In a game that easily earned all of the "Instant Classic" gloss that E$PN and Fox tried to bestow it (at least until the Yankees game started), the Astros advanced to the NLCS for the 2nd year in a row in dramatic fashion, as
Chris Burke broke a 6-6 tie with a walk-off homer in the bottom of the 18th inning.
Burke was far from the only hero, however.
Lance Berkman hit a grand slam in the eighth to turn the tide.
Bradley Ausmus (he of the 45 career home runs...) hit a 406' blast over the outstretched glove of Andruw Jones to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. The bullpen pitched outstanding ball for 13 2/3rds innings. And
Roger "The Racket" Clemens (1-1, 5.62) threw three scoreless innings to pick up his 11th post season win.
The Astros got down early to Tim Hudson (0-1, 5.27) and the Braves when Adam LaRoche cranked a Brandon Backe (0-0, 8.44) offering into the Houston Bullpen in the 3rd inning, staking Atlanta to a 4-0 lead. The Braves stretched that lead to 6-1 in the top of the 8th inning when Brian McCann, who is quickly becoming another Astro-killah, hit his 2nd homer of the post season.
And then the Astros got busy, with more than a little help from the Braves. The Astros loaded the bases on a series of weird defense from Atlanta and a very disciplined at-bat from
Luke Scott, setting the stage for Twinkie to contiune his one man destruction of Kyle Farnsworth's career. Fat Elvis was 7 for 13 against Farnsworth (0-0, 9.00) headed to the plate. He was 8 for 14 a couple of pitches later, clearing the bases with a shot into the Crawford Boxes.
In the bottom of the 9th, with two outs, Ausmus tied the game at 6 all, with probably the biggest hit of his career. After the momentary confusion (because the umpiring crew took their sweet time signaling anything), the stadium erupted with screams at Ausmus's 3rd career post season home run.
This game was especially sweet for long-time 'Stros fans and maybe especially coaches
Jos? Cruz and
Phil Garner who played in the 16 inning loss to the steM in 1986. In that game, the hit that had come to symbolize the Astros playoff performances came from outfielder
Billy Hatcher. A homerun to stay alive in a game that Houston ultimately lost. Sunday, Chris Burke may have generated a hit that starts a new tradition for the Astros in the playoffs.
Houston starts their 2nd consecutive NLCS Wednesday (time TBD) in St. Louise, Misery in a rematch with the Cardinals.
Andy Pettitte will toe the rubber for the Stros against Karen Carpenter and the Redbirds.
