while walking only one.
Game 2, October 8
9:30 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) at AT&T Park
AT&T Park
AT&T Park is a ballpark located in the South Beach neighborhood of San Francisco, California. Located at 24 Willie Mays Plaza, at the corner of Third and King Streets, it has served as the home of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball since 2000....
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...
The Giants took a quick 3–0 lead as Pat Burrell hit a three-run home run, following Freddy Sanchez
Freddy Sanchez
Frederick Phillip "Freddy" Sanchez, Jr. is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the San Francisco Giants. Sanchez has previously played for the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants...
's single and Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
's walk in the bottom of the first inning.
Braves manager Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
was ejected from the game in the top of the second inning, arguing that Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
's foot did not stay on base on Álex González's ground-out.
Giants starter Matt Cain
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Cody Ross
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played with the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , and Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants...
, who had doubled earlier.
Braves first baseman Derrek Lee
Derrek Lee
Derrek Leon Lee , or "D-Lee", is a Major League Baseball first baseman. Lee has played with the San Diego Padres , the Florida Marlins , Chicago Cubs , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates . He bats and throws right-handed.Lee was a World Series Champion with Florida in 2003,...
hit a lead-off single in the top of the sixth inning and advanced to second base on Pat Burrell
Pat Burrell
Patrick Brian "Pat" Burrell , nicknamed "Pat the Bat," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
's fielding error. Brian McCann singled him home in the next at-bat to end the 14 scoreless innings streak for the Braves in this series.
The Braves struck back in the top of the eighth inning. After consecutive singles by Lee and McCann, the Giants brought in closer Brian Wilson for a six-out save. However, the next hitter, Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera
Melky Astacio Cabrera is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...
, hit an RBI ground ball that scored Lee from third base and Cabrera beat the throw to first base due to Giants' third baseman Pablo Sandoval
Pablo Sandoval
Pablo E. Sandoval , nicknamed Kung Fu Panda, is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Sandoval is a 5'11", 237 pound switch hitter. He was born left handed, but did not want to have to play outfield all of his career. He therefore...
's throwing error. Following Brooks Conrad
Brooks Conrad
Brooks Litchfield Conrad , nicknamed "Raw Dog", is a Major League Baseball second baseman, third baseman, and pinch hitter for the Atlanta Braves.-Career:...
's sacrifice bunt, Álex González's RBI double scored both runners and tied the game at 4–4.
The game remained tied and went to extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth inning, two consecutive bunts—one single, one sacrifice—knocked Braves closer Billy Wagner
Billy Wagner
William Edward Wagner , nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros , the Philadelphia Phillies , the New York Mets , the Boston Red Sox , and the Atlanta Braves...
out of the game because of injury. Braves reliever 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:...
hit the next batter, Freddy Sanchez, then walked Huff to load the bases. However, Posey grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the top of the eleventh inning, Rick Ankiel
Rick Ankiel
Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....
hit a go-ahead solo home run into McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, coined after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey. The proper name for the cove is China Basin, which is the mouth of Mission Creek as it meets the...
on the fly to give the Braves a 5–4 lead. Farnsworth threw a scoreless eleventh inning for the win and the series was tied at 1–1.
Game 3, October 10
4:30 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) 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...
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 3 was yet another dramatic matchup of strong pitching. The Giants sent lefty Jonathan Sánchez
Jonathan Sanchez
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals....
to the mound, who turned in a strong performance, pitching a no-hitter through six innings. The Braves countered with right-hander 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...
, who matched Sánchez for seven innings, allowing only one unearned run.
The Giants took an early lead in the second inning after leaving the bases loaded in the first. Third baseman Mike Fontenot
Mike Fontenot
Michael Eugene "Mike" Fontenot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants.-High school career:Mike Fontenot was a standout for Salmen High School in Slidell, Louisiana...
started the inning by driving a triple off the right field wall. The next batter, Cody Ross
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played with the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Dodgers , Cincinnati Reds , and Florida Marlins and San Francisco Giants...
, lofted a pop fly that was dropped by Atlanta second baseman Brooks Conrad
Brooks Conrad
Brooks Litchfield Conrad , nicknamed "Raw Dog", is a Major League Baseball second baseman, third baseman, and pinch hitter for the Atlanta Braves.-Career:...
, giving San Francisco a 1–0 lead. That run seemed to be all Sánchez would need, as he shut out the Braves for innings.
With a runner at first and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Giants still nursing their 1–0 lead, Giants setup man Sergio Romo
Sergio Romo
Sergio Francisco Romo is a American right-handed professional baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League baseball.-Early life:Romo was born in Brawley, California to Mexican immigrant parents...
, a right-hander, relieved Sánchez to face the right-handed Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
as a pinch-hitter. Braves manager Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
countered by sending left-handed batter Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
to the plate instead. With two strikes on him, Hinske turned on a hanging slider from Romo and drove it just inside the right field foul pole for a home run, giving the Braves a 2–1 lead, and electrifying the crowd at Turner Field.
Rookie right-hander Craig Kimbrel
Craig Kimbrel
Craig Michael Kimbrel is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Breaking the record for saves by a rookie in the 2011 season, Kimbrel was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award for the National League....
came out of the bullpen to start the top of the ninth for the Braves, relieving Jonny Venters
Jonny Venters
Jonathan William Venters is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.-Professional career:Venters was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 30th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft....
, who had struck out the side the previous inning. Kimbrel retired Ross on a popout to Conrad, for the first out. Travis Ishikawa
Travis Ishikawa
Travis Takashi Ishikawa |Washington]]) is an American Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently with the San Francisco Giants organization...
then pinch-hit for Romo and drew a walk. After striking out leadoff man Andrés Torres
Andres Torres
Andrés "Yungo" Torres Jr. is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the San Francisco Giants. He has also played for the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers.-Early life:...
, Kimbrel gave up a single to second baseman Freddy Sanchez
Freddy Sanchez
Frederick Phillip "Freddy" Sanchez, Jr. is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the San Francisco Giants. Sanchez has previously played for the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants...
, and was removed from the game, leaving runners on first and second base, with two outs. Another rookie Brave, lefty Michael Dunn
Michael Dunn (baseball)
Michael G. Dunn is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins.-Baseball career:Dunn played collegiate baseball for the Community College of Southern Nevada from 2003 to 2005...
came on and gave up a game-tying single to Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
. Dunn was then pulled for a right-hander, Peter Moylan
Peter Moylan
Peter Michael Moylan is a relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. Moylan features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball and throws sidearm.-Early career:...
, who induced a grounder from Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
, which proceeded to bounce through the legs of Conrad, the second baseman's third error of the game. Sanchez scored on the play, giving the Giants a 3–2 lead. 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:...
came on and got the third out, but the damage was done. The Giants brought in their closer Brian Wilson for the bottom of the ninth. He held the lead, giving up a single to Brian McCann, but retiring Nate McLouth
Nate McLouth
Nathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
on a grounder to end the game.
Game 4, October 11
7:30 p.m. (EDTEastern Time Zone
The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
) 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...
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...
With their backs against the wall, the Braves sent Derek Lowe
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
to the mound on three days' rest. The Braves scored first in the bottom of the third inning when Brian McCann's sacrifice fly drove in Omar Infante
Omar Infante
Omar Rafael Infante [in-FAHN-tay] is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently on the Miami Marlins...
.
Lowe took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Giants tied the game with one out on Cody Ross' first-pitch homer off a Lowe cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
. McCann answered with another in the bottom of the inning off the Giants' rookie starter, Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner is an American baseball pitcher with the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Bumgarner is listed 6'5" and 225 pounds and has a 90–95 MPH fastball...
, to take back the lead.
Lowe was relieved after innings. After walking Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Huff
Aubrey Lewis Huff III is a Major League Baseball first baseman with the San Francisco Giants. He debuted in 2000 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and later played for the Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. He is the starting first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who won the...
and allowing an infield single to Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
, Bobby Cox
Bobby Cox
Robert Joseph "Bobby" Cox is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. He first led the Atlanta Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He later rejoined the Braves in 1985 as a general manager...
made his way out to the mound, apparently to remove Lowe from the game. However, after talking to him, Cox elected to leave Lowe in, prompting huge cheers from the Atlanta fans. The next batter, Pat Burrell
Pat Burrell
Patrick Brian "Pat" Burrell , nicknamed "Pat the Bat," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
, walked on a 3–1 pitch near the inside corner and Lowe's night was done. He struck out eight while allowing only two hits and walking two. Braves' relievers Peter Moylan
Peter Moylan
Peter Michael Moylan is a relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves in Major League Baseball. Moylan features a mid ninety mile per hour fastball and throws sidearm.-Early career:...
and Jonny Venters
Jonny Venters
Jonathan William Venters is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.-Professional career:Venters was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 30th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft....
could not hold the lead as the Giants scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning on Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
's RBI fielder's choice and Cody Ross' RBI single. The Braves might have been able to escape the one-out, bases-loaded jam, however, Álex González's throwing error, his second in the game, cost them. Both errors were debatable. The first, was a ball hit in the hole he didn't field cleanly with the speedy Andrés Torres
Andres Torres
Andrés "Yungo" Torres Jr. is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the San Francisco Giants. He has also played for the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers.-Early life:...
running. The second, was again, another crucial controversial call that went against the Braves in the series. With two on and one out and a weakly hit groundball, González elected to go to second, throwing it high, causing Omar Infante to edge up, however, the umpire ruled he came off the base.
Left-handed Giants reliever Javier López
Javier López
Javier Alfonso López is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants. López previously played for the Colorado Rockies , Arizona Diamondbacks , Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates . He is a left-handed specialist known for his sidearm delivery...
entered the game with two outs in the eighth, and pinch-runner Nate McLouth
Nate McLouth
Nathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
as the tying run at second base, and struck out Jason Heyward
Jason Heyward
Jason Alias Heyward , nicknamed J-Hey and J-Hey-Kid, is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Atlanta Braves. He throws and bats left-handed....
. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Braves had one last chance to rally. With one out, Giants closer Brian Wilson walked Rick Ankiel
Rick Ankiel
Richard Alexander Ankiel is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently with the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws left-handed....
and Eric Hinske
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske is a Major League Baseball outfielder, first baseman, and third baseman currently an Atlanta Braves organization...
to put the winning run on base. However, Omar Infante struck out swinging and Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera
Melky Astacio Cabrera is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants.-Minors:Cabrera was signed by the New York Yankees on November 13, 2001, at age 17...
grounded out to end the game and the series.
This was Braves manager Bobby Cox's last game. After the game ended, he came out of the dugout briefly to acknowledge the fans. He was greeted with loud cheers from the entire stadium, as well as an ovation from the Giants' players and coaches.
Composite line score
2010 NLDS (3–1): San Francisco Giants2010 San Francisco Giants season
The San Francisco Giants are an American Major League Baseball team. Their 2010 season marked their 128th year in Major League Baseball, and their fifty-third year in San Francisco since their move from New York following the 1957 season...
over Atlanta Braves
2010 Atlanta Braves season
The 2010 Atlanta Braves Season featured the Braves' attempt to reclaim a postseason berth for the first time since 2005. The Braves once again were skippered by Bobby Cox, in his 25th and final season managing the team. It was their 45th season in Atlanta, and the 135th of the franchise...