It was considered one of the best-pitched seven-game series of the modern era, featuring three 1–0 finishes and four shutouts, as well as four one-run games.
Wednesday, October 9, 1991 (8:41 pm EDT) at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh The Pirates proved they would be tough to eliminate early when they stifled the Braves offense behind 1990 Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek and won the first game 5–1.
Pittsburgh center fielder Andy Van Slyke's first-inning home run off of 1991 Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine put them up 1–0.
The Pirates scored their last run in the eighth on Jose Lind's bases-loaded sacrifice fly off of Mike Stanton.
However, Avery and the Braves would come out on top 1–0, after David Justice singled to lead off and Mark Lemke picked up a double and the only RBI of the game in the sixth inning.
The win snapped a 10-game postseason losing streak for the Braves franchise that began with Game 5 of the 1958 World Series, when the team was still in Milwaukee.
Orlando Merced hit Smoltz's first pitch over the right field wall for a home run, but in the bottom of the first, two-out doubles by Ron Gant, David Justice and Brian Hunter put the Braves up 2–1 before Greg Olson's two-run homer to left made it 4–1.
In the top of the eighth, Alejandro Peña struck out Jay Bell with the bases loaded to end the Pirates' last threat.
The Pirates tied the series with a run in the top of the tenth when Mike LaValliere, off of Mark Wohlers, singled in Andy Van Slyke, who had stolen second after being walked by Kent Mercker.
Controversy surrounded this game when David Justice appeared to score on a single to left, but he seemed to miss third base and was called out on an appeal.
Replays were inconclusive, but Justice did stumble over third base, and the umpires called him out, preserving Smith's shutout.
Although Bob Walk was masterful in middle relief, it was too little, too late, even though he pulled his groin trying to help his cause attempting to stretch a single into a double in the bottom of the seventh.