2012 – Rain plays havoc with the postseason today, as Game 4 of the ALCS is postponed, and Game 3 of the NLCS is delayed by 3 1/2 hours. When the game is finally played, Matt Carpenter proves to be the unlikely hero for St. Louis. Taking over for an injured Carlos Beltran in the 2nd inning, he delivers a two-run home run in the 3rd to lead the Cardinals to a 3 – 1 win over San Francisco. Kyle Lohse is the winner over Matt Cain, while Jason Motte gets the save.

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2012 – Rain plays havoc with the postseason today, as Game 4 of the ALCS is postponed, and Game 3 of the NLCS is delayed by 3 1/2 hours. When the game is finally played, Matt Carpenter proves to be the unlikely hero for St. Louis. Taking over for an injured Carlos Beltran in the 2nd inning, he delivers a two-run home run in the 3rd to lead the Cardinals to a 3 – 1 win over San Francisco. Kyle Lohse is the winner over Matt Cain, while Jason Motte gets the save.

Detroit takes a three games to none lead in the ALCS behind another strong performance by ace Justin Verlander. Verlander gives up no runs through the first 8 innings before allowing a lead-off homer to Eduardo Nunez in the 9th, but needs relief help from Phil Coke, who gets the last two outs in a 2 – 1 win. Delmon Young homers off Philip Hughes for the Bengals’ first run in the 4th, then Quintin Berry scores the second run on a double by Miguel Cabrera in the 5th.

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Detroit takes a three games to none lead in the ALCS behind another strong performance by ace Justin Verlander. Verlander gives up no runs through the first 8 innings before allowing a lead-off homer to Eduardo Nunez in the 9th, but needs relief help from Phil Coke, who gets the last two outs in a 2 – 1 win. Delmon Young homers off Philip Hughes for the Bengals’ first run in the 4th, then Quintin Berry scores the second run on a double by Miguel Cabrera in the 5th.

The Reds sign Dusty Baker to a two-year contract extension, giving their 63 year-old manager another chance to take the team beyond the first round of the playoffs. Cincinnati has participated in the postseason in two of the last three years, including this season’s heartbreaking loss in the NLDS, losing the previous three contests at home in a five-game series to San Francisco.

ByTom

The Reds sign Dusty Baker to a two-year contract extension, giving their 63 year-old manager another chance to take the team beyond the first round of the playoffs. Cincinnati has participated in the postseason in two of the last three years, including this season’s heartbreaking loss in the NLDS, losing the previous three contests at home in a five-game series to San Francisco.

2012 – The Giants even the NLCS with a 7 – 1 victory over the Cardinals in Game 2. After being leveled by a sliding Matt Holliday trying to break up a potential double play in the 1st, 2B Marco Scutaro delivers the key blow with a two-run single in the 4th. Scutaro makes way for Ryan Theriot in the 5th, victim of a hip injury sustained on the 1st-inning play, but he has done enough to fire up the Giants. Ryan Vogelsong is the winner over Chris Carpenter.

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2012 – The Giants even the NLCS with a 7 – 1 victory over the Cardinals in Game 2. After being leveled by a sliding Matt Holliday trying to break up a potential double play in the 1st, 2B Marco Scutaro delivers the key blow with a two-run single in the 4th. Scutaro makes way for Ryan Theriot in the 5th, victim of a hip injury sustained on the 1st-inning play, but he has done enough to fire up the Giants. Ryan Vogelsong is the winner over Chris Carpenter.

The Tigers take a two games to none lead in the ALCS with a 3 – 0 shutout of the Yankees at New Yankee Stadium. Anibal Sanchez pitches 7 innings in another strong outing by a Detroit starter. Hiroki Kuroda retires the first 15 Tigers batters but allows a run in the 6th on a botched potential double play grounder. A blown call by second base umpire Jeff Nelson in the 8th leads to two more runs, and results in manager Joe Girardi’s ejection.

ByThis Day in Baseball

The Tigers take a two games to none lead in the ALCS with a 3 – 0 shutout of the Yankees at New Yankee Stadium. Anibal Sanchez pitches 7 innings in another strong outing by a Detroit starter. Hiroki Kuroda retires the first 15 Tigers batters but allows a run in the 6th on a botched potential double play grounder. A blown call by second base umpire Jeff Nelson in the 8th leads to two more runs, and results in manager Joe Girardi’s ejection.

The Cardinals roll out to an early 6 – 0 lead over the Giants in Game 1 of the NLCS, then hang on for a 6 – 4 win. The Cards chase Madison Bumgarner in the 4th inning, thanks in part to homers by David Freese and Carlos Beltran. The Giants jump on starter Lance Lynn for four runs in the bottom of the 4th, but Joe Kelly relieves him and stops the bleeding before the rest of the team’s bullpen shuts out San Francisco for the rest of the game.

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The Cardinals roll out to an early 6 – 0 lead over the Giants in Game 1 of the NLCS, then hang on for a 6 – 4 win. The Cards chase Madison Bumgarner in the 4th inning, thanks in part to homers by David Freese and Carlos Beltran. The Giants jump on starter Lance Lynn for four runs in the bottom of the 4th, but Joe Kelly relieves him and stops the bleeding before the rest of the team’s bullpen shuts out San Francisco for the rest of the game.

2012 – In Game 1 of the ALCS, Raul Ibanez hits a homer to cap a game-tying four-run outburst against Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the 9th inning, but Detroit manages to overcome the psychological blow to win, 6 – 4, in 12 innings. The Yankees’ Derek Jeter collects the 200th postseason hit of his career in the game – second place on the all-time list is held by his long-time teammate Bernie Williams with 128 – but he then suffers a broken ankle while fielding a ground ball in the 12th, putting him out for the rest of the postseason. Delmon Young drives in 3 runs for Detroit, including a homer in the 8th and the game-winner with a double off David Phelps, the eighth Yankee pitcher of the game.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2012 – In Game 1 of the ALCS, Raul Ibanez hits a homer to cap a game-tying four-run outburst against Tigers closer Jose Valverde in the 9th inning, but Detroit manages to overcome the psychological blow to win, 6 – 4, in 12 innings. The Yankees’ Derek Jeter collects the 200th postseason hit of his career in the game – second place on the all-time list is held by his long-time teammate Bernie Williams with 128 – but he then suffers a broken ankle while fielding a ground ball in the 12th, putting him out for the rest of the postseason. Delmon Young drives in 3 runs for Detroit, including a homer in the 8th and the game-winner with a double off David Phelps, the eighth Yankee pitcher of the game.

The Cardinals move on to the NLCS with another dramatic comeback, pulling out a 9 – 7 win over the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS, after trailing by 6 runs. With St. Louis trailing, 7 – 5, in the top of the 9th, Carlos Beltran hits a lead-off double, but Drew Storen retires the next two batters; however, Yadier Molina and David Freese both draw walks on full counts and Daniel Descalso hits a shot just off the glove of SS Ian Desmond to tie the game. Pete Kozma follows with a single to score two more runs. Jason Motte then pitches a scoreless bottom of the 9th to give St. Louis another stunning postseason win.

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The Cardinals move on to the NLCS with another dramatic comeback, pulling out a 9 – 7 win over the Nationals in Game 5 of the NLDS, after trailing by 6 runs. With St. Louis trailing, 7 – 5, in the top of the 9th, Carlos Beltran hits a lead-off double, but Drew Storen retires the next two batters; however, Yadier Molina and David Freese both draw walks on full counts and Daniel Descalso hits a shot just off the glove of SS Ian Desmond to tie the game. Pete Kozma follows with a single to score two more runs. Jason Motte then pitches a scoreless bottom of the 9th to give St. Louis another stunning postseason win.

Behind CC Sabathia, the Yankees fight off the pesky Orioles, 3 – 1, in Game 5 of the ALDS. Sabathia allows only 4 hits in a dominant complete game effort. With Alex Rodriguez on the bench, New York scores twice in 6 innings against Jason Hammel, and Curtis Granderson adds a solo homer in the 7th. The Orioles score once in the 8th, but never mount a significant threat against the Yankees’ ace.

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Behind CC Sabathia, the Yankees fight off the pesky Orioles, 3 – 1, in Game 5 of the ALDS. Sabathia allows only 4 hits in a dominant complete game effort. With Alex Rodriguez on the bench, New York scores twice in 6 innings against Jason Hammel, and Curtis Granderson adds a solo homer in the 7th. The Orioles score once in the 8th, but never mount a significant threat against the Yankees’ ace.

For the first time since the divisional playoffs began in 1995, all four series will go the distance to a Game 5 when both the Nationals and Orioles knot their respective series against the Cardinals and Yankees. Washington and Baltimore join the A’s and Giants, who also forced a decisive game with victories over the Tigers and Reds in yesterday’s LDS games.

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For the first time since the divisional playoffs began in 1995, all four series will go the distance to a Game 5 when both the Nationals and Orioles knot their respective series against the Cardinals and Yankees. Washington and Baltimore join the A’s and Giants, who also forced a decisive game with victories over the Tigers and Reds in yesterday’s LDS games.