Braves' explode in the 11th, force a Game Five
Tuesday, Oct. 14, 1999
NLDS Game Scores
Atlanta 6, Los Angeles 5 -- WP: Brian Edmondson
Los Angeles 3, Atlanta 1 -- WP: Darren Dreifort, SV: Scott Radinsky
Los Angeles 6, Atlanta 5 -- WP: Chan Ho Park, SV: Scott Radinsky
Atlanta 4, Los Angeles 1 (11) -- WP: Kerry Ligtenberg, SV: John Rocker (!!)
LOS ANGELES -- Right fielder Curtis Pride hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning, and the Atlanta Braves staved off elimination in Game Four of the National League divisional playoffs against the Dodgers on Monday night, winning 4-1.
The Braves, facing elimination against an upstart LA team, now will get a chance to play the decisive Game Five in front of its home fans on Wednesday. The winner of that one will face either Cincinnati or Houston, which are also locked in a 2-2 series struggle.
Chipper Jones began the Braves' 11th inning rally, singling with one out off reliever Frank Lankford. Javy Lopez struck out but Eurbiel Durazo lured a walk off Lankford to put two men aboard. Thunderstorms had threatened the area all night, and Pride finally brought the lightning, slamming a 417-foot smash into the right-centerfield seats.
Los Angeles went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 11th against Atlanta closer Kerry Lightenberg.
After falling behind in the series 1-0, the Dodgers won the next two games and could have closed out the best of five series at Chavez Ravine. LA scored a run in the second inning and kept Atlanta scoreless until the seventh. The Braves finally tied it after a Keith Lockhart RBI single. The game remained 1-1 until Atlanta's super-charged Pride-filled 11th inning.
"We just let this get away from us," Dodgers catcher Mike Piazza said. "We could be getting ready for the NLCS, but now we'll have to go back to Atlanta and try to swipe a win there."
Dodgers' ace pitcher Ramon Martinez is expected to get the ball against Atlanta's Eric Milton for Game Five
Some Series Notes:
- Andrew Zarzour has not pitched and probably won't unless the Dodgers are ahead or behing by 20 or something in Game Five...
- The Braves trailed 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth of Game One before pushing two runs across. Curtis Pride struck again, singling and then later scoring the game-winner...
- Erubiel Durazo hit a two-out, solo home run for the Braves in the top of the ninth in game three, but Scott Radinsky struck out the next batter for a Dodgers' victory...
- The New York Yankees beat the Angels in four games, while the ChiSox and Red Sox must play a Game Five over in the American League. Wouldn't that be something to have Zarour and the Dodgers playing the Red Sox or Yanks in the World Series. Whew, goose bumps...