Mark Lemke scored the go-ahead run on Mark Portugal's wild pitch before Lopez broke open a tense game and series on Wednesday by hitting the ball off the left-field pole. "It's one of the biggest moments of my life," Lopez said. "My mind was kind of blank. I knew it was gone but I didn't know if it was fair or foul. It was a great feeling."
Atlanta won its second in a row in extra innings, both on the road. The best-of-seven series now moves to Atlanta for the next three games -- if necessary -- beginning Friday with Braves ace right-hander Greg Maddux, the best pitcher in baseball, starting Game 3.
Atlanta starter John Smoltz had another solid playoff start, allowing two runs and seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts in seven innings.
Greg McMichael pitched the ninth for the victory and Mark Wohlers pitched the 10th inning, striking out two.
In the top of the 10th, Lopez belted out the first pitch he saw.
"They were pitching me fast balls all game," said Lopez. "I was looking for one inside. He got it out over the plate."
The Reds stranded the potential winning run on third in the eighth and ninth innings.
Indians 5, Mariners 2. In Seattle, the Cleveland Indians and the Mariners split the first two games at the Kingdome.
The Indians had to win Wednesday night to avoid going two down before facing big, scary Randy Johnson pitching Friday night at Jacobs Field.
Veteran right-hander Orel Hershiser beguiled the big-swinging Seattle lineup and outfielder Manny Ramirez hit two homers Wednesday night to carry Cleveland to a 5-2 victory and knock the wind out of a not-quite-so-noisy sellout crowd.
Hershiser went eight innings, allowed four hits to win for the second time in October, improving his career record in the postseason to 6-0.
Mariners starter Tim Belcher didn't exactly embarrass himself. He carried a shutout into the fifth inning before the Indians finally broke through for two runs on a two-out, bases-loaded single by Carlos Baerga.
(Reuters, The Baltimore Sun)
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