2018 – The Brewers take advantage of a defensive breakdown by the Dodgers that includes two passed balls and three errors, including two by C Yasmani Grandal, and a home run by reliever Brandon Woodruff, to take an early 5 – 1 lead against ace Clayton Kershaw. Los Angeles comes back with four runs in the last two innings, but fall short, as Milwaukee wins Game 1 of the NLCS, 6 – 5.

ByThis Day in Baseball

2018 – The Brewers take advantage of a defensive breakdown by the Dodgers that includes two passed balls and three errors, including two by C Yasmani Grandal, and a home run by reliever Brandon Woodruff, to take an early 5 – 1 lead against ace Clayton Kershaw. Los Angeles comes back with four runs in the last two innings, but fall short, as Milwaukee wins Game 1 of the NLCS, 6 – 5.

2017 – The woes of the Nationals in the Division Series continue, as they again fail to advance to the next round of the postseason, losing Game 5 at home, 9 – 8, to the Cubs. In a wild and sloppy game, Washington jumps ahead, 4 – 1 after 2 innings thanks to homers by Daniel Murphy and Michael Taylor off Kyle Hendricks, but Chicago comes back with a pair of runs in the 3rd, and a brutal four-run inning against ace Max Scherzer, pitching in relief in the 4th. Both teams will add a few runs in the later innings, but Chicago’s lead holds to the end as Washington loses at this stage for the fourth time since 2012, and three times in a decisive fifth game in which they held a lead at one point.

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2017 – The woes of the Nationals in the Division Series continue, as they again fail to advance to the next round of the postseason, losing Game 5 at home, 9 – 8, to the Cubs. In a wild and sloppy game, Washington jumps ahead, 4 – 1 after 2 innings thanks to homers by Daniel Murphy and Michael Taylor off Kyle Hendricks, but Chicago comes back with a pair of runs in the 3rd, and a brutal four-run inning against ace Max Scherzer, pitching in relief in the 4th. Both teams will add a few runs in the later innings, but Chicago’s lead holds to the end as Washington loses at this stage for the fourth time since 2012, and three times in a decisive fifth game in which they held a lead at one point.

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2015 – Minute Maid is jumping as the Astros build a 6-2 lead with six outs to go in order to wrap up the A.L.D.S. but Kansas City decimates the Houston bullpen for seven runs to take a 9-6 verdict and force a decisive Game 5. Carlos Correa drilled two homers and a double with four RBIs while Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez smashed solo shots before the retractable roof caves in, adding to the city’s legacy of excruciating postseason collapses. 

ByTom

2015 – Minute Maid is jumping as the Astros build a 6-2 lead with six outs to go in order to wrap up the A.L.D.S. but Kansas City decimates the Houston bullpen for seven runs to take a 9-6 verdict and force a decisive Game 5. Carlos Correa drilled two homers and a double with four RBIs while Colby Rasmus and Carlos Gomez smashed solo shots before the retractable roof caves in, adding to the city’s legacy of excruciating postseason collapses. 

The Blue Jays attack starter Derek Holland of the Rangers early and often to win Game 4 of the other ALDS, 8 – 4. Josh Donaldson hits a two-run homer before Holland can record an out and Chris Colabello adds a solo shot in the 1st, before Kevin Pillar goes deep in the 2nd; Toronto then adds three more runs in the 3rd. Jays manager John Gibbons raises eyebrows when he removes veteran R.A. Dickey with a 7-1 lead and two outs in the 5th, to bring in ace starter David Price, who goes three innings, making him unavailable for the decisive fifth game.

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The Blue Jays attack starter Derek Holland of the Rangers early and often to win Game 4 of the other ALDS, 8 – 4. Josh Donaldson hits a two-run homer before Holland can record an out and Chris Colabello adds a solo shot in the 1st, before Kevin Pillar goes deep in the 2nd; Toronto then adds three more runs in the 3rd. Jays manager John Gibbons raises eyebrows when he removes veteran R.A. Dickey with a 7-1 lead and two outs in the 5th, to bring in ace starter David Price, who goes three innings, making him unavailable for the decisive fifth game.

The Mets trounce the Dodgers, 13 – 3, to take a two games to one lead in the NLDS. Curtis Granderson hits a bases-clearing double in the 2nd and Yoenis Cespedes hits a three-run homer in the 4th as the Mets take an early 10 – 3 lead and never look back.

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The Mets trounce the Dodgers, 13 – 3, to take a two games to one lead in the NLDS. Curtis Granderson hits a bases-clearing double in the 2nd and Yoenis Cespedes hits a three-run homer in the 4th as the Mets take an early 10 – 3 lead and never look back.

On the brink of elimination, the Royals, score 5 runs in the top of the 8th to erase a 6 – 2 deficit and go on to beat the Astros, 9 – 6, to force a fifth game in the Division Series. The big inning results from a series of singles and walks, and one error. Houston wastes great performances by two youngsters, P Lance McCullers who strikes out 7 and gives up only 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings, and SS Carlos Correa who reaches base five times, hits a pair of homers and a double, and drives in 4 runs.

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On the brink of elimination, the Royals, score 5 runs in the top of the 8th to erase a 6 – 2 deficit and go on to beat the Astros, 9 – 6, to force a fifth game in the Division Series. The big inning results from a series of singles and walks, and one error. Houston wastes great performances by two youngsters, P Lance McCullers who strikes out 7 and gives up only 2 runs in 6 1/3 innings, and SS Carlos Correa who reaches base five times, hits a pair of homers and a double, and drives in 4 runs.

The Cubs homer six times en route to an 8-6 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field in the Game 3 of the NLDS. Chicago’s sextet of round-trippers, that included long balls from Kris Bryant, Starlin Castro, Dexter Fowler, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Jorge Soler, marks first time in postseason history that one team has recorded that many home runs in one game.

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The Cubs homer six times en route to an 8-6 victory over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field in the Game 3 of the NLDS. Chicago’s sextet of round-trippers, that included long balls from Kris Bryant, Starlin Castro, Dexter Fowler, Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, and Jorge Soler, marks first time in postseason history that one team has recorded that many home runs in one game.

The Cardinals find some unexpected power to defeat the Giants, 5 – 4, in Game 2 of the NLCS and tie the series at a win apiece. The Cards, who hit the fewest home runs in the National League this season, hit four long balls, including a walk-off shot by Kolten Wong to lead off the bottom of the 9th, after Trevor Rosenthal had allowed the Giants to tie the game in the top of the inning.

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The Cardinals find some unexpected power to defeat the Giants, 5 – 4, in Game 2 of the NLCS and tie the series at a win apiece. The Cards, who hit the fewest home runs in the National League this season, hit four long balls, including a walk-off shot by Kolten Wong to lead off the bottom of the 9th, after Trevor Rosenthal had allowed the Giants to tie the game in the top of the inning.