1995 National League Division Series
| 1995 National League Division Series | |||||||||||||
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| Teams | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 3 – 7 | ||||||||||||
| Television | NBC (in Denver) ABC (in Atlanta) | ||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Pete Van Wieren and Larry Dierker (Games 1–3) Al Michaels, Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver (Game 4) | ||||||||||||
| Radio | CBS | ||||||||||||
| Radio announcers | Gene Elston and Gary Cohen | ||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||
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| Dates | October 3 – 6 | ||||||||||||
| Television | NBC (in Los Angeles) ABC (in Cincinnati) | ||||||||||||
| TV announcers | Greg Gumbel and Joe Morgan (in Los Angeles) Al Michaels, Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver (in Cincinnati) | ||||||||||||
| Radio | CBS | ||||||||||||
| Radio announcers | Jerry Coleman and Jim Hunter | ||||||||||||
| Umpires | John McSherry, Jerry Layne, Joe West, Terry Tata, Harry Wendelstedt, Charlie Reliford (Atlanta–Colorado, Games 1–2; Cincinnati–Los Angeles, Game 3) Ed Montague, Bob Davidson, Eric Gregg, Frank Pulli, Bruce Froemming, Gary Darling (Cincinnati–Los Angeles, Games 1–2; Atlanta–Colorado, Games 3–4) | ||||||||||||
The 1995 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1995 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 3, and ended on Saturday, October 7, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. As a result of both leagues realigning into three divisions in 1994, it marked the first time in major league history that a team could qualify for postseason play without finishing in first place in its league or division. The teams were:
- Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champion, 90–54) vs. Colorado Rockies (Wild Card, 77–67): Braves win series, 3–1.
- Cincinnati Reds (Central Division champion, 85–59) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (Western Division champion, 78–66): Reds win series, 3–0.[1]
Every participant in this year’s NLDS was a member of the old NL West in 1993 (Colorado’s inaugural season). The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds went on to meet in the NL Championship Series (NLCS). The Braves became the National League champion and defeated the American League champion Cleveland Indians in the 1995 World Series.
Matchups
Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies
Atlanta won the series, 3–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 3 | Atlanta Braves – 5, Colorado Rockies – 4 | Coors Field | 3:19 | 50,040[2] |
| 2 | October 4 | Atlanta Braves – 7, Colorado Rockies – 4 | Coors Field | 3:08 | 50,063[3] |
| 3 | October 6 | Colorado Rockies – 7, Atlanta Braves – 5 (10 innings) | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 3:16 | 51,300[4] |
| 4 | October 7 | Colorado Rockies – 4, Atlanta Braves – 10 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 2:38 | 50,027[5] |
Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Cincinnati won the series, 3–0.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 3 | Cincinnati Reds – 7, Los Angeles Dodgers – 2 | Dodger Stadium | 3:15 | 44,199[6] |
| 2 | October 4 | Cincinnati Reds – 5, Los Angeles Dodgers – 4 | Dodger Stadium | 3:21 | 46,051[7] |
| 3 | October 6 | Los Angeles Dodgers – 1, Cincinnati Reds – 10 | Riverfront Stadium | 3:27 | 53,276[8] |
Atlanta vs. Colorado
Game 1
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 13 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Alejandro Peña (1–0) LP: Curt Leskanic (0–1) Sv: Mark Wohlers (1) Home runs: ATL: Marquis Grissom (1), Chipper Jones 2 (2) COL: Vinny Castilla (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 1 was a match-up between aces: Greg Maddux for the Atlanta Braves and Kevin Ritz for the Colorado Rockies. Ritz and Maddux worked their way out of minor trouble early on, but, in the top of the third, Marquis Grissom broke the scoreless tie with a shot to make it 1–0. However, the Rockies soon answered in the bottom of the fourth. After Maddux got Dante Bichette to ground out, he walked Larry Walker. Then a single by Andrés Galarraga moved Walker to third. Ellis Burks's sac fly brought Walker home. The next batter, Vinny Castilla, would hit a two-run homer to give Colorado its first lead of the night, but In the top of the sixth, Chipper Jones led off with a home run to make it a one-run game. David Justice then walked just before a single by Ryan Klesko. An error during the play by Burks moved Justice to third. Steve Reed relieved Ritz and Luis Polonia reached on a fielder's choice, bringing Justice home to tie the game. The Braves would load the bases, but Maddux struck out to end the inning. In the top of the eighth, Mike Munoz took the mound for Colorado. He got two quick outs, but surrendered a single to Klesko. Darren Holmes came in and gave up a single to Javy López. Dwight Smith followed with a pinch-hit RBI single to center to give the Braves a 4–3 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Bichette walked off Greg McMichael, then moved to third on a single by Walker and an error by Justice on the play. Galarraga would then reach on a fielder's choice (on a diving stop by Chipper Jones robbing the Big Cat of extra bases), with Walker out at second. Alejandro Peña came on to face Burks with one out. Burks doubled to tie the game at four apiece, but Pena got the next two outs. Curt Leskanic came on in the top of the ninth and got two outs, but gave up a home run to Chipper Jones. The Braves now had a 5–4 lead, but the Rockies tried to mount a rally in the bottom half off Mark Wohlers. With one out, Mike Kingery singled and was followed by another single by Bichette. Walker was then walked, loading the bases with only one out. That put the winning run in scoring position. Wohlers, however, was able to get Galarraga and pitcher Lance Painter (Rockies skipper Don Baylor had run out of position players in his first postseason game as manager) to strike out to end the game and give the Braves a well-earned victory.
Game 2
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Alejandro Peña (2–0) LP: Mike Munoz (0–1) Sv: Mark Wohlers (2) Home runs: ATL: Marquis Grissom 2 (3) COL: Larry Walker (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2 matched Atlanta pitcher
Game 3
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Darren Holmes (1–0) LP: Mark Wohlers (0–1) Sv: Mark Thompson (1) Home runs: COL: Eric Young (1), Vinny Castilla (2) ATL: None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The potential clincher pitted
Game 4
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Atlanta | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 10 | 15 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Greg Maddux (1–0) LP: Bret Saberhagen (0–1) Home runs: COL: Dante Bichette (1), Vinny Castilla (3) ATL: Fred McGriff 2 (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Composite box
1995 NLDS (3–1): Atlanta Braves over Colorado Rockies
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 51 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Colorado Rockies | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 19 | 41 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 201,430 Average attendance: 50,358 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles
Game 1
Tuesday October 3, 1995 5:05 PM (PT) Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Pete Schourek (1–0) LP: Ramón Martínez (0–1) Home runs: CIN: Benito Santiago (1) LAD: Mike Piazza (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pete Schourek of the Reds faced Ramón Martínez of the Dodgers in Game 1. Back-to-back singles with one out got the rally started in the top of the first for the Reds. After Reggie Sanders popped out, Hal Morris struck the game's first blow by doubling home the two runners on base. Then Benito Santiago hit a two-run home run to make it 4–0 Reds. In the top of the fifth, after a leadoff double and single, Benito Santiago's sacrifice fly made it 5–0 Reds. After a double, John Cummings relieved Martinez and allowed a two-run double to Jeff Branson. The Dodgers scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth on Brett Butler's RBI single with two on, then added another run next inning on Mike Piazza's home run, but could not score again off Schourek, Mike Jackson or Jeff Brantley as the Reds took a 1–0 series lead with a 7–2 win.
Game 2
Wednesday October 4, 1995 5:05 PM (PT)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Dave Burba (1–0) LP: Antonio Osuna (0–1) Sv: Jeff Brantley (1) Home runs: CIN: Reggie Sanders (1) LAD: Eric Karros 2 (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former 20-game winner
Game 3
Friday October 6, 1995 8:07 PM ET
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | X | 10 | 11 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: David Wells (1–0) LP: Hideo Nomo (0–1) Home runs: LAD: None CIN: Ron Gant (1), Bret Boone (1), Mark Lewis (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Soon-to-be-named National League Rookie of the Year Hideo Nomo of the Dodgers faced playoff-savvy David Wells of the Reds. A two-run home run by Ron Gant got the scoring started for the Reds in the third. The Dodgers would cut the lead in half when Eric Karros reached second due to right fielder Reggie Sanders dropping his fly ball, then scored on an RBI single by Raúl Mondesí in the fourth, but Bret Boone's home run in the bottom of the fourth gave the Reds that run back. Then, in the sixth, Nomo began to lose his control, giving up two singles, a walk, and wild pitch. Then pinch hitter Mark Lewis came up and socked a grand slam off Mark Guthrie to make it 7–1 Reds. Next inning, the Reds loaded the bases on a single and two walks off John Cummings when Mike Jackson cleared them to make it 10–1 Reds. The Dodgers changed pitchers five times as the Reds advanced to the 1995 National League Championship Series with a series sweep. As of 2023, this is the Reds' most recent playoff game victory at home, and the 1995 NLDS remains the most recent playoff round won by the Reds.[9][10]
Composite box
1995 NLDS (3–0): Cincinnati Reds over Los Angeles Dodgers
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 22 | 29 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 31 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 143,526 Average attendance: 47,842 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
References
- ^ The team listed first had home field advantage, which was not tied to playing record but was predetermined. Also, the team with home field advantage played the first two games on the road, with potentially the last three at home, in order to reduce travel. Had the 1995 NLDS been played under the 1998-2011 arrangement, then Atlanta (1) would've still played against Colorado (4) and Cincinnati (2) would have likewise still faced Los Angeles (3). Under the 2012-present format, which removed the prohibition against teams from the same division meeting in the Division Series, the matchups also would have been Atlanta-Colorado and Cincinnati-Los Angeles.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Atlanta Braves vs. Colorado Rockies - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Colorado Rockies vs. Atlanta Braves - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Colorado Rockies vs. Atlanta Braves - Game 4". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 1". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers - Game 2". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ "1995 NLDS - Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Cincinnati Reds - Game 3". Retrosheet. Retrieved September 13, 2009.
- ^ Rapien, James (January 15, 2024). "Reds Hold Longest Drought Without Advancing in Playoffs Among Four Major Sports". Sports Illustrated Cincinnati Reds News, Analysis and More. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ^ Clark, Dave. "Cincinnati Reds have longest MLB playoff-round win drought; Bengals have longest in NFL". The Enquirer. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
External links
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