Mets-Braves, 1999 NLCS Game 5-Pretty much every game in the countdown is known for one particular play. This one is known for the "Grand Slam Single." This game started at 4:00 in the afternoon and didn't end until 9:47. It was tied 2-2 until the 15th, when Atlanta took a 3-2 lead on Keith Lockhart's triple. In the bottom of the 15th, Shawon Dunston lead off with a single, then Matt Franco walked and Edgardo Alfonzo dropped down a sacrifice bunt. After John Olerud was intentionally walked to load the bases, Todd Pratt drew a walk to tie the game. That brought up Robin Ventura. Ventura hit probably the most memorable "home run" in Mets history, a walk-off grand slam to right field, but he only made it halfway between first and second before he was tackled by his teammates. So, it went in the books as a single and a 4-3 Mets win.
Rockies-Padres, 2007 NL Wild Card Game-The only reason this game was even necessary was because of the ridiculous second half the Rockies put together in 2007 (that and the historic Mets collapse). Colorado went 46-29 in the second half and had an 11-game winning streak in September to tie the Padres for the wild card on the last day. The Rockies took an early 3-0 lead before San Diego put up a five-spot in the top of the third. Colorado went back ahead 6-5, but the Padres tied it in the eighth. It stayed 6-6 until the 13th, when Scott Hairston's two-run homer gave the Padres the lead. San Diego then went to future Hall of Fame closer Trevor Hoffman for the save, but he didn't get the job done. Kaz Matusi and Troy Tulowitzki both doubled, then Matt Holliday tripled to tie the game. After Todd Helton was intentionally walked, Jamey Carroll lifted a fly ball to right. Holliday tagged up and was never tagged, so he was called safe, even though he never touched the plate. Colorado ended up going all the way to the World Series. By the way, Holliday still hasn't touched home.
Yankees-Red Sox, July 1, 2004-No, this wasn't a postseason game. But it was the most amazing regular season game I've ever seen. We all know what happened at the end of the season, and this game might've set some of those wheels in motion (Nomar sat on the bench the entire game). If you don't remember it, look at the box score of this game and see why it's here. This game is probably better known for Derek Jeter's dive into the stands (aka, one of the defining plays of his career). Here's the abridged version of what happened. It was 3-3 in the top of the 12th. With runners on second and third and two out, Trot Nixon hit a popup to no-man's land in shallow left. Jeter made the catch, then sacrificed his body on the dive. He was due to bat in the bottom of the 12th, but obviously couldn't, so the Yankees had to get creative defensively (A-Rod at short, Gary Sheffield at third, drop the DH). Manny put Boston in front when he led off the 13th with his second homer of the game. With two out in the bottom of the 13th, Ruben Sierra singled, then Miguel Cairo ripped an RBI double. Up next was the pitcher in Jeter's spot, so backup catcher John Flaherty, the only guy left on the bench, had to pinch hit. And Flaherty delivered a game-winning single to left center.
Braves-Indians, 1995 World Series Game 6-I always talk about Jack Morris' Game 7 in 1991 as the greatest World Series pitching performance I've ever seen, but this one is a close second. Tom Glavine was simply dominant in giving the Braves their long overdue World Series title. He pitched eight masterful innings, giving up just one hit, a bloop single by Tony Pena in the sixth. The only run of the game came on a solo home run by David Justice in the bottom of the sixth. As Marquis Grissom clutched Carlos Baerga's fly ball in the top of the ninth, Bob Costas proclaimed, "The team of the '90s has its World Championship."
Angels-Giants, 2002 World Series Game 6-This was the best game in a highly underrated World Series (nine years later the all-wild card matchup is still the last World Series to go seven). The Giants led the series 3-2 and had a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh in Game 6. After starting pitcher Russ Ortiz gave up back-to-back singles to Troy Glaus and Brad Fullmer, Giants manager Dusty Baker brought in Felix Rodriguez. As he was warming up, the Rally Monkey came on the scoreboard and the fans went nuts. The first batter Rodriguez faced, Scott Spiezio, hit a three-run homer to right. That was the turning point of the game, and the series. Darin Erstad hit a solo homer leading off the bottom of the eighth. Anaheim put two runners on and San Francisco closer Robb Nen came in, but Glaus doubled over Barry Bonds' head in left to knock in both runs. The next night, the Angels won Game 7 by a score of 4-1. The Giants, of course, would finally win their first World Series in San Francisco eight years later.
Astros-Braves, 2005 NLDS Game 4-I remember being at work when this game started, but I was home long before it ended (it took almost six hours!). Atlanta led 6-1 before Lance Berkman's grand slam in the bottom of the eighth. Brad Ausmus then homered in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extra innings. But nobody scored. Houston was out of players by the 15th, so Roger Clemens had to pinch hit. Clemens then came in to pitch, marking just the second time in his career he pitched out of the bullpen (the Astros were also out of pitchers). Finally, in the bottom of the 18th, Chris Burke homered to end it, sending the Astros to the NLCS. Houston would go on to beat the Cardinals and reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history.
Cardinals-Mets, 2006 NLCS Game 7-Pick your favorite moment from this game. There are plenty to choose from. The Mets took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, but our good friend Ollie Perez gave it right back in the second. Then in the top of the sixth, Endy Chavez made one of the most amazing plays I've ever seen. With Jim Edmonds on first, Scott Rolen hit a deep fly to left center. The ball was over the fence, but Chavez climbed the wall and made a remarkable snow-cone catch. He then threw to first and doubled-off Edmonds, who was halfway to third! In the top of the ninth, Yadier Molina hit one to the same spot, but a little bit higher, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 lead. However, the Mets loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. That's when Adam Wainwright froze Carlos Beltran on an 0-2 curveball to send St. Louis to the World Series.
Yankees-Braves, 1996 World Series Game 4-Another game that easily could've made it onto this list was Game 2 of the 1995 Yankees-Mariners ALDS when Jim Leyritz hit a walk-off home run in the 15th inning, but I'm going with the memorable Leyritz home run in this one. The Braves led 6-0 after five, but the Yankees cut the deficit in half with three in the sixth. In the eighth, Bobby Cox went to his closer, Mark Wohlers. Wohlers gave up singles to Charlie Hayes and Darryl Strawberry. Atlanta then screwed up an easy double play, which brought up Leyritz. After six pitches, he hit a monster shot to left to tie the game. In the 10th, the Braves had to bring in a starter, Steve Avery. Avery proceeded to walk Tim Raines and give up a single to Derek Jeter. He then intentionally walked Bernie Williams to face Andy Fox, but Wade Boggs pinch hit for Fox. And Boggs drew a walk to give the Yankees the lead. They added another one, then John Wetteland shut the door in the bottom of the 10th to finish off the 8-6 victory.
Mets-Diamondbacks, 1999 NLDS Game 4-Yes, I'm being a bit of a homer, but I think the two New York teams were greatly underrepresented on the MLB Network list (although the Mets did have two of the top five games and the Yankees were featured more than any other team). The surprising Diamondbacks won the NL West in just their second year of existence, while the Mets beat the Reds in a one-game playoff to earn the wild card. Al Leiter pitched a shutout in that game in Cincinnati, so this was his only start of the series. The Mets led 2-1 after six, but Jay Bell's two-run double in the eighth put Arizona in front 3-2. However, the Mets tied the game on a pinch hit sac fly by Roger Cedeno in the bottom half of the inning. It went into extras and John Franco retired the side in order in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th, Todd Pratt ended it with a solo homer just above Steve Finley's outstretched glove in center.
Royals-Cardinals, 1985 World Series Game 6-Finally, we have the infamous "Don Denkinger game." The Cardinals were one game away from winning the World Series for the second time in four years and took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the ninth in Game 6. That's when the "fun" begins. The leadoff batter, Jorge Orta, hit an easy grounder to Jack Clark at first. Clark flipped to pitcher Todd Worrell, who clearly beat Orta to the bag. However, Denkinger called him safe. Steve Balboni then hit a popup that normally would be an easy play, but Clark had to hold the runner on and was late getting to the ball, which fell foul. Balboni then singled. Worrell got Orta at third when Jim Sundberg tried to bunt, but the runners moved up anyway on a passed ball. The Cardinals intentionally walked Hal McRae to load the bases, then pinch hitter Dane Iorg singled to right. The tying run scored easily, and Sundberg got in just under the tag to give the Royals an incredible 2-1 victory and force a Game 7. Game 7 was an anticlimactic 11-0 Kansas City win that gave the Royals their first World Series title.
There's my list. Plenty of others could've been on it, but these 10 were simply too memorable to exclude. Which has to make you think, "If these 10 didn't make the MLB Network list, the games that did must've been pretty good." They were. So were these.
No comments:
Post a Comment