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Astros on verge of first-ever NL Pennant
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-18 09:00
Against a Phillies team featuring Pete Rose, Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton,
the series went a full five games, the last four going to extra innings.
The Astros lost the opener, then won Game 2 with four runs in the 10th and
took the next game 1-0 in 11. Houston was within five outs of winning each of
the next two games, only to lose in the 10th both times.
Game 4 was particularly tough. In the fourth inning, pitcher Vern Ruhle
appeared to have started a triple play but it was changed to a double play after
about a long discussion between umpires and the league president. In the sixth,
Gary Woods was called out on an appeal for having left third base too early on a
sacrifice fly, killing a bases-loaded rally against Carlton.
"But it was our first time in the playoffs, so people were saying, 'You'll
have more chances,'" team president Tal Smith, the GM in 1980, recalled last
October.
? 1986, NLCS vs. New York Mets.
This was a magical season in Houston, especially for Mike Scott. Using his
new split-fingered fastball, he threw a no-hitter to clinch the division title
and won the Cy Young Award. He opened the playoffs by beating Dwight Gooden 1-0,
then won 3-1 in Game 4.
The Mets dreaded facing him again in Game 7. They avoided it by winning Games
3, 5 and 6 in their last at-bat.
Game 6 was a 16-inning thriller that ended with Kevin Bass striking out with
two men on base. New York won the others on a ninth-inning homer by Lenny
Dykstra and a 12th-inning single by Gary Carter.
1997-99, 2001, NLDS disappointments.
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