The Detroit Tigers turn to their ace, Justin Verlander, to stave off elimination in the ALCS. He limits the Texas Rangers’ bats to 2 runs through seven innings, then tires and leaves in the 8th having thrown a career-high 133 pitches. With the Bengals’ bullpen aces too tired to pitch, Phil Coke takes over and gets the last five outs, even though the Rangers manage to pull back 3 runs over the last two frames. Still, the Tigers had built a big lead against C.J. Wilson, with four home runs – two by Delmon Young and one each by Alex Avila and Ryan Raburn – and hang on for a 7 – 5 win.

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The Detroit Tigers turn to their ace, Justin Verlander, to stave off elimination in the ALCS. He limits the Texas Rangers’ bats to 2 runs through seven innings, then tires and leaves in the 8th having thrown a career-high 133 pitches. With the Bengals’ bullpen aces too tired to pitch, Phil Coke takes over and gets the last five outs, even though the Rangers manage to pull back 3 runs over the last two frames. Still, the Tigers had built a big lead against C.J. Wilson, with four home runs – two by Delmon Young and one each by Alex Avila and Ryan Raburn – and hang on for a 7 – 5 win.

The Milwaukee Brewers even the NLCS at 2 games apiece with a 4 – 2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Randy Wolf gives up just 6 hits through 7 innings, although he gets off on the wrong foot, allowing solo homers to Matt Holliday in the 2nd and Allen Craig in the 3rd as the Brewers fall behind, 2 – 0. Milwaukee comes back with a pair of runs in the 4th, then chase Kyle Lohse from the game as Ryan Braun hits a go-ahead single in the 5th.

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The Milwaukee Brewers even the NLCS at 2 games apiece with a 4 – 2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Randy Wolf gives up just 6 hits through 7 innings, although he gets off on the wrong foot, allowing solo homers to Matt Holliday in the 2nd and Allen Craig in the 3rd as the Brewers fall behind, 2 – 0. Milwaukee comes back with a pair of runs in the 4th, then chase Kyle Lohse from the game as Ryan Braun hits a go-ahead single in the 5th.

Four days after manager Charlie Manuel gets his contract extended, the Phillies re-signed their entire coaching staff for next season. After ending a 14-year postseason drought, the reigning National League East Champs ask Jimy Williams (bench coach), Rich Dubee (pitching coach), Milt Thompson (hitting coach), Davey Lopes (first-base coach), Steve Smith (third-base coach), Ramon Henderson (bullpen coach), and Mick Billmeyer (catching instructor) to return to Philadelphia in 2008.

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Four days after manager Charlie Manuel gets his contract extended, the Phillies re-signed their entire coaching staff for next season. After ending a 14-year postseason drought, the reigning National League East Champs ask Jimy Williams (bench coach), Rich Dubee (pitching coach), Milt Thompson (hitting coach), Davey Lopes (first-base coach), Steve Smith (third-base coach), Ramon Henderson (bullpen coach), and Mick Billmeyer (catching instructor) to return to Philadelphia in 2008.

Mark Kiger becomes the first player in history to make his big league debut during the postseason. The second baseman enters Game 3 as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth inning for D’Angelo Jimenez, who has been filling in for the injured starter Mark Ellis.

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Mark Kiger becomes the first player in history to make his big league debut during the postseason. The second baseman enters Game 3 as a defensive replacement in the bottom of the eighth inning for D’Angelo Jimenez, who has been filling in for the injured starter Mark Ellis.

2006 – The Tigers defeat Oakland, 3 – 0, in Game 3 of the ALCS, with Kenny Rogers picking up the win. In the game, Mark Kiger makes his major league debut as a defensive substitute for the A’s, becoming the first player to make his debut in the postseason since Bug Holliday in 1885. Kiger will never play a regular-season game during his short major league career.

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2006 – The Tigers defeat Oakland, 3 – 0, in Game 3 of the ALCS, with Kenny Rogers picking up the win. In the game, Mark Kiger makes his major league debut as a defensive substitute for the A’s, becoming the first player to make his debut in the postseason since Bug Holliday in 1885. Kiger will never play a regular-season game during his short major league career.

2005 – Roy Oswalt works seven innings of five-hit one-run ball and Brad Lidge throws two scoreless innings in relief as the Houston Astros pass the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 – 1. Rookie outfielder Chris Burke keeps up his unlikely postseason hitting, scoring two runs and driving in another with a two-out single. Burke came through in the NLDS with an 18th-inning walk-off home run that knocked out Atlanta, and he had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in Houston’s Game 1 loss to St. Louis. Houston evens the best-of-seven series at one game apiece and heads home for the next three contests.

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2005 – Roy Oswalt works seven innings of five-hit one-run ball and Brad Lidge throws two scoreless innings in relief as the Houston Astros pass the St. Louis Cardinals, 4 – 1. Rookie outfielder Chris Burke keeps up his unlikely postseason hitting, scoring two runs and driving in another with a two-out single. Burke came through in the NLDS with an 18th-inning walk-off home run that knocked out Atlanta, and he had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in Houston’s Game 1 loss to St. Louis. Houston evens the best-of-seven series at one game apiece and heads home for the next three contests.

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A six-run sixth inning puts the Cardinals out of reach as they outslug the Astros, 10-7, in Game One of the N.L.C.S. in St. Louis. Brandon Backe and Chad Qualls are torched by the league’s most potent offense, despite receiving home run support from Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Jeff Kent and Mike Lamb 

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2004 – A six-run sixth inning puts the Cardinals out of reach as they outslug the Astros, 10-7, in Game One of the N.L.C.S. in St. Louis. Brandon Backe and Chad Qualls are torched by the league’s most potent offense, despite receiving home run support from Carlos Beltran, Lance Berkman, Jeff Kent and Mike Lamb 

A tearful 72 year-old Don Zimmer apologizes for his part in yesterday’s brawl during Game 3 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox. During the fourth-inning matinee melee at Fenway, the Yankees’ assistant to the manager is thrown to the ground by Pedro Martinez, after charging the right-hander.

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A tearful 72 year-old Don Zimmer apologizes for his part in yesterday’s brawl during Game 3 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Red Sox. During the fourth-inning matinee melee at Fenway, the Yankees’ assistant to the manager is thrown to the ground by Pedro Martinez, after charging the right-hander.

San Francisco defeats the Cardinals, 4 – 3, to move within one game of the World Series. Benito Santiago’s two-run home run in the 8th inning is the deciding blow. Tim Worrell wins the game in relief for the Giants.

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San Francisco defeats the Cardinals, 4 – 3, to move within one game of the World Series. Benito Santiago’s two-run home run in the 8th inning is the deciding blow. Tim Worrell wins the game in relief for the Giants.

Joining George Brett (Royals: 1978 ALCS Game 3), Reggie Jackson (Yankees: 1977 World Series Game 6), Bob Robertson (Pirates: 1971 NLCS Game 2), and Babe Ruth, (Yankees: 1928 World Series Game 4 and 1926 World Series Game 4), light-hitting second baseman Adam Kennedy becomes the fifth player to hit three homers in a postseason game, helping the Angels to secure their first World Series berth in the team’s 42 year-old history. Using a ten-run seventh inning, Anaheim beats the Twins 13-5 to capture the ALCS in five games.

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Joining George Brett (Royals: 1978 ALCS Game 3), Reggie Jackson (Yankees: 1977 World Series Game 6), Bob Robertson (Pirates: 1971 NLCS Game 2), and Babe Ruth, (Yankees: 1928 World Series Game 4 and 1926 World Series Game 4), light-hitting second baseman Adam Kennedy becomes the fifth player to hit three homers in a postseason game, helping the Angels to secure their first World Series berth in the team’s 42 year-old history. Using a ten-run seventh inning, Anaheim beats the Twins 13-5 to capture the ALCS in five games.