Houston and Atlanta started at lunch time and finished at dinner. One of those games that comes along every once in awhile that is thrilling from start to finish. It featured a future Hall of Famer, Roger Clemens, pitching in the 18th inning and vowing to stay on the hill as long as necessary because he was the last pitching option for the Houston Astros.
Clemens allowed one hit over three shutout innings to pick up the win for Houston. It was the first time Clemens has pitched in relief since his rookie season in 1984 and just the second time in his 22-year career, which includes 341 regular-season wins.
Game 4 of the National League Division Series lasted a total of 5 hours, 50 minutes and 18 innings. The Atlanta Braves sent hitters to the plate 75 times, the Astros 65.
And then it ended, in the blink of an eye.
Chris Burke, a utility player, halted baseball's longest postseason game with a one-out home run in the bottom of the 18th inning off Braves rookie pitcher Joey Devine, giving the Astros a 7-6 victory.
As the ball sailed over the tall left-field wall at Minute Maid Park, the crowd of 43,413 exploded into frenzy as the Astros advanced to the NL Championship Series to play the Cardinals in a rematch from last year.
The game overtook the record for the longest postseason game by innings, set by the Mets and the Astros in Game 6 of the 1986 NLCS and was also played in Houston. [The Mets won in 16 innings].
The game also set the record for the longest postseason game by the clock, surpassing by just one minute Game 5 in last year's ALCS between the Yankees and the Red Sox.
It doesn't seem to matter what kind of team the Atlanta Braves bring to the playoffs of late or how much they accomplish during the year, they always seem to meet with a nightmarish ending.
At least that's been the case since 1995, the one and only time in Atlanta's unprecedented run of 14 consecutive division titles that it also won the World Series. What has followed has been a litany of disappointments.
The Astros are scheduled to travel to St. Louis for Game 1 of the best-of-seven NL championship on Oct. 12. The Cardinals beat the Astros in seven games to win the pennant last year.
Yankees Answer The Call
The Yankees overcame a 2-0 deficit last night with one run in the sixth inning and two runs in the seventh. The Yankees managed just three singles in the two-inning span and had four hits for the game.
Game 4 of the ALDS may not have been the classic that was the epic Game 4 of the Astros-Braves series, but it was one of those hidden gems, one of the best arguments why the game can be at its absolute peak even without a home run being hit.
Shawn Chacon made his first-ever postseason start for New York, but did not figure into the decision. Chacon yielded two runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking one.
Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera each had an RBI for the Angels, who blew a two-run lead and failed in their initial chance to get back to the ALCS for the first time since 2002 when the club eventually won the World Series.
John Lackey, who was the Game 2 winner, filled in for an injured Jarrod Washburn and pitched brilliantly for the Angels, but did not figure into the decision. Lackey ended the game by allowing one run on only two hits over 5 2/3 innings while fanning six and walking four.
Al Leiter picked up the win in relief of Shawn Chacon, who allowed two runs over 6 1/3 innings in his first career playoff start.
Trailing 2-0, New York was able to get something going in the sixth inning as Alex Rodriguez received a one-out walk and moved to second on a grounder. Sheffield followed by lacing a single to left that scored Rodriguez, trimming the deficit to 2-1. The Yankees then scored twice in the seventh inning to seize the upper hand for the first time in the game.
Robinson Cano led off with an infield single and advanced to second on Jorge Posada's one-out walk. Sierra then came on as a pinch-hitter and knotted the game with an RBI hit to right-center and Jeter followed with an infield single. On the play, Posada sprinted home on the softly-hit grounder to third and Figgins' throw bounced off the mark to Bengie Molina. The catcher successfully fielded the ball and made a diving attempt to get the runner, but Posada was able to safely slide in under the tag to give New York a 3-2 lead.
Game 4 was originally slated for Saturday night, but heavy rain in the New York area postponed the contest one day, which forced the fifth game to be played on Monday and leaves the series winner without a day of rest.
Mike Mussina will take the hill for the Yankees in the decisive Game 5 while the Angels will counter with Cy Young candidate Bartolo Colon.
The Chicago White Sox await the winner and will have homefield advantage in the ALCS, beginning with Tuesday night's Game 1 at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago advanced to the championship series by sweeping the World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
-- Compiled from wire reports
FEATURES 
