1994 National League Division Series (1994 World Series)

The 1994 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1994 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, October 4, and ended on Saturday, October 8, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:

⦁(1) Cincinnati Reds (Central Division champion, 95–67) vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers (Western Division Champion, 84–78): Dodgers won series, 3–1. ⦁(2) Montreal Expos (Eastern Division champion, 98–64) vs. (4) Houston Astros (Wildcard, 94–68): Astros won series, 3–1.

The higher seed (in parentheses) had the home field advantage, which was not tied to playing record but was predetermined—a highly unpopular arrangement which was discontinued after the conclusion of the 1997 playoffs. Also, the team with home field advantage was required to play the first two games on the road, with potentially the last three at home, in order to reduce travel. The Reds played the Dodgers, rather than the wild card Astros, because the Reds and Astros are in the same division. Had the 1994 NLDS been played under the post-1997 arrangement, then Cincinnati (1) would've still played against Los Angeles (3) and Montreal (2) would've likewise still played against Houston (4).

The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers went on to meet in the NL Championship Series (NLCS). The Dodgers became the National League champion, and lost to the American League Champion Chicago White Sox in the 1994 World Series.

1994 National League Division Series Team (Wins)	       Manager	        Season Houston Astros (3)	Terry Collins	94-68, .580, GB: 1 Montreal Expos (1)	Felipe Alou	98-64, .605, GA: 8 Dates: October 4 – 8 Television: ABC TV announcers: Al Michaels, Jim Palmer and Tim McCarver Radio: CBS Radio announcers: Gene Elston and Gary Cohen Umpires: Eric Gregg, John McSherry, Jim Quick, Steve Rippley, Bill Hohn, Mark Hirschbeck

Team (Wins)	       Manager	        Season Los Angeles Dodgers (3)	Tommy Lasorda	84–78, .519, GA: 9 Cincinnati Reds (1)	Davey Johnson	95-67, .586, GA: 1 Dates: October 4 – 8 Television: ABC TV announcers: Gary Thorne and Joe Morgan Radio: CBS Radio Announcers: Jerry Coleman and Jim Hunter Umpires: Charlie Reliford, Tom Hallion, Brian Gorman, Gary Darling, Greg Bonin, Ed Rapuano

Matchups Montreal Expos vs. Houston Astros Houston won the series, 3–1. Game	Date 1	October 4	Montreal Expos– 1, Houston Astros– 5	Astrodome	2:55	53,161 2	October 5	Montreal Expos– 6, Houston Astros– 2	Astrodome	3:06	53,325 3	October 7	Houston Astros– 8, Montreal Expos– 2	Olympic Stadium	3:12	44,125 4	October 8	Houston Astros– 6, Montreal Expos– 3	Olympic Stadium	2:56	44,568

Cincinnati Reds vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles won the series, 3–1. Game	Date 1	October 4 Cincinnati Reds– 3, Los Angeles Dodgers– 5	Dodger Stadium	2:48	46,876 2	October 5 Cincinnati Reds– 4, Los Angeles Dodgers– 7	Dodger Stadium	3:11	48,243 3      October 7 Los Angeles Dodgers– 3, Cincinnati Reds– 7	Riverfront Stadium 2:35	51,194 4      October 8 Los Angeles Dodgers– 4, Cincinnati Reds– 3	Riverfront Stadium 3:08	52,465

Montreal vs. Houston

Game 1 was a matchup between Ken Hill and Darryl Kile. Montreal, making their first postseason appearance since 1981, would get on the board early with a 1-0 lead. Houston would do the same in the second inning. A solo home run by Andujar Cedeno in the fourth, a two run RBI by Luis Gonzalez in the fifth, and an RBI Single by Sid Bream in the sixth, would give Houston a 5-1 lead. Kile pitched a complete game for Houston.

Pedro Martinez and Greg Swindell were the starters for Game 2. Houston would get on the board first with an early 2-0 lead. Montreal would get on the board with a Mike Lansing RBI single to put them within a single run. The score would remain 2-1 until the sixth inning, when Montreal would get a run on three consecutive at bats to make it a 4-2 lead for Montreal. They would also get two runs in the eighth inning to make it 6-2 and get their first postseason win in thirteen years.

Game 3 was between Doug Drabek and Jeff Fassero. Houston would start things off with an RBI single by Sid Bream in the first inning. Montreal would get on the board in the second inning with a Cliff Floyd RBI double to make it a 1-1 game. Steve Finley got an RBI double for Houston in the third inning to put them up 3-1. Houston would go up 5-1 in the fifth inning with a two run home run by Tony Eusebio down the leftfield line. Montreal would add a run later that inning making the score 5-2. After another RBI single by Sid Bream in the sixth, one by Drabek in the seventh, and an RBI double by Luis Gonzalez in the eighth, Houston would make it an 8-2 lead, and that was where the score remained throughout the rest of the game as Drabek pitched a complete game.

Pete Harnisch and Kirk Rueter were the starters for Game 4. Both teams would get on the board in the first inning with an RBI by Craig Biggio for Houston, and a two run home run by Moises Alou for Montreal to make it a 2-1 game. Houston would tie it up at 2-2 in the third inning. Both teams would score a run in the fifth inning with an RBI by Luis Gonzalez for Houston, and an RBI by Larry Walker for Montreal. The game stood at 3-3 until the seventh inning when Houston picked up two runs to give them a 5-3 lead. Ken Caminiti would hit a solo home run down the right field line in the eighth to make it a 6-3 lead. John Hudek would get the save for Houston in the ninth to close out the game and the series. This would be Montreal's last postseason game as they would relocate to Washington, DC prior to the 2005 season to become the Washington Nationals. The Franchise would not return to the postseason until 2012.

Cincinnati vs. Los Angeles

Jose Rijo faced Ramon Martinez in Game 1. Los Angeles would start things off with back to back RBIs in the second inning to give them an early 2-0 lead. Cincinnati would come right back in the third inning with two RBIs to tie up the game at 2-2. In the bottom half of the third inning however, Tim Wallach would hit a two run home run to right center field to give Los Angeles a 4-2 lead. Wallach would also get an RBI double in the fifth inning to make it a 5-2 lead for Los Angeles. After a run by both teams later in the game, Todd Worrell came on the mound in the ninth to close out Game 1.

Former 20-game winner John Smiley faced Pedro Astacio in Game 2. Cincinnati would start things off with a Bret Boone RBI single to give them an early 1-0 lead. Los Angeles would get on the board in the second inning with a two run home run by Eric Karros into right center field to give them a 2-1 lead. Mike Piazza and Brett Butler would drive in a run in the third and fourth inning respectively to make it a 4-1 lead for Los Angeles. The score would remain the same through the rest of the game as Los Angeles was able to stop a possible rally by Cincinnati in the ninth inning to win the game.

Kevin Gross faced off against Erik Hanson in Game 3. Los Angeles would get on the board first with two runs in the third inning, and one run in the fourth inning to give them a 3-0 lead. Cincinnati would get on the board in the fifth inning with two RBIs in the fifth inning, and one in the sixth inning to tie the game at 3-3. A two run home run by Hal Morris to left field in the eighth inning would be enough to give Cincinnati the win 5-3.

Tom Candiotti would face off against John Roper in Game 4. Los Angeles would get on the board first with an RBI by Delino DeShields to give them a 1-0 lead. Henry Rodriguez would hit a two run home run to center field to put Los Angeles up 3-0. Cincinnati would bounce back with an RBI by Bret Boone, and two RBIs by Reggie Sanders to tie the game up at 3-3. DeShields would get another RBI in the seventh inning to give Los Angeles a 4-3 lead. The score would remain that way as Los Angles closed out the game and the series.