House That Hank Built
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The Atlanta Braves in elimination games: bad things happen

By Alan Carpenter

Manager Fredi Gonzalez of the Atlanta Braves argues an infield fly ruling in the eighth inning with third base umpire Jeff Nelson and left field umpire Sam Holbrook. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Manager Fredi Gonzalez of the Atlanta Braves argues an infield fly ruling in the eighth inning with third base umpire Jeff Nelson and left field umpire Sam Holbrook. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Roger Clemens of the Houston Astros puts his arm around Chris Burke #2 after Game Four of the 2005 National League Division Series, eliminating the Atlanta Braves. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images) /

Milestone Braves Games

2010

This time, it was the San Francisco Giants doing the damage, and Game 4 was the deciding game.  It was also Bobby Cox‘s last managerial foray.

In losing to the eventual World Champions, it’s noteworthy, that the Braves tested the Giants severely:  all games were decided by a single run and no team scored more than 5 runs in any game… with that 5-run outburst coming from the Braves in 11 innings.

This was also the year in which Buster “Posey was out” on a phantom stolen base in Game 1.  He proceeded to score the only run of the game in a Giants victory.  So in the realm of “anything can happen”, the Braves proved that during 2 consecutive playoff appearances.

In the elimination game, though, Atlanta led 2-1 entering the 7th until Juan Uribe — yes, it was him again — reached on a one-out grounder to short.  That scored Aubrey Huff to tie the game and extended the inning for San Francisco.

They later got a second — and deciding — run that inning in the person of… Buster Posey.

2005

With Atlanta down 2 games to 1 at Houston, the teams opted to play twice… 18 innings, actually.

At this point, absolutely anything could have happened, and the 6th Braves pitcher of the night — Joey Devine — gave up the walk-off homer to Chris Burke.

Roger Clemens had been summoned to continue for the Astros — their eighth pitcher.  The Braves managed only 1 base-runner in 3 innings off of him.  13 hits and 11 walks overall weren’t enough, though, as Atlanta fell 7-6.

2004

More Astros.  This time is was a true elimination game for both teams with the series tied 2-2.

With the score tied at 3-all entering the 7th, the visiting Astros beat up on Chris Reitsma, Tony Martin, and Juan Cruz in the Atlanta Braves bullpen… scoring eight times in the next two frames.

The final score?  12-3 as only Paul Byrd was able to restore order to the proceedings… albeit far too late in the process.

2003

I admit forgetting about this one:  a Game 5 (of 5) defeat at the hands of the Chicago Cubs.  Up to that point, every game had been decided by exactly 2 runs as the teams alternated victories.

Alas, the Braves didn’t start first, and thus Game 5 was the Cubs’ turn to win as the Braves couldn’t get anything going against Kerry Wood.

Chicago was up 2-0 early, then 4-0 in the middle of the 6th, just prior to Atlanta’s lone tally.  This became a 5-1 final.

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