Division Series Game 5s have dramatic history

The Dodgers and Nationals are set to square off in Game 5 of the National League Division Series on Thursday in a winner-take-all contest (8 p.m. ET on FS1). The victor moves on to face the Cubs in the NL Championship Series, while the losing team is headed home.

Ahead of the highly anticipated matchup, here is a look at the most dramatic of the 26 Division Series Game 5s in the Wild Card Era.

The walk-offs

Oct. 8, 1995: Mariners 6, Yankees 5 The Mariners tied the score in the bottom of the eighth inning on a bases-loaded walk by pinch-hitter Doug Strange, only to see the Yankees take an 11th-inning lead on a Randy Velarde single. Joey Cora reached on a bunt single to begin the bottom of the 11th, and Ken Griffey Jr. followed with a single up the middle to put runners on the corners off Yankees reliever Jack McDowell. Edgar Martinez then ripped a double down the left-field line, scoring Cora and Griffey to send the Mariners to the American League Championship Series for the first time in franchise history.

Oct. 14, 2001: D-backs 2, Cardinals 1 D-backs manager Bob Brenly rode right-hander Curt Schilling, who had Arizona staring down a spot in the NL Championship Series before allowing a game-tying solo home run to J.D. Drew in the top of the eighth inning. The D-backs found a way to advance anyway, as Tony Womack sliced a single into left-center field in the bottom of the ninth to score pinch-runner Danny Bautista from second base and punch Arizona’s ticket to the NLCS for the first time in team history.

Oct. 7, 2011: Brewers 3, D-backs 2 Willie Bloomquist nearly saved Arizona’s chance at a trip to the NLCS, tying the score at 2-2 with an RBI bunt single off Brewers’ reliever John Axford in the top of the ninth. Unable to push across a run in the ninth, Milwaukee got its chance when Carlos Gomez singled and stole second in the 10th. Nyjer Morgan then laced a single up the box off J.J. Putz to send Milwaukee to an LDS for the first time since 1982 (when the Brewers played in the AL).

The crazy comebacks

Oct. 12, 2012: Cardinals 9, Nationals 7 The Nationals jumped out to a commanding, 6-0, lead in the first three innings, seeking their first trip to the NLCS in team history. The Cardinals climbed back, scoring runs in five of the final six innings, including four …

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