1991 National League Championship Series

Infobox LCS


year = 1991
champion = Atlanta Braves (4)
champion_manager = Bobby Cox
champion_games = 94-68, .580, GA: 1
runnerup = Pittsburgh Pirates (3)
runnerup_manager = Jim Leyland
runnerup_games = 98-64, .605, GA: 14
date = October 9–October 17
MVP = Steve Avery (Atlanta)
television = CBS
announcers = Jack Buck and Tim McCarver
radio_network = CBS Radio
umpires = Doug Harvey, Frank Pulli, Dana DeMuth, Eric Gregg, Bob Davidson, Bruce FroemmingThe 1991 National League Championship Series was played between the Atlanta Braves (94-68) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (98-64), with the Braves coming out on top in the series 4-3. It was considered one of the best-pitched 7-game series of the modern era, featuring three 1-0 finishes. The Braves went on to lose in the World Series to the Minnesota Twins in seven games.

The Pirates had the best record in the National League in 1991, and were expected to win this series and advance to the World Series. But the Braves, who went from last place in the National League West in 1990 to first place in the division in 1991, were able to pull off the upset in their memorable run to the World Series versus the Minnesota Twins.

ummary

Atlanta Braves vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Atlanta wins the series, 4-3

Game summaries

Game 1

Wednesday, October 9, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=1|RR=1|RH=5|RE=1
Home=Pittsburgh|HomeAbr=PIT
H1=1|H2=0|H3=2|H4=0|H5=0|H6=1|H7=0|H8=1|H9=X|HR=5|HH=8|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Doug Drabek (1-0)|LP=Tom Glavine (0-1)|SV=Bob Walk (1)
RoadHR=David Justice (1)|HomeHR=Andy Van Slyke (1)|

The Pirates proved they would be tough to eliminate early when they stifled the Braves offense behind 1990 Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek and won the first game 5-1. Pittsburgh center fielder Andy Van Slyke had a home run and a double off Braves starter and 1991 Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine. David Justice hit a solo home run in the ninth inning off reliever Bob Walk for the Braves' only run.

An injury to Pirates starter Doug Drabek was to have major ramifications for the series. Drabek slid into third and injured himself in the sixth inning, leaving the game with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring. The injury cost Drabek an early start in either game four or five, and it ensured he would not be available for a third start in game seven if the series went that far as it ultimately did.

Game 2

Thursday, October 10, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=1|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=1|RH=8|RE=0
Home=Pittsburgh|HomeAbr=PIT
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=0|HH=6|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Steve Avery (1-0)|LP=Zane Smith (0-1)|SV=Alejandro Pena (1)|

In Game 2, both teams were kept in check by the outstanding pitching performances of Zane Smith for Pittsburgh and Steve Avery for Atlanta. However, Avery and the Braves would come out on top 1-0, after Mark Lemke picked up a double and the only RBI of the game in the sixth inning. David Justice scored from second when Lemke's seemingly routine grounder got past Pirate third baseman Steve Buechele, allowing Justice to score. Alejandro Pena got the save and the combined shutout was complete. The series was now tied 1-1.

Game 3

Saturday, October 12, 1991 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=Pittsburgh|RoadAbr=PIT
R1=1|R2=0|R3=0|R4=1|R5=0|R6=0|R7=1|R8=0|R9=0|RR=3|RH=10|RE=2
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=4|H2=1|H3=1|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=1|H8=3|H9=X|HR=10|HH=11|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=John Smoltz (1-0)|LP=John Smiley (0-1)|SV=Alejandro Pena (2)
RoadHR=Orlando Merced (1), Jay Bell (1)|HomeHR=Ron Gant (1), Greg Olson (1), Sid Bream (1)|

With the series tied at one game apiece, John Smoltz faced off against the Pirates' twenty-game winner, John Smiley. Orlando Merced hit Smoltz's first pitch over the right field wall for a home run and a 1-0 lead. But the Braves rallied with four runs in the bottom of the first, topped off by Greg Olson's two-run homer to left. Smiley was gone by the third inning with the Braves leading, 6-1. In the seventh, with the score 7-3, Alejandro Pena struck out Jay Bell with the bases loaded to end the Pirates' last threat. Ultimately,the Braves won 10-3 with home runs from Ron Gant, Greg Olson, and Sid Bream. Many believed it was all over for the Pirates.

Game 4

Sunday, October 13, 1991 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=Pittsburgh|RoadAbr=PIT
R1=0|R2=1|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|R10=1|RR=3|RH=11|RE=1
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=2|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|H10=0|HR=2|HH=7|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Stan Belinda (1-0)|LP=Kent Mercker (0-1)|SV=|

The lone extra-inning game of the series came in Atlanta before 51,109 fans. Many said that this was one of the best playoff games of all time. The score was tied 2-2 after nine innings. The scoring in the first nine innings was over after the fifth inning. The Pirates had gotten their runs on a Don Slaught single and a Jay Bell single along with a Braves error. The Braves earned their two runs in the first inning on three straight singles and an error.

The Pirates tied the series with a run in the top of the 10th when Mike LaValliere singled in Andy Van Slyke, who had stolen second after being walked by Kent Mercker. The Braves batted out in the bottom of the 10th.

Game 5

Monday, October 14, 1991 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaLinescore
Road=Pittsburgh|RoadAbr=PIT
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=1|RH=6|RE=2
Home=Atlanta|HomeAbr=ATL
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=0|HH=9|HE=1
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Zane Smith (1-1)|LP=Tom Glavine (0-2)|SV=Roger Mason (1)|

Zane Smith had his second excellent game of the series, but this time he won, beating Tom Glavine and the Braves 1-0 in almost a mirror image of Smith's start in Game 2. However, in Game 2, Smith had given up the one run and lost.

Controversy surrounded this game when David Justice scored on a single to left, but he appeared to miss third base and was called out on an appeal. Replays were inconclusive, but Justice did stumble over third base, and the umpires called him out, preserving Smith's shutout.

The lone run in this game came when Jose Lind hit a simple RBI single in the fifth.

Game 6

Wednesday, October 16, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=0|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=1|RR=1|RH=7|RE=0
Home=Pittsburgh|HomeAbr=PIT
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=0|HH=4|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=Steve Avery (2-0)|LP=Doug Drabek (1-1)|SV=Alejandro Pena (3)|

Pittsburgh hosted one of the best pitcher's duels of all-time on October 16, 1991 between Steve Avery and Doug Drabek. In the end, identical to Avery's last start, a combination of Avery and Alejandro Pena shut out the Pirates for all nine innings. The Pirates only got four hits. This time, however, after the eighth inning the Braves didn't score a run either. Drabek matched Avery, pitch for pitch. But in the ninth inning, with the score tied 0-0, Olson doubled to left to score Gant and take the lead off a weary Drabek. He had pitched a complete game, but was the loser after the Pirates couldn't get Gary Varsho home from third in the bottom of the ninth. The Braves had not scored a run since the first inning of game four, a futility streak that reached 26 2/3 innings before Gant scored the winning run.

Game 7

Thursday, October 17, 1991 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaLinescore
Road=Atlanta|RoadAbr=ATL
R1=3|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0|R5=1|R6=0|R7=0|R8=0|R9=0|RR=4|RH=6|RE=1
Home=Pittsburgh|HomeAbr=PIT
H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0|H5=0|H6=0|H7=0|H8=0|H9=0|HR=0|HH=6|HE=0
RSP=|HSP=
WP=John Smoltz (2-0)|LP=John Smiley (0-2)|SV=
RoadHR=Brian Hunter (1)|HomeHR=|

The Braves scored three runs in the first inning, partly on a Brian Hunter two-run home run, and never looked back. 20-game winner John Smiley made the start, fared poorly, was yanked after 2/3rds of an inning and lost to John Smoltz, who shut out the Pirates. Although Bob Walk was masterful in middle relief, it was too little, too late, even though he pulled his groin trying to help his cause attempting to stretch a single into a double in the bottom of the 7th. The Braves won 4-0 and nabbed the pennant. After Atlanta had gone 26 2/3 innings without scoring, the Pirates themselves went the final 22 1/3 innings without scoring. That streak would reach 30 innings before Jose Lind snapped it with a home run in the eighth inning of game one in the 1992 NLCS.

Avery won the series MVP award. Pitching 16.1 innings, the Braves starter did not allow a run, giving up nine hits and walking four while striking out 17. Avery said, "It's been the best time of my life."

In what may be the ultimate irony, the Braves scored fourteen runs in the games Smiley pitched (three and seven), including nine off Smiley, and only five runs in the other five games combined. Smiley had been the Pirates biggest winner, notching twenty victories for the only time in his career in 1991.

The trip led to Atlanta's first ever trip to the World Series, where they lost an exciting seven-game classic to the Minnesota Twins.

Composite Box

1991 NLCS (4-3): Atlanta Braves over Pittsburgh PiratesLinescore
Road=Atlanta Braves
R1=9|R2=1|R3=1|R4=0|R5=1|R6=1|R7=1|R8=3|R9=2|R10=0|RR=19|RH=53|RE=4
Home=Pittsburgh Pirates
H1=2|H2=1|H3=2|H4=1|H5=2|H6=1|H7=1|H8=1|H9=0|H10=1|HR=12|HH=51|HE=6Total Attendance: 369,443 Average Attendance: 52,778|

Quotes of the Series

Notes