On October 4, 2005, after six years away from the dugout, Jim Leyland is hired to manage the Detroit Tigers. Leyland replaces Alan Trammell, who was fired at the end of the season. In 1997, Leyland guided the Florida Marlins to a World Series title, and in Pittsburgh in the 1990s, he had won three…
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the San Diego Padres, 8 – 5, to take the first game of their National League Division Series. Reggie Sanders set an NLDS record with six RBI, including the third grand slam in Cardinals postseason history in the 5th inning.
The Chicago White Sox rout the Boston Red Sox, 14 – 2, to take the first game of their American League Division Series. The White Sox hit an ALDS record-setting five home runs.
At Pro Player Stadium, Jeff Conine’s perfect peg to catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who holds onto the ball after a collision at home, advances the Marlins to the NLCS. The Florida outfielder’s throw to the plate nails J.T. Snow trying to score on Jeffrey Hammonds’ single for the final out of the team’s 7-6 victory over the Giants in the deciding Game 4 of the NLDS.
The Red Sox avoid a 0-3 deficit in the ALDS when Trot Nixon’s pinch-hit 11th inning walk-off homer beats Oakland, 3-1. The Boston outfielder’s accomplishment marks only the fifth time in postseason play that a round-tripper has ended a game, and the first by a pinch-hitter since Kirk Gibson’s historic homer off Dennis Eckersley to win Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
The Cubs win their first postseason series victory since 1908 when the franchise won the World Series. In front of a standing-room crowd of 54,357 at Turner Field, Chicago beat the Braves in the deciding Game 5 of the NLDS, 5-1.
The New York Yankees blow a 6 – 1 lead as the Anaheim Angels bounce back for a 9 – 6 victory and a two games to one lead in their ALDS. Tim Salmon and Adam Kennedy hit home runs for Anaheim and rookie Francisco Rodriguez again gets the victory in relief.
The A’s become the first team in postseason history to hit consecutive home runs to start a game. The back-to-back homers are hit by leadoff man Ray Durham (an inside-the-park round tripper) and Scott Hatteberg.
Commissioner Bud Selig apologizes to St. Louis fans for the late playoff start time for the Cardinal and Diamondback Game 1 NLDS game, and promises it will not happen again. The 10 p.m. CDT start was due to many of the playoff teams coming from the west and baseball’s desire not to have two games occurring at the same time.
Barry Bonds ties Mark McGwire’s single-season home run record established three years ago as he hits his 70th round-tripper. The historic homer, a shot to right-center at Enron Field, is given up in the ninth inning by Astro rookie hurler Wilfredo Rodriguez in a Giant 10-2 victory.
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