Manager Season Dates 9 Oct 2001 – 14 Oct 2001 | Manager Season Location United States of America | |
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Television Fox Family (Games 1–2)
Fox (Game 3) TV announcers Kenny Albert, Rod Allen (Games 1–2)
Mel Proctor, Rod Allen (Game 3) Television Fox Family (Games 1–4)
Fox (Game 5) TV announcers Thom Brennaman, Steve Lyons (Games 1–2)
Joe Buck, Tim McCarver (Game 3–5) Similar 1996 National League D, 2004 National League D, 2000 National League D, 2003 National League D, 2006 National League D | ||
The 2001 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 2001 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 9, and ended on Sunday, October 14, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:
Contents
- Houston Astros vs Atlanta Braves
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs St Louis Cardinals
- Houston vs Atlanta
- Game 1 October 9
- Game 2 October 10
- Game 3 October 12
- Composite box
- Arizona vs St Louis
- Game 4 October 13
- Game 5 October 14
- Media coverage
- Series quotes
- References
The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage (Games 1, 2 and 5 at home), which was determined by playing record. Houston and St. Louis tied for the Central Division title, but Houston was awarded the division winner's playoff-seeding over St. Louis due to their 9–7 advantage in head-to-head play. Officially the two clubs were co-champions. Although the team with the best record was normally intended to play the wild card team, the Astros played the Braves, rather than the wild card Cardinals, because the Astros and Cardinals are in the same division.
The Diamondbacks and Braves went on to meet in the NL Championship Series (NLCS). The Diamondbacks became the National League champion, and defeated the American League champion New York Yankees in the 2001 World Series.
Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves
Atlanta won the series, 3–0.
Arizona Diamondbacks vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona won the series, 3–2.
Houston vs. Atlanta
The Atlanta Braves won their tenth straight division title, despite having the worst record (88–74) among playoff teams. With that record, 2001 was also the Braves' worst season since 1990, when they had the worst record in baseball. The Houston Astros were in the playoffs for the seventh time, hoping to avenge two postseason losses in the 1990s to the Braves. At 93–69, and having home field advantage throughout the playoffs, the Astros were heavily favored to win this series.
Game 1, October 9
Enron Field in Houston, Texas
In Game 1, Greg Maddux faced Wade Miller. Brian Jordan drove in the first two runs of the game, hitting a sac fly in the first and a solo homer in the fourth. But the Astros would strike back against Maddux. Brad Ausmus's two-run homer tied the game in the fifth for the Astros. Then Moisés Alou's groundout in the sixth gave the Astros the lead. But the Braves refused to concede. They struck for four runs in the eighth, an inning capped by Chipper Jones's dramatic three-run homer. Both teams would homer in the ninth but John Smoltz got the save as the Braves won 7–4.
Game 2, October 10
Enron Field in Houston, Texas
In Game 2, Tom Glavine and Dave Mlicki started a classic pitching duel. In the top of the second, B.J. Surhoff doubled to lead off the inning. Then Andruw Jones singled to the shortstop and an error by Julio Lugo put Surhoff on third. Rey Sánchez would then ground into a double play by Surhoff would score to make it 1–0 Braves. In all but two innings the Astros had a hit and they would strand five in the game. Glavine pitched eight innings and Smoltz recorded his second consecutive postseason save.
Game 3, October 12
Turner Field in Atlanta, Georgia
In Game 3, Shane Reynolds faced John Burkett. In the bottom of the second, Paul Bako's two-run homer put the Braves up 2–0. In the third, Julio Franco homered to make it 3–0. Then a squeeze play by Bako in the fourth made it 4–0. Reynolds only lasted four innings and Burkett cruised until giving up a two-run homer to Daryle Ward in the sixth. Chipper Jones's two-run homer provided insurance in the bottom of the eighth and Smoltz once again dominated the ninth. Ausmus flied to center to end the series. Once again, the Astros had been denied by the Braves for their first ever postseason series win. This, to date, is the last postseason series win by the Braves.
Composite box
2001 NLDS (3–0): Atlanta Braves over Houston Astros
Arizona vs. St. Louis
The St. Louis Cardinals were making their second straight postseason appearance and they hoped to avenge their NLCS loss against the New York Mets in 2000. The Arizona Diamondbacks were making their second playoff appearance and they too were stunned by the Mets in 1999, having won 100 games that year.
Game 1, October 9
Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
Game 1 was a game of excellent starting pitching. Matt Morris faced Curt Schilling, who made the most of his first playoff start in eight years. Both pitchers were on even terms until the bottom of the fifth when Arizona struck first when Steve Finley singled home Damian Miller. The game remained 1–0 as Schilling managed to pitch a complete-game three-hit shutout.
Game 2, October 10
Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
In Game 2, Woody Williams faced Randy Johnson. Johnson seemingly had the Cardinals in the first when he got Plácido Polanco to ground into a double play. But Edgar Rentería walked and up came the soon-to-be-named NL Rookie of the Year Albert Pujols. He then hit his first playoff home run to make it 2–0 Cardinals in the top of the first. Then Polanco's sac fly made it 3–0 in the third. The D'Backs would scratch out a run in the eighth, but an error by Miguel Batista gave the Cardinals a commanding 4–1 lead in the ninth. Steve Kline got the save in the bottom of the ninth to even the series.
Game 3, October 12
Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri
In Game 3, Batista returned to the mound to start. Opposing him would be Darryl Kile. Both pitchers worked their way through each inning and kept it scoreless into the fourth. But Jim Edmonds's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth gave the Cardinals the lead. Luis Gonzalez responded with a homer off the right field pole to make it a one-run game in the sixth. Then the Diamondbacks came back in dramatic fashion. After Kile allowed a leadoff walk in the top of the seventh, Mike Matthews came on in relief. Greg Colbrunn tied the game with an RBI single with one out. A fielder's choice put two men on for eventual NLCS MVP Craig Counsell. He then hit a three-run home run to right that put the D'Backs ahead by three. However, Rentería would homer to make it a two-run game. But Byung-Hyun Kim closed the door in the ninth. Tragically, this wound up being Kile's final playoff game.
Game 4, October 13
Busch Stadium (II) in St. Louis, Missouri
Albie Lopez looked to close the door on the Cards. Opposing him would be Bud Smith. Smith got into trouble in the top of the first when Steve Finley singled home a run to make it 1–0 Diamondbacks. But J. D. Drew's RBI single tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. Then Jim Edmonds hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the second to put the Cardinals up for good. Then Fernando Viña's two-run homer in the third gave the Cardinals insurance. Both bullpens held the other team to nothing for the rest of the game as the series was once again tied.
Game 5, October 14
Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona
In the clinching Game 5, Matt Morris once again faced Curt Schilling. Both pitchers were on their game, allowing only one run throughout the entire game. Morris was the first to falter in the bottom of the fourth when he gave up a solo home run to Reggie Sanders. Schilling was masterful and was four outs away from winning the series. He was working on a 1–0 four-hit shutout when J. D. Drew tied the game with a solo homer of his own in the eighth. Schilling pitched a complete game and the D'Backs now had to get him the win. A leadoff double by Matt Williams gave the D'Backs a good chance. A sac bunt by Damian Miller put pinch runner Midre Cummings on third. After Colbrunn was walked intentionally, Cummings tried to steal home on the squeeze play attempt and got caught. Colbrunn went to second and Danny Bautista came on to pinch run. Then Tony Womack delivered the series winning single to left field. The Diamondbacks won their first postseason series ever and were now going to their first ever NLCS.
Composite box
2001 NLDS (3–2): Arizona Diamondbacks over St. Louis Cardinals
Media coverage
For the first and only time, Fox Family and Fox carried the National League Division Series with Kenny Albert and Rod Allen calling the action of Game 1 and Game 2 of the Atlanta-Houston series for Fox Family, while Mel Proctor and Rod Allen calling the action of Game 3 of the Atlanta-Houston series for Fox, Fox Family and Fox carried the National League Division Series with Thom Brennaman (himself a Diamondbacks broadcaster) and Steve Lyons calling the action of Game 1 and Game 2 of the Arizona-St. Louis series for Fox Family, while Joe Buck and Tim McCarver calling the action of Game 3, Game 4 and Game 5 of the Arizona-St. Louis series for Fox Family (Games 3–4), and Fox (Game 5). ESPN Radio provided national radio coverage for the fourth consecutive year, with Wayne Hagin and Buck Showalter calling the action of the Atlanta-Houston series, while Charley Steiner and Dave Campbell calling the action of the Arizona-St. Louis series.
Locally, the Arizona-St. Louis portion of the 2001 NLDS was called on KTAR-AM in Phoenix by Greg Schulte, Jeff Munn, Rod Allen (Games 4–5) and Jim Traber, and on KMOX-AM in St. Louis by Jack Buck (Games 3–4), Mike Shannon and Dan McLaughlin (Games 1–2, 5), while the Atlanta-Houston portion of the 2001 NLDS was called on WSB-AM in Atlanta by Pete Van Wieren, Skip Caray, Don Sutton and Joe Simpson, and on KTRH-AM in Houston by Milo Hamilton and Alan Ashby.
Series quotes
It's a little blooper...and that ball drops! Here comes Bautista! And the Diamondbacks...WIN! WOMACK DELIVERS! The Diamondbacks are going to the National League Championship Series against Atlanta! How about that?!