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TODAY: Monday, May 15
Smoltz's career postseason starts


The Braves may most feel the loss of John Smoltz most if they make the playoffs. In his postseason career, spanning 26 starts and two relief appearances, Smoltz is 12-4 with a 2.77 ERA. No pitcher has ever won more postseason games (Whitey Ford and Dave Stewart each won 10).

His postseason winning percentage (.750) ranks behind only Bob Gibson, Allie Reynolds and Red Ruffing (each at .778) among pitchers with at least eight decisions. He and teammate Tom Glavine each have 26 career starts, the most ever (Whitey Ford had 21 starts in the World Series). Smoltz tops career lists in strikeouts and innings.

Here's a game-by-game account of Smoltz's playoff appearances:

1991 NLCS
Game 3 vs. Pittsburgh
6.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 7 K (W)
Winning pitcher in Atlanta's 10-3 victory.

Game 7 at Pittsburgh
9 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 8 K (W)
While the Braves knocked out John Smiley with three first-inning runs, Smoltz pitched the shutout.

1991 World Series
Game 4 vs. Minnesota
7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K (ND)
The game was tied 2-2 when Smoltz left. The Braves eventually won 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth

Game 7 at Minnesota
7.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K (ND)
Smoltz didn't allow a run in one of the greatest games ever played. Neither did Jack Morris. Twins win the game 1-0 in 10 innings.

1992 NLCS
Game 1 vs. Pittsburgh
8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 7 K (W)
The Braves win 5-1.

Game 4 at Pittsburgh
6.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 5 BB, 9 K (W)
Smoltz allows four runs (he's allowed that many only four times in 21 starts) but the Braves win 6-4.

Game 7 vs. Pittsburgh
6 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K (ND)
Matched up against Doug Drabek for the third game in the series, Smoltz leaves for a pinch-hitter down 2-0. Atlanta rallies to win 3-2 with three runs in the bottom of the ninth.

1992 World Series
Game 2 vs. Toronto
7.1 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K (ND)
Smoltz leaves with a 4-3 but Ed Sprague clocks Jeff Reardon for a game-winning homer as Blue Jays win 5-4.

Game 5 at Toronto
6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 4 K (W)
Smoltz keeps the Braves alive with a 7-2 victory. Toronto wins Game 6, however.

1993 NLCS
Game 4 vs. Philadelphia
6.1 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 5 K (L)
Loses 2-1 to Danny Jackson for first postseason defeat.

1995 Division Series
Game 3 vs. Colorado
5.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 BB, 6 K (ND)
Gets a no-decision as the Rockies win 7-5.

1995 NLCS
Game 2 at Cincinnati
7 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 K (ND)
No-decision in Atlanta's 6-2 win in 10 innings.

1995 World Series
Game 3 at Cleveland
2.1 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 K (ND)
His shortest playoff stint. In fact, only twice has Smoltz not pitched at least six innings.

1996 Division Series
Game 1 at Los Angeles
9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 7 K (W)
Battles Ramon Martinez and gets the wins as Braves win 2-1 in 10.

1996 NLCS
Game 1 vs. St. Louis
8 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 K (W)
Braves win the opener 4-2.

Game 5 at St. Louis
7 IP, 7 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K (W)
With Atlanta facing elimination, Smoltz cruises to 14-0 win.

1996 World Series
Game 1 at New York
6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 5 BB, 4 K (W)
An easy 12-1 rout of Andy Pettitte.

Game 5 vs. New York
8 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K (L)
Smoltz doesn't allow an earned run, but loses 1-0 to Pettitte.

1997 Division Series
Game 3 at Houston
9 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 11 K (W)
Sets his playoff high with 11 strikeouts in 4-1 win.

1997 NLCS
Game 3 at Florida
6 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 9 K (L)
Marlins win 5-2.

1998 Division Series
Game 1 vs. Chicago
7.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K (W)
Another gem as Braves beat the Cubs 7-1.

1998 NLCS
Game 1 vs. San Diego
7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 5 BB, 5 K (ND)
Gets a no-decision as the Padres win 3-2 in 10 innings.

Game 5 at San Diego
6.2 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 8 K (ND)
Leaves the game trailing 4-2, but the Braves come back to win by scoring five runs in the top of the eighth inning and hold on for a 7-6 victory.

1999 Division Series
Game 4 at Houston
7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K (W)
Pitched six innings of shutout ball before allowing one run in the seventh inning and three more in the eighth. The Braves, however, hold on for the 7-5 victory to clinch the series.

1999 NLCS
Game 2 vs. N.Y. Mets
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K (S)
Enters in the ninth inning and retires the Mets in order to pick up his first career save.

Game 4 at N.Y. Mets
7.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 7 K (ND)
Isn't able to close out the series sweep of the Mets, though he didn't earn the loss in the Mets' 3-2 win.

Game 6 vs. N.Y. Mets
.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 0 K (ND)
Enters in relief in the seventh inning and got shelled, allowing the Mets to tie the game at 7-7. The Braves went on to win 10-9 in 11 innings to clinch the series.

1999 World Series
Game 4 at N.Y. Yankees
7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 11 K (L)
Allows three runs in the third inning as the Yankees went on to win the game and sweep the series.
 

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