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 2010 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a best-of-seven game Major League Baseball playoff series that pitted the winners of the 2010 National League Division Series—the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants—against ...
. 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
In team sports, the term home advantage – also called home ground, home field, home-field advantage, home court, home-court advantage, defender's advantage or home-ice advantage – describes the benefit that the home team is said to gai ...
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 Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
(Eastern Division champions, 97–65) vs. (3)
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
(Central Division champions, 91–71): Phillies win series, 3–0.
* (2)
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
(West Division champions, 92–70) vs. (4)
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
(Wild Card qualifier, 91–71): Giants win series, 3–1.
The Phillies and Reds had met in the postseason once before: in the
1976 NLCS
The 1976 National League Championship Series was a postseason series between the two division champions of the National League in the Cincinnati Reds and the Philadelphia Phillies. This was the eighth National League Championship Series, NLCS hel ...
, 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.
The Giants would go on to defeat the Phillies in the NLCS, then win the
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2010 season. The 106th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers and the Nati ...
by defeating the American League champion
Texas Rangers, winning their first World title since 1954.
Matchups
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds
†: No-hitter by Roy Halladay
San Francisco Giants vs. Atlanta Braves
Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati
Game 1
5:00 p.m. (
EDT) at
Citizens Bank Park in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
In his first career postseason start, Phillies ace
Roy Halladay hurled a
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
, giving up only one walk (to
Jay Bruce
Jay Allen Bruce (born April 3, 1987) is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and New Y ...
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 James Larsen (August 7, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched from 1953 to 1967 for seven different teams: the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore O ...
's
perfect game
Perfect game may refer to:
Sports
* Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners
* Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game
* Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...
in the
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees of the American League and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League in 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
Perfect game may refer to:
Sports
* Perfect game (baseball), a complete-game win by a pitcher allowing no baserunners
* Perfect game (bowling), a 300 game, 12 consecutive strikes in the same game
* Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, New York ...
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
In baseball, a sacrifice fly (sometimes abbreviated to sac fly) is defined by Rule 9.08(d):
"Score a sacrifice fly when, before two are out, the batter hits a ball in flight handled by an outfielder or an infielder running in the outfield in fair o ...
. 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 Vólquez 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 11 batters, retiring only five.
This would be the last postseason no–hitter until the
Astros's combined World Series no-hitter in 2022, which also took place at
Citizens Bank Park.
Game 2
6:00 p.m. (
EDT) at
Citizens Bank Park in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
On the fourth pitch he saw, Brandon Phillips hit a home run to lead off the first inning. This was both the first hit and first run since
1995
File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is O. J. Simpson murder case, acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the 1994, year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The ...
for the Reds in the postseason.
Laynce Nix
Laynce Michael Nix (born October 30, 1980) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Nix played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, and Philadelphia Phillie ...
scored another run in the top of the second inning on two throwing errors and a wild pitch.
Jay Bruce hit a lead-off 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
Domonic Larun Brown (born September 3, 1987), is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Philadelphia Phillies in , after being named the Phillies' top prospect in and the top ...
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
Ryan James Howard (born November 19, 1979), nicknamed "the Big Piece", is an American former professional baseball first baseman. Howard spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, from to . He is ...
to limit the damage at two.
The Phillies scored again in the sixth inning.
Jayson Werth
Jayson Richard Gowan Werth (born May 20, 1979) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2002 to 2017. His 15-season career was split among the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers, P ...
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
Logan Jared Ondrusek (born February 13, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Ba ...
.
The Reds sent flame-thrower
Aroldis Chapman
Albertín Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz (; born February 28, 1988) is a Cuban-born American professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees and Chica ...
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 Bruce Rolen (born April 4, 1975) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds. He was an eight-t ...
, but Utley was called safe at second base. The next batter,
Jimmy Rollins, hit a fly ball to right field, but 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 Ibañez's single and
Carlos Ruiz's RBI force-out. Reds reliever
Nick Masset
Nicholas Allen Masset (born May 17, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played for the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins, and Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB ...
replaced Chapman and got
Shane Victorino to ground out to end the inning. The Phillies took a 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
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competiti ...
and
Red Sox in the
2003 ALDS.
Game 3
8:00 p.m. (
EDT) at
Great American Ball Park in
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located at the northern side of the confluence of the Licking and Ohio rivers, the latter of which marks the state line wit ...
Cincinnati was again dominated by Phillies' starting pitching.
Cole Hamels pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine while allowing five hits.
Plácido Polanco
Plácido Enrique Polanco (; born October 10, 1975) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers and Miami Marlins. He was a ...
scored for the Phillies on
Orlando Cabrera
Orlando Luis Cabrera Ramírez, nicknamed "O-Cab" and "The OC", (born November 2, 1974) is a Colombian-American former baseball infielder.
He won a World Series championship in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. He also played for the Montreal Expos ...
's throwing error in the top of the first inning.
Chase Utley added another run to the lead by hitting a home run in the fifth inning. With one out in the top of the ninth inning,
Carlos Ruiz hit a
double
A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another.
Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to:
Film and television
* Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character
* Th ...
off
Aroldis Chapman
Albertín Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz (; born February 28, 1988) is a Cuban-born American professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees and Chica ...
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
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
in the World Series in a sweep). This was the
Great American Ball Park's first playoff game.
This was the last playoff series won by the Phillies until
2022
File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; 2022 Sri Lankan protests, Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretari ...
.
Composite line score
2010 NLDS (3–0):
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
over
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
San Francisco vs. Atlanta
Game 1
9:30 p.m. (
EDT) at
AT&T Park in
San Francisco, California
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
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
Derek Christopher Lowe (born June 1, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. During his career, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland I ...
, a seasoned veteran of postseason play.
The game's only run came in the fourth inning. Giants rookie catcher
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III (born March 27, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at ...
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 Joseph Ross (born December 23, 1980), nicknamed "Toy Cannon" and "Ross the Boss," is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2003), Los Angeles Do ...
. 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
9:30 p.m. (
EDT) at
AT&T Park in
San Francisco, California
San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...
![Braves celebrate winning 2010 NLDS Game 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Braves_celebrate_winning_2010_NLDS_Game_2.JPG)
The Giants took a quick 3–0 lead as Pat Burrell hit a three-run home run, following
Freddy Sanchez
Frederick Phillip Sanchez Jr. (born December 21, 1977) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Sanchez played in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox (–), Pittsburgh Pirates (–) and San Francisco Giants (–). He ...
's single and
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III (born March 27, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at ...
'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
Aubrey Lewis Huff III (born December 20, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Huff played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers ...
's foot did not stay on base on
Álex González's ground-out.
Giants starter
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain (born October 1, 1984), nicknamed "The Horse", "Big Daddy", "Big Sugar" and "Cainer", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the San Francisco Giants ...
also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, scoring
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross (born December 23, 1980), nicknamed "Toy Cannon" and "Ross the Boss," is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2003), Los Angeles Do ...
, 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 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
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
for a six-out save. However, the next hitter,
Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera Astacio (born August 11, 1984), nicknamed The Melkman, is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue ...
, 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
Brooks Litchfield Conrad (born January 16, 1980) is an American former professional baseball second baseman and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay R ...
'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 11th inning,
Rick Ankiel hit a go-ahead home run into
McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, named after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey. The proper name for the cove is China Bas ...
on the fly to give the Braves a 5–4 lead. At the time Ankiel was the only player in postseason history besides
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
to hit a home run into
McCovey Cove
McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, named after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey. The proper name for the cove is China Bas ...
.
Farnsworth threw a scoreless 11th inning for the win and the series was tied at 1–1.
Game 3
4:30 p.m. (
EDT) at
Turner Field
Turner Field was a baseball stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1997 to 2016, it served as the home ballpark to the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium in 1996 to serve as the c ...
in
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
Game 3 was yet another dramatic matchup of strong pitching. The Giants sent lefty
Jonathan Sánchez
Jonathan Omar Sánchez (born November 19, 1982), nicknamed "The Kid" and "The Comeback Kid", is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He is one of only three Puerto Rican players to throw a no-hitter game in MLB, the others bein ...
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
Michael Eugene Fontenot Jr. (; born June 9, 1980) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, and Philadelphia Phillies. He batted left-handed and ...
started the inning by driving a triple off the right field wall. The next batter,
Cody Ross
Cody Joseph Ross (born December 23, 1980), nicknamed "Toy Cannon" and "Ross the Boss," is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (2003), Los Angeles Do ...
, lofted a pop fly that was dropped by Atlanta second baseman
Brooks Conrad
Brooks Litchfield Conrad (born January 16, 1980) is an American former professional baseball second baseman and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, and Tampa Bay R ...
, 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
Álex González 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 Francisco Romo (born March 4, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He has previously played in MLB for the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Miami ...
, a right-hander, relieved Sánchez to face the right-handed
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus (; born August 3, 1976) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and third baseman. Glaus played in Major League Baseball with the Anaheim Angels (–), Arizona Diamondbacks (), Toronto Blue Jays (–), St. Lou ...
as a pinch-hitter. Braves manager
Bobby Cox countered by sending left-handed batter
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske (born August 5, 1977) is an American professional baseball coach and retired outfielder and first baseman who is currently the assistant hitting coach for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hinske played in the ...
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
Jonathan William Venters (born March 20, 1985) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals.
Career Minor leagues
Venters was ...
, who had struck out the side the previous inning. Kimbrel retired Ross on a popout to Conrad, for the first out.
Travis Ishikawa
Travis Takashi Ishikawa (born September 24, 1983) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played for the San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates. Ishikawa has also ...
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
Frederick Phillip Sanchez Jr. (born December 21, 1977) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Sanchez played in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox (–), Pittsburgh Pirates (–) and San Francisco Giants (–). He ...
, 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
Aubrey Lewis Huff III (born December 20, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Huff played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers ...
. Dunn was then pulled for a right-hander,
Peter Moylan
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a sur ...
, who induced a grounder from
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III (born March 27, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at ...
, 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
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
for the bottom of the ninth. He held the lead, giving up a single to
Brian McCann, but retiring
Nate McLouth
Nathan Richard McLouth (born October 28, 1981) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. He was pr ...
on a grounder to end the game.
Game 4
7:30 p.m. (
EDT) at
Turner Field
Turner Field was a baseball stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1997 to 2016, it served as the home ballpark to the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball (MLB). Originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium in 1996 to serve as the c ...
in
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
With their backs against the wall, the Braves sent
Derek Lowe
Derek Christopher Lowe (born June 1, 1973) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. During his career, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland I ...
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 Rafael Infante n-FAHN-tay(born December 26, 1981) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, Miami M ...
.
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
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
Aubrey Lewis Huff III (born December 20, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Huff played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Houston Astros, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers ...
and allowing an infield single to
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III (born March 27, 1987) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Posey spent his entire twelve-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the San Francisco Giants, from 2009 until his retirement at ...
,
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
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a sur ...
and
Jonny Venters
Jonathan William Venters (born March 20, 1985) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Tampa Bay Rays and Washington Nationals.
Career Minor leagues
Venters was ...
could not hold the lead as the Giants scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning on
Juan Uribe
Juan Cespedes Uribe Tena (born March 22, 1979) is a Dominican former professional baseball infielder. He played shortstop, third base and second base during his career in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Chicago White S ...
's RBI fielder's choice and Cody Ross' RBI single. The Braves might have been able to escape the one-out, bases-loaded jam, but
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
Nathan Richard McLouth (born October 28, 1981) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. He was pr ...
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
Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...
walked
Rick Ankiel and
Eric Hinske
Eric Scott Hinske (born August 5, 1977) is an American professional baseball coach and retired outfielder and first baseman who is currently the assistant hitting coach for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hinske played in the ...
to put the winning run on base. However, Omar Infante struck out swinging and
Melky Cabrera
Melky Cabrera Astacio (born August 11, 1984), nicknamed The Melkman, is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue ...
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 Giants
The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...
over
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. The Braves ...
References
External links
PHI vs. CIN at Baseball-ReferenceSF vs. ATL at Baseball-ReferencePHI vs. CIN at ESPNSF vs. ATL at ESPN
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