1998 National League Division Series

1998 National League Division Series
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season Atlanta Braves (3) Bobby Cox 106–56, .654, GA: 18 Chicago Cubs (0) Jim Riggleman 90–73, .552, GB: 12+1⁄2
Dates	September 30–October 3
Television	Fox (Game 2) NBC (Game 3)
TV announcers	Jon Miller and Joe Carter (Game 1) Thom Brennaman and Bob Brenly (Game 2) Bob Costas and Joe Morgan (Game 3)
Radio	ESPN WSB (AM) WGN
Radio announcers	Gary Cohen and Dave Campbell Pete Van Wieren Skip Caray Don Sutton Joe Simpson Pat Hughes Ron Santo
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season San Diego Padres (3) Bruce Bochy 98–64, .605, GA: 9+1⁄2 Houston Astros (1) Larry Dierker 102–60, .630, GA: 12+1⁄2
Dates	September 29–October 4
Television	Angel Hernandez (Astros–Padres, Games 1–2; Braves–Cubs, Game 3)
← 1997 NLDS 1999 →

The 1998 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1998 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, September 29, and ended on Sunday, October 4, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:

• (1) Atlanta Braves (Eastern Division champion, 106–56) vs. (4) Chicago Cubs (Wild Card, 90–73): Braves win series, 3–0.
• (2) Houston Astros (Central Division champion, 102–60) vs. (3) San Diego Padres (Western Division champion, 98–64): Padres win series, 3–1.^[1]

The Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres went on to meet in the NL Championship Series (NLCS). The Padres defeated the Braves four games to two to become the National League champion, and lost to the American League champion New York Yankees in the 1998 World Series.

Atlanta won the series, 3–0.

San Diego won the series, 3–1.

The Braves faced the Chicago Cubs, who made it into the playoffs by beating the

Game 2 was a pitchers' duel. Kevin Tapani faced Tom Glavine; the pair had previously faced each other in the 1991 World Series. Lance Johnson drove in the lone Chicago run in the top of the sixth on a groundout. However, leaving Tapani in to pitch the ninth ultimately cost the Cubs the game. Javy López hit the game-tying home run and Chipper Jones drove in the winning run in the tenth off Terry Mulholland with an RBI single. Odalis Pérez became the first pitcher in major league history to record his first career win in a postseason game.

Game 3 was another pitchers' duel.

1998 NLDS (3–0): Atlanta Braves over Chicago Cubs

The Astros entered the playoffs with the league's best offense and red-hot pitcher Randy Johnson, who had gone 10–1 since being traded to the Astros in a mid-season deadline deal, well rested for Game 1. However, Padres ace Kevin Brown was more than up for the challenge as he set an LDS record striking out 16 Astros in eight innings before turning the game over to all-star closer Trevor Hoffman for the save. The Padres only managed two runs, including a home run by slugger Greg Vaughn. Despite Brown's dominant performance, the game was not without its tense moments thanks to a less than perfect ninth inning. Hoffman, who had tied the NL record for saves with 53, did allow an unearned run on two hits thanks to a throwing error by third baseman Ken Caminiti. The error by the former Astro brought Houston to within one run before Hoffman slammed the door ending the game at 2–1. This was the first road postseason victory for the Padres.

With their Game 1 victory, the Padres had taken home-field advantage away from the favored Astros and San Diego manager Bruce Bochy was determined not to let the momentum turn in Houston's favor after Game 2, so he decided to gamble and started Game 1 starter Kevin Brown on short rest instead of lefty Sterling Hitchcock. The explosive Astros offense, being predominantly right-handed, was especially brutal on left-handed pitchers and a Game 3 win by Houston would have left the Padres facing elimination in Game 4 against Randy Johnson. Brown was opposed by fellow sinkerballer Mike Hampton of the Astros who proved to be Brown's equal. Not nearly the same unhittable master of Game 1, Brown's control was shaky from the beginning as he walked five Astros in seven innings. Still, the Astros were never able to deliver the knock-out blow and managed only one run against Brown, but were still tied going into the bottom of the seventh thanks to a solid six innings of one-run two-hit ball by Mike Hampton. In the bottom of the seventh, Jim Leyritz added yet another chapter to his resume of clutch October heroics with a go-ahead home run off Astros reliever Scott Elarton that gave the Padres a 2–1 lead. Neither team scored again and Trevor Hoffman struck out the side in the top of the ninth for the save.

The only game of the series that wasn't decided by one run began with veteran former Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson squaring off against 27-year-old Sterling Hitchcock who was making his first postseason start. It was Hitchcock, however, that proved dominant by striking out 11 Astros in only six innings of work while Leyritz hit his third home run in as many games to help the Padres to a 2–1 lead. With the Astros' highly touted offense rendered almost completely silent, the bullpen finally collapsed in the eighth inning as Houston pitchers surrendered four runs to the Padres leading to a 6–1 series-clinching victory for San Diego.

1998 NLDS (3–1): San Diego Padres over Houston Astros

• ATL vs. CHC at Baseball-Reference
• SDP vs. HOU at Baseball-Reference