2010 National League Division Series
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season Philadelphia Phillies (3) Charlie Manuel 97–65, .599, GA: 6 Cincinnati Reds (0) Dusty Baker 91–71, .562, GA: 5
Dates	October 6–10
Television	TBS
TV announcers	Brian Anderson andJoe Simpson
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Jon Sciambi andDave Campbell
Umpires	John Hirschbeck,Bruce Dreckman,Sam Holbrook,Ed Rapuano,Gary Cederstrom andRob Drake[1]
Teams
Team (Wins) Manager Season San Francisco Giants (3) Bruce Bochy 92–70, .568, GA: 2 Atlanta Braves (1) Bobby Cox 91–71, .562, GB: 6
Dates	October 7–11
Television	TBS
TV announcers	Dick Stockton andBob Brenly
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Chris Berman (in San Francisco) Dave O'Brien (in Atlanta) andRick Sutcliffe
Umpires	Dana DeMuth,Paul Nauert,Paul Emmel,Mike Winters,Jerry Layne andEd Hickox[1]
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The2010National League Division Series (NLDS) were two opening round best-of-five-game series in Major League Baseball’s2010 postseason to determine the participating teams in the2010 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—a "Wild Card"—played in two series from October 6 to 11.TBS televised all games in the United States.^[2]

Under MLB's playoff format, no two teams from the same division were matched up in the Division Series, regardless of whether their records would normally indicate such a matchup.Home field advantage went to the team with the better regular-season record with the exception of the wild card team, which defers home field advantage regardless of record. The matchups were:

• (1)Philadelphia Phillies (Eastern Division champions, 97–65) vs. (3)Cincinnati Reds (Central Division champions, 91–71): Phillies win series, 3–0.
• (2)San Francisco Giants (West Division champions, 92–70) vs. (4)Atlanta Braves (Wild Card qualifier, 91–71): Giants win series, 3–1.^[3]

The Phillies and Reds had met in the postseason once before: in the1976 NLCS, which the Reds won 3–0. The Giants and Braves also had one prior postseason series—the2002 NLDS—which the Giants won 3–2.

The Giants would go on to defeat the Phillies in the NLCS, then win the2010 World Series by defeating the American League championTexas Rangers, winning their first World title since 1954.

Philadelphia won the series, 3–0.

†: No-hitter byRoy Halladay

San Francisco won the series, 3–1.

In his first career postseason start, Phillies aceRoy Halladay hurled ano-hitter, giving up only one walk (toJay Bruce in the fifth inning). Halladay's was only the second postseason no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, and the first sinceDon Larsen'sperfect game in the1956 World Series.^[11] He threw only 104 pitches.

During the 2010 regular season, Halladay had thrown aperfect game on the road against theFlorida Marlins on May 29. He thus became the first and only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the regular season and a no-hitter in the postseason in the same year. Halladay is also the fifth major league pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same year, and the first sinceNolan Ryan in 1973.

The Phillies' offense got started early whenShane Victorino sliced a double down the left field line in the first inning. After stealing third base,Chase Utley brought him home with asacrifice fly. Victorino went 2-for-4 in the game and also had two RBIs on a single in the second inning that scoredWilson Valdez and Halladay. Halladay had reached earlier in the inning on an RBI single of his own, helping his own cause and becoming the first pitcher in major league history to outhit the opposing team in a postseason game.

Cincinnati starterEdinson Vólquez lasted only1+2⁄3 innings beforeTravis Wood was called upon in relief by managerDusty Baker. Volquez gave up four hits, four runs (all earned), and two walks. He faced 11 batters, retiring only five.

This would be the last postseason no–hitter until the Astros' combined no-hitter in the2022 World Series, which also took place atCitizens Bank Park.

On the fourth pitch he saw, Brandon Phillips hit a home run to lead off the first inning. This was both the first hit and first run since1995 for the Reds in the postseason.^[12]Laynce Nix scored another run in the top of the second inning on two throwing errors and a wild pitch.

Jay Bruce hit a lead-off homer in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 3–0. In the top of the fifth inning, Phillips hit a lead-off double, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt, then scored onJoey Votto's sacrifice fly.

The Phillies mounted their attack in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pinch-hitterDomonic Brown reached first base on a fielder's choice, then the Phillies loaded the bases on two consecutive defensive errors.Chase Utley delivered a two-out RBI single to get the Phillies on board, but Arroyo struck outRyan Howard to limit the damage at two.

The Phillies scored again in the sixth inning.Jayson Werth walked, stole second, then scored after two batters were hit by pitches and a bases-loaded walk by Reds relieversArthur Rhodes andLogan Ondrusek.

The Reds sent flame-throwerAroldis Chapman to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He hit Chase Utley, the third time by Reds' relievers in the night, then struck out Ryan Howard. Werth hit a ground ball to Reds third basemanScott Rolen, but Utley was called safe at second base. The next batter,Jimmy Rollins, hit a fly ball to right field, but Reds right fielder Jay Bruce lost it in the lights; Reds second baseman Phillips also missed the relay catch. These two crucial errors—the third and fourth on the night—let both Utley and Werth score. Rollins scored later onRaúl Ibañez's single andCarlos Ruiz's RBI force-out. Reds relieverNick Masset replaced Chapman and gotShane Victorino to ground out to end the inning. The Phillies took a 6–4 lead on Reds' errors into the eighth inning.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Utley hit a one-out single then stole second. Masset intentionally walked Howard to set up a potential double play for the next batter. However, Werth hit an RBI single to left field to score Utley.

Phillies closer Brad Lidge closed the ninth for the save.

The six combined errors tied an LDS record previously set by theAthletics andRed Sox in the2003 ALDS.^[13]

Cincinnati was again dominated by Phillies' starting pitching.Cole Hamels pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out nine while allowing five hits.Plácido Polanco scored for the Phillies onOrlando Cabrera's throwing error in the top of the first inning.Chase Utley added another run to the lead by hitting a home run in the fifth inning. With one out in the top of the ninth inning,Carlos Ruiz hit adouble offAroldis Chapman on a pitch that was clocked byPITCH f/x at 103.5 mph, making it the fastest pitched ball ever to result in a hit.^[14] For the series, Cincinnati was shut out two times and scored just four runs, making them among the very few teams to lose in a shutout twice (the1966 Los Angeles Dodgers lost in three shutouts to theBaltimore Orioles in the World Series in a sweep). This was theGreat American Ball Park's first playoff game.

This was the last playoff series won by the Phillies until2022.

2010 NLDS(3–0):Philadelphia Phillies overCincinnati Reds

Game 1 was a pitching duel that matched the Giants' two-time Cy Young Award winnerTim Lincecum, in his first postseason start, against the Braves'Derek Lowe, a seasoned veteran of postseason play.

The game's only run came in the fourth inning. Giants rookie catcherBuster Posey singled to left, stole second in a controversial play where he was called safe while appearing to be out, and then scored on a two-out single byCody Ross. That run was the only one Lincecum needed, as the Giants' ace was dominant, pitching a complete-game shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out a franchise record 14 while walking only one.

The Giants took a quick 3–0 lead as Pat Burrell hit a three-run home run, followingFreddy Sanchez's single andBuster Posey's walk in the bottom of the first inning.

Braves managerBobby Cox was ejected from the game in the top of the second inning, arguing that Giants first basemanAubrey Huff's foot did not stay on base onÁlex González's groundout.

Giants starterMatt Cain also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, scoringCody Ross, who had doubled earlier, increasing the Giants' lead to 4–0.

Braves first basemanDerrek Lee hit a lead-off single in the top of the sixth inning and advanced to second base onPat Burrell's error.Brian McCann singled him home in the next at-bat to end the 14 scoreless innings streak for the Braves in this series.

The Braves struck back in the top of the eighth inning. After consecutive singles by Lee and McCann, the Giants brought in closerBrian Wilson for a six-out save. However, the next hitter,Melky Cabrera, hit an RBI ground ball that scored Lee from third base and Cabrera beat the throw to first base due to Giants' third basemanPablo Sandoval's throwing error. FollowingBrooks Conrad's sacrifice bunt, Álex González's RBI double scored both runners and tied the game at 4–4.

The game remained tied and went to extra innings. In the bottom of the 10th inning, two consecutive bunts—one single, one sacrifice—knocked Braves closerBilly Wagner out of the game because of injury. Braves relieverKyle Farnsworth hit the next batter, Freddy Sanchez, then walked Huff to load the bases with one out. However, Posey grounded into a double play to end the inning.

In the top of the 11th inning,Rick Ankiel hit a go-ahead home run intoMcCovey Cove on the fly to give the Braves a 5–4 lead. At the time, Ankiel was the only player in postseason history besidesBarry Bonds to hit a home run into the Cove.^[15] Despite giving up a one-out single toJuan Uribe, Farnsworth retiredTravis Ishikawa and Ross for the win and the series was tied at 1–1.

Game 3 was yet another dramatic matchup of strong pitching. The Giants sent leftyJonathan Sánchez to the mound, who turned in a strong performance, pitching a no-hitter through six innings. The Braves countered with right-handerTim Hudson, who matched Sánchez for seven innings, allowing only one unearned run.

The Giants took an early lead in the second inning after leaving the bases loaded in the first. Third basemanMike Fontenot started the inning by driving a triple off the right field wall. The next batter,Cody Ross, lofted a pop fly that was dropped by Atlanta second basemanBrooks Conrad, giving San Francisco a 1–0 lead. That run seemed to be all Sánchez would need, as he shut out the Braves for7+1⁄3 innings.

WithÁlex González at first and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Giants still nursing their 1–0 lead, Giants setup manSergio Romo, a right-hander, relieved Sánchez to face the right-handedTroy Glaus as a pinch-hitter. Braves managerBobby Cox countered by sending left-handed batterEric Hinske to the plate instead. With two strikes on him, Hinske turned on a hanging slider from Romo and drove it just inside the right field foul pole for a home run, giving the Braves a 2–1 lead, and electrifying the crowd at Turner Field.

Rookie right-handerCraig Kimbrel came out of the bullpen to start the top of the ninth for the Braves, relievingJonny Venters, who had struck out the side the previous inning. Kimbrel retired Ross on a popout to Conrad, for the first out.Travis Ishikawa then pinch-hit for Romo and drew a walk. After striking out leadoff manAndrés Torres, Kimbrel gave up a single to second basemanFreddy Sanchez, and was removed from the game, leaving runners on first and second base, with two outs. Another rookie Brave, leftyMichael Dunn, came on and gave up a game-tying single toAubrey Huff. Dunn was then pulled for a right-hander,Peter Moylan, who induced a grounder fromBuster Posey, which proceeded to bounce through the legs of Conrad, the second baseman's third error of the game. Sanchez scored on the play, giving the Giants a 3–2 lead.Kyle Farnsworth came on and got the third out, but the damage was done. The Giants brought in their closerBrian Wilson for the bottom of the ninth. He held the lead, giving up a single toBrian McCann, but retiringNate McLouth on a grounder to end the game.

With their backs against the wall, the Braves sentDerek Lowe to the mound on three days' rest. The Braves scored first in the bottom of the third inning when Brian McCann's sacrifice fly drove inOmar Infante.

Lowe took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Giants tied the game with one out on Cody Ross' first-pitch homer off acutter. McCann answered with another in the bottom of the inning off the Giants' rookie starter,Madison Bumgarner, to take back the lead.

Lowe was relieved after6+1⁄3 innings. After walkingAubrey Huff and allowing an infield single toBuster Posey,Bobby Cox made his way out to the mound, apparently to remove Lowe from the game. However, after talking to him, Cox elected to leave Lowe in, prompting huge cheers from the Atlanta fans. The next batter,Pat Burrell, walked on a 3–1 pitch near the inside corner and Lowe's night was done. He struck out eight while allowing only two hits and walking two. Braves' relieversPeter Moylan andJonny Venters could not hold the lead as the Giants scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning onJuan Uribe's RBI fielder's choice and Cody Ross' RBI single. The Braves might have been able to escape the one-out, bases-loaded jam, butÁlex González's throwing error, his second in the game, cost them. Both errors were debatable. The first was a ball hit in the hole he didn't field cleanly with the speedyAndrés Torres running. The second was, again, another crucial controversial call that went against the Braves in the series. With two on and one out and a weakly hit groundball, González elected to go to second, throwing it high, causing Omar Infante to edge up, however, the umpire ruled he came off the base.

Left-handed Giants relieverJavier López entered the game with two outs in the eighth, and pinch-runnerNate McLouth as the tying run at second base, and struck outJason Heyward. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Braves had one last chance to rally. With one out, Giants closerBrian Wilson walkedRick Ankiel andEric Hinske to put the winning run on base. However, Omar Infante struck out swinging andMelky Cabrera grounded out to end the game and the series.

This was Braves manager Bobby Cox's last game. After the game ended, he came out of the dugout briefly to acknowledge the fans. He was greeted with loud cheers from the entire stadium, as well as an ovation from the Giants' players and coaches.

2010NLDS (3–1):San Francisco Giants overAtlanta Braves

Wikimedia Commons has media related to2010 National League Division Series.

• PHI vs. CIN at Baseball-Reference
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