10. Pirates vs Braves 1992 NLCS Game 7
The Pirates were entering this game extremely thirsty for an appearance in the fall classic. For the Pirates it had been an 13 year drought and for the Braves, they were trying to make it two years in a row after a 33 year absence. The Pirates got a run in the top of the first from a sac fly from Orlando Merced that scored Alex Cole. The game stayed 1-0 until the sixth when Jay Bell scored on a single. The game remained 2-0 until the bottom of the ninth which set the stage for a dramatic finish. With a World Series appearance hanging in the balance, the Braves were not going to go quiet. They rallied and trimmed the lead to 2-1. With bases loaded and two out pinch hitter Fransisco Cabrera laced a single to left field. The throw to the plate was very close however Sid Bream beat the throw and the Braves were off to the World Series. This is a Top 10 Greatest game because of the long playoff drought this game sent the Pirates in. In contrast, this was the second year of a 14 year dominance in the majors for the Atlanta Braves.
9. Angels vs Yankees 2009 ALCS Game 2
Game 2's are always crucial games because it is the difference between 1-1 and 2-0 after the end of the game. Game #2 of the ALCS in 2009 was no exception. The Yankees drew first blood in the bottom of the second. In the third the Yankees added to their lead with a Derek Jeter solo home run. The game stayed 2-0 until the top of the 5th with a two spot capped off with a wild-pitch by A.J. Burnett that scored the tying run. The game stayed tied at two until the 11th when Chone Figgins RBI single to give the Angels a 3-2 lead. The Yankees weren't done, Alex Rodriguez's bottom of the 11th solo home run tied it up at 3. In the bottom of the 13th, Melky Cabrera reached on an error that gave the Yankees a 2-0 series lead. This ended up to be huge as the Yankees won in six games. If the Angels would have stole this game they might had been the team to go up 3-2 in the series and would have been the favorites to win the ALCS.
Game 6 of the 1986 World Series is known as the "Buckner game." However, Game 6 was much more than that. It was also a great game. The Red Sox took an early lead with one in the first and the second. The Sox took that 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth where New York battled back to tie at two. The Red Sox took their second lead of the game in the seventh and the Red Sox were nine outs away from winning their first World Series after trading away slugger Babe Ruth. The resilient Mets would fight back, getting 1 in the eighth to tie the score at three. In the 10th, after the Red Sox put up a two spot. In the bottom half of the inning, with the Red Sox one out away, the Mets started the rally. After a series of events, including a wild pitch, the game was tied at 5 with Mookie Wilson at the plate. With the Buckner play, I always thought Buckner should have charged it, or how interesting it was how if Buckner keeps the ball in front of him, he likely still records the out. Well Buckner didn't record the out and the Mets went on to win when Knight crossed the plate. What people forget is the Buckner game was only Game 6, the Red Sox ended up losing Game 7 8-5 and as fate would have it, the final out was recorded with Buckner on deck.
7. Mariners vs Yankees 1995 ALDS Game 2
Game 2 of the ALDS between the Yankees and Mariners was a thrilling game to say the least. The Yankees held a 1-0 series lead but because the playoff format went 2-3, if the Mariners could steal Game 2, the Yankees would need to win twice back in Seattle. The Mariners held a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when Bernie Williams doubled to tie the game at 1. In the seventh, with the Mariners trailing 3-2, the Mariners retook the lead with a two spot capped off by an sac fly by Griffey. This is where the fun started, Paul O'Neil homered in the bottom half of the inning to notch the game at 4. In extras, the Mariners were three outs away from evening the series when they got a run in the Top of the 12. However, in the bottom of the 12th the Yankees tied it up and almost won on a Ruben Sierra double. Despite the hit, Williams was thrown out at the plate. In the 15th inning, Jimmy Leyritz hit a two run home run to give the Yankees a 2-0 series lead.
6. Marlins vs Cubs 2003 NLCS Game 7
Game 7 of the 2003 NLCS was a very special game. The atmosphere was something that doesn't get experienced all that often. The night before, the Cubs were five outs away from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1945. I think we all know what happened next. The night before, is infamously known as the "Bartman game for Chicago Cubs fans. Game 7, Cubs fans were hoping for it to be a different story. Ace, Kerry Wood was the starter and was hoping to end the nightmare for the Cubs fans. Despite the Marlins scoring three in the first, the Cubs battled back to take a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 3rd on Kerry Wood's home run. The sea saw game would have another lead change when the Marlins scored three of their own to take a 6-5 lead. The Marlins would not relinquish the lead anymore, and after building the lead to 9-5, they would hang on to win 9-6 stunning the Wrigley Field crowd. This loss for the Cubs added to the agony of the curse to the billy goat. For the Marlins, the win punched their ticket to the World Series on route to their second World Series Title.
5. Braves vs Astros 2004 NLDS Game 4
From 1991 to 2005 the Atlanta Braves had an amazing streak of winning 14 division titles in a row. However, the Braves had a long history of underachieving in the post-season. Game four of the 2005 ALDS was simply breath taking. The Braves lead 5-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning and it looked like the Braves were well on their way to forcing a decisive Game 5. The Astros had other ideas however, Houston managed to tally four in the bottom of the eighth and squeezed across one in the ninth to force extras. In the top of the 10th we were still a long ways away from being done. This game went an historic 18 innings! In the bottom of the 18th, Chris Burke who was a pinch hitter earlier in the game, hit a home run to win the game and more importantly the series for Houston. The win that day went to 43 year old Roger Clemens who came out of the bullpen to pitch three innings.
4. Yankees vs D-Backs 2001 World Series Game 7
Game 7 of the 2001 World Series had all the ingredients of one of the all time classic baseball games in history. The Arizona Diamondbacks were in their fourth year existence, while the Yankees were going for their third World Series in three consecutive years. Rogers Clemons was the Yankees starter and Curt Schilling went for the D-Backs. The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when the D-Backs drew first blood on a Danny Bautista double that plated Steve Finnley. The Yankees fought back to scratch across one in the seventh and eighth to take a 2-1 lead. Heading into the bottom of the ninth the Yankees were three outs away from a three-peat. In addition, the Yankees also had arguably the best closer in the history of baseball in Mariano Rivera. Unfortunately, destiny was not on the Yankees side that November night. The D-backs batted around and with the game now tied at two, Luis Gonzalez blooped a single into short center filed that eluded the drawn in infielders that won the first and to this date only world series for Arizona.
Game 7 of the 2001 World Series had all the ingredients of one of the all time classic baseball games in history. The Arizona Diamondbacks were in their fourth year existence, while the Yankees were going for their third World Series in three consecutive years. Rogers Clemons was the Yankees starter and Curt Schilling went for the D-Backs. The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when the D-Backs drew first blood on a Danny Bautista double that plated Steve Finnley. The Yankees fought back to scratch across one in the seventh and eighth to take a 2-1 lead. Heading into the bottom of the ninth the Yankees were three outs away from a three-peat. In addition, the Yankees also had arguably the best closer in the history of baseball in Mariano Rivera. Unfortunately, destiny was not on the Yankees side that November night. The D-backs batted around and with the game now tied at two, Luis Gonzalez blooped a single into short center filed that eluded the drawn in infielders that won the first and to this date only world series for Arizona.
3. Yankees vs Red Sox 2004 ALCS Game 5
After the Red Sox stayed off elimination in the wee hours of early that morning in Game 4, the Red Sox and Yankees were set for another classic in Game 5. Mike Mussina and Pedro Martinez were the startingg pitchers in the game, however the drama didn't come until the late innings. For the second time in the series, the Red Sox came back from a deficit when they were staring elimination in the face. This time it was the bottom of the eighth when the Red Sox scored two to tie the game at four. Despite both teams putting up rallies in extra innings, the game stayed tied until the 14th when David Ortiz singled home Johny Damon to send the series back to the Bronx. Game 5 turned out to be the 2nd win for the Red Sox on route to becoming the first team to come from a 3-0 deficit to win a Best out of 7 playoff series. After completing the sweep the Red Sox went on to completing a sweep of the Cardinals to win their first World Series since 1918.
2. Yankees vs Mariners 1995 ALDS Game 5
Forget game, the ALDS between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees was one of the best series in MLB history. Game 5 between these two teams was simply remarkable. The Mariners were coming off an amazing come from behind 11-8 win in Game 4 and were sending Andy Benes on the mound. Like it had been all series, Game 5 was another back in fourth game. Both teams shared the lead and going to the bottom of the 8th the Yankees had the lead 4-2. David Cone was the Yankees starter that game. He was tiring late in the 8th and the Mariners trimmed the lead to 4-3. With the bases loaded, the Mariners used pinch hitter Doug Strange and he drew a walk to tie the game at four.
In the ninth, Cy Young award winner Randy Johnson came on as a reliever on one days rest. He gave up a run in the 11th to set the stage for a speechless bottom of the frame. After a Joey Cora bunt single, Ken Griffey Jr. singled as well to put runners on first and third. Edgar Martinez was next. He single handily was the only reason the Mariners were in the position in the first place with his seven RBI's in Game 4. On a 0-1 pitch he laced a double down the left field line to win the game for the Mariners. The significance of the hit is huge. Firstly, it is still to this day, the biggest hit in Mariners history. In addition, to add to the importance the hit defeated the Yankees the team everyone loves to hate. Also, Game five ended Don Mattingly's career as a Yankee.
1. Rangers vs Cardinals 2011 World Series Game 6
This game deserves the #1 spot because it simply had it all. The Rangers had a chance to win their first World Series in franchise history and the Cardinals were trying to force Game 7. The game was back in forth all night and the Rangers posted a three spot in the Top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. The Cardinals showed no quite, getting one back in the eighth setting the stage for a dramatic ninth inning. During the game, the Rangers were one strike away twice, however, the Cardinals would bat around to score two runs to send the game into extras. In the Top of the 10th the Rangers would re-take the lead thanks to Josh Hamilton's two run home run. Unfortunately for the Rangers, the Cardinals would battle back yet again to score two in the bottom of the tenth that was capped off on Lance Berkman's single to centre. In the bottom of the 11th David Freese smacked a home run to send the game to a deceive Game 7. The next nights Game 7 marked the first Game 7 in baseball since the All-Star Game decided home field advantage in the World Series. This game the Cardinals set a few records including being the first team in the World Series to score in the 8th, 9th 10th, and 11th innings of a baseball game.
Forget game, the ALDS between the Seattle Mariners and New York Yankees was one of the best series in MLB history. Game 5 between these two teams was simply remarkable. The Mariners were coming off an amazing come from behind 11-8 win in Game 4 and were sending Andy Benes on the mound. Like it had been all series, Game 5 was another back in fourth game. Both teams shared the lead and going to the bottom of the 8th the Yankees had the lead 4-2. David Cone was the Yankees starter that game. He was tiring late in the 8th and the Mariners trimmed the lead to 4-3. With the bases loaded, the Mariners used pinch hitter Doug Strange and he drew a walk to tie the game at four.
In the ninth, Cy Young award winner Randy Johnson came on as a reliever on one days rest. He gave up a run in the 11th to set the stage for a speechless bottom of the frame. After a Joey Cora bunt single, Ken Griffey Jr. singled as well to put runners on first and third. Edgar Martinez was next. He single handily was the only reason the Mariners were in the position in the first place with his seven RBI's in Game 4. On a 0-1 pitch he laced a double down the left field line to win the game for the Mariners. The significance of the hit is huge. Firstly, it is still to this day, the biggest hit in Mariners history. In addition, to add to the importance the hit defeated the Yankees the team everyone loves to hate. Also, Game five ended Don Mattingly's career as a Yankee.
1. Rangers vs Cardinals 2011 World Series Game 6
This game deserves the #1 spot because it simply had it all. The Rangers had a chance to win their first World Series in franchise history and the Cardinals were trying to force Game 7. The game was back in forth all night and the Rangers posted a three spot in the Top of the seventh to take a 7-4 lead. The Cardinals showed no quite, getting one back in the eighth setting the stage for a dramatic ninth inning. During the game, the Rangers were one strike away twice, however, the Cardinals would bat around to score two runs to send the game into extras. In the Top of the 10th the Rangers would re-take the lead thanks to Josh Hamilton's two run home run. Unfortunately for the Rangers, the Cardinals would battle back yet again to score two in the bottom of the tenth that was capped off on Lance Berkman's single to centre. In the bottom of the 11th David Freese smacked a home run to send the game to a deceive Game 7. The next nights Game 7 marked the first Game 7 in baseball since the All-Star Game decided home field advantage in the World Series. This game the Cardinals set a few records including being the first team in the World Series to score in the 8th, 9th 10th, and 11th innings of a baseball game.
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