Atlanta defeats the Houston Astros, 6 – 2, to sweep their National League Division Series and move into the National League Championship Series for the ninth time in ten seasons. Paul Bako, Julio Franco and Chipper Jones hit home runs to back the solid pitching of starter John Burkett. The game is the Astros’ 14th loss in their last 16 postseason games.

The Arizona Diamondbacks take a 2 games to 1 lead in their Divisional Series with St. Louis with a 5 – 3 victory. Craig Counsell’s three-run home run in the 7th inning is the deciding blow. Starter Miguel Batista gets the victory for the Diamondbacks.

2000 – The New York Mets defeat the St. Louis, 6 – 5, to take a 2-games-to-none lead in the NLCS. Jay Payton drives home the winning run for New York, who wins in its last at bat for the third time this postseason. Mike Piazza hits a home run for the Mets.

1999 – Atlanta defeats the Mets, 4 – 2, in the opening game of the NLCS. Greg Maddux gets the win for Atlanta, as catcher Eddie Perez hits a home run.

1998 – The Atlanta Braves do it again, this time scoring five runs in the 8th inning to defeat San Diego, 7 – 6. Michael Tucker hits a three-run home run in the inning, and drives home five runs altogether.

The Cleveland Indians again score the winning run in their last at bat, coming back from a 4 – 2 deficit to defeat the Orioles, 8 – 7, for their third straight victory in the ALCS. Sandy Alomar, Jr. drives home the winning run with a single after hitting a two-run home run earlier in the contest. He also scores from second base on a wild pitch in the 5th inning. Brady Anderson, Harold Baines and Rafael Palmeiro hit home runs off Jaret Wright in the 5th while Manny Ramirez homers for the Tribe. Jose Mesa blows his second save in two days, but receives credit for the win.

Florida Marlins rookie Livan Hernandez matches Mike Mussina’s one-day old League Championship Series pitching record, with 15 strikeouts in a three-hit, 2 – 1 win in Game 5 of the NLCS. Hernandez, who would not have started if not for an injury to Alex Fernandez, wins his second game of the Series and will earn MVP honors.

1993 – The Toronto Blue Jays, behind the strong pitching of Dave Stewart, beat the Chicago White Sox, 6 – 3, to win the ALCS in six games.

1991 – The Blue Jays chase Minnesota Twins starter Kevin Tapani for the second time in the ALCS, but Minnesota’s bullpen holds strong and its bats speak, leading to six unanswered runs in Game 5 as the Twins win their third American League pennant.

1990 – Danny Jackson, Norm Charlton and Randy Myers combine on a one-hitter as Cincinnati beats the Pirates, 2 – 1, to win the NLCS in six games.