HOUSTON, United States (AFP) - JD Drew singled to drive in a run in the top of the ninth inning and lift the Atlanta Braves to a 6-5 win over Houston and force the Astros into a fifth and deciding game.
John Smoltz (1-0) escaped a dicey situation in the eighth, before working out of real trouble in the ninth inning of the first round Major League Baseball playoff game.
With runners at the corners and one out, Smoltz got Jeff Kent - the most productive offensive second baseman of his era - to bounce into a game-ending double play.
"It's tough to score runs against him," Kent said of Smoltz. "You have to get a big lead against them early so you don't have to worry about him."
The normally reserved Smoltz let out a yell and pumped his fist as Furcal stepped on second and fired to first.
"I was honestly trying to get a double-play ball, get him to pull an outside pitch," Smoltz said. "It kind of happened in slow motion."
The win ended Houston's 18-game winning streak at their home field. The Astros had not lost at home since August 22.
"Streaks are streaks, they have got to come to an end sometime," Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said.
Game five in the best-of-five National League series is Monday in Atlanta. The Braves are expected to use with game one starter Jaret Wright while the Astros - who are 0-7 in postseason series - are planning to go with 20-game winner Roy Oswalt.
The most controversial decision Houston manager Phil Garner made came in the ninth inning on Sunday when, with Rafael Furcal at second and two outs, he opted to have righthander Russ Springer (0-1) pitch to the lefthanded-hitting Drew with slumping Marcus Giles - a righthanded hitter - on deck.
The move backfired as Springer fell behind Drew, who lined a 3-2 pitch for a single into right-center field, easily scoring Furcal.