1981 National League Division Series

The Division Series was created on August 6 in response to the 1981 Major League Baseball strike, which caused the cancellation of roughly one-third of the regular season between June 12 and August 9; by the time play was resumed, it was decided that the best approach was to have the first-half leaders automatically qualify for postseason play, and allow all the teams to begin the second half with a clean slate.

The first half and second-half champions in both the National League East and National League West divisions would meet in best-of-five series, with the winners advancing to the NL Championship Series (NLCS).

Fernando Valenzuela faced Nolan Ryan, a matchup worthy of a pitcher's duel.

Dave Stewart retired the first two men, but Craig Reynolds singled and Alan Ashby slugged a two-run walk-off home run.

Both pitchers kept the game scoreless, but both teams had trouble scoring runs when they managed to get men on.

The bullpen had managed to get two outs but pinch hitter Denny Walling hit the game winner, a single to right field.

After an RBI double by Dusty Baker, Steve Garvey hit a two-run homer to make it 3–0 in the bottom of the first.

Eventual World Series co-MVP Pedro Guerrero got the Dodgers on the board first with a homer in the bottom of the fifth.

Bill Russell drove in the second run for Los Angeles in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single.

With two out, Tony Scott hit a single to let that scored Puhl and brought up José Cruz.

[19] Nolan Ryan was brought in on clinching day to win the Astros their first ever postseason series.

He drew a leadoff flyout before Dusty Baker managed to get a walk to first base and Steve Garvey advanced him to third on a single.

In the end, Reuss went the distance again and pitched a brilliant five-hit shutout to put the Dodgers in the 1981 National League Championship Series.

In addition, the Dodgers avenged their loss to the Astros the previous year in a one-game playoff for the NL West title.

1981 NLDS (3–2): Los Angeles Dodgers over Houston Astros In the other division series, the first ever MLB postseason game in Canada featured the Expos, participating for the first time in post-season play (they would not make the playoffs again until 31 years later, as the Washington Nationals), would have to defeat the defending World Champions, the Philadelphia Phillies.

Gullickson was masterful, allowing only one run (on Pete Rose's RBI single in the eighth after a two-out double by Lonnie Smith) and six hits in 7+2⁄3 innings.

Ray Burris was called on in the potential clincher against Larry Christenson, hoping to keep the Phillies alive.

In the second, Chris Speier's amazing postseason continued with another RBI single to give the Expos the lead.

In the bottom of the tenth, George Vukovich would walk the game off with a leadoff homer off Jeff Reardon.

In what proved to be the series-winning hit, Rogers singled to center, scoring Larry Parrish and Chris Speier.