1995 NLCS

From BR Bullpen

1995 National League Championship Series
Atlanta Braves 90 - 54 in the NL	4 - 0 Series Summary	Cincinnati Reds 85 - 59 in the NL

[edit] The Teams

[edit] Atlanta Braves

The Braves had advanced to the series by winning in their Divisional Series matchup against the Rockies. The team was managed by Bobby Cox.

[edit] Cincinnati Reds

The Reds had advanced to the series by winning in their Divisional Series matchup against the Dodgers. The team was managed by Davey Johnson.

[edit] The Games

[edit] Game 1

Game 1 featured Tom Glavine against Pete Schourek with both starters allowing just one run apiece. Cincinnati's run came in the 4th, when shortstop and 1995 National League Most Valuable Player Barry Larkin tripled and former Brave Ron Gant singled on a hit to Jeff Blauser. The Braves' run came in the 9th. Chipper Jones singled, Fred McGriff's single moved Jones to third, and David Justice hit into a fielder's choice to Bret Boone, scoring a run.

Cincinnati reliever Jeff Brantley and Braves relievers Alejandro Pena and Mark Wohlers kept the game scoreless until the 11th. Cincinnati reliever Mike Jackson gave up a single to Mike Devereaux, scoring McGriff from second. Three relievers, Brad Clontz, Steve Avery and Greg McMichael held the Reds off in the bottom of the inning to perserve the lead and the win.

[edit] Game 2

Game 2's pitchers were John Smoltz and John Smiley. In the top of the 1st, Marquis Grissom singled, advanced on a Mark Lemke groundout and Jones drove in Grissom with a single for the Braves' first run. Atlatna scored again in the 4th when McGriff doubled, advanced to third on a Justice fly ball to right and Devereaux hit a double to left, plating McGriff.

Cincinnati knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth with some luck and timely hitting. With one out, Benito Santiago singled on a bunt to third. Bret Boone then hit a comebacker to Smoltz for a single, and Smoltz made an error that allowed Santiago to reach third.

Smiley pitched five innings and allowed two runs. Dave Burba, Jackson and Jeff Brantley held the Braves scoreless. Smoltz pitched seven innings, also allowing two runs and Pena and McMichael pitched a scorless inning each, sending the game into extra innings.

In the 10th, Mark Portugal came on to pitch. Lemke singled to lead off, advanced to second on a Jones groundout. McGriff was walked intentionally and Justice singled, loading the bases. With Ryan Klesko pinch-hitting for Devereaux, Portugal threw a wild pitch, scoring Lemke. Klesko then popped out, but Javy Lopez homered, giving the Braves some insurance runs. Wohlers pitched a scoreless bottom of the inning to seal the win.

[edit] Game 3

Game 3 pitted Greg Maddux against David Wells. For the first five-and-a-half innings, the game was scoreless, the Braves managing six hits, the Reds three. In the bottom of the sixth, McGriff doubled, Justice flied to right and Devereaux walked, bringing up Maddux's catcher for the game, veteran Charlie O'Brien, who homered to put the Braves up 3-0.

In the 7th inning, against pitcher Xavier Hernandez, Lemke singled with one out and Jones homered, expanding the lead to 5-0. In the 8th, the Reds finally got to Maddux. Gant singled with one out, Reggie Sanders singled to Rafael Belliard at shortstop and Hal Morris singled, scoring Gant. In the 9th, the Reds scored again when Jeff Branson doubled, advanced to third on a Eddie Taubensee groundout, and scored on a Thomas Howard sacrifice fly to Grissom. But Wohlers got Larkin to pop out to Belliard to end the game.

[edit] Game 4

Game 4 had Steve Avery face off against Schourek. This game was close going into the bottom of the 7th, the only run in the game coming in the Braves side of the 3rd, Belliard singled, advanced to second on Steve Avery's groundout to Schourek, and scored on Lemke's single to left. Through six innings, Avery allowed just two hits to the Reds, both singles for Santiago and Larkin.

In the 7th, McMichael set down the Reds, and the Braves broke the game wide open, scoring five runs in their half. Grissom tripled, Jones walked and Grissom scored on a passed ball. McGriff was walked intentionally, but that backfired when Devereaux hit a three-run homer. Lopez doubled, Klesko was walked intentionally, Belliard's groundout advanced the runners, and pinch-hitter Luis Polonia singled, scoring Lopez and capping the scoring for Atlanta.

Pena and Wohlers completed the shutout for Atlanta, giving them their third pennant in five years.

[edit] Series Stats

[edit] Atlanta Braves

[edit] Batting

[edit] Pitching

[edit] Cincinnati Reds

[edit] Batting

[edit] Pitching

[edit] Series Summary

Umpires: Jerry Crawford, Gerry Davis, Dana DeMuth, Randy Marsh, Jim Quick, Paul Runge

The Series MVP was Mike Devereaux of the Atlanta Braves.