The 1997 National League Division Series (NLDS), the opening round of the 1997 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, September 30, and ended on Friday, October 3, with the champions of the three NL divisions along with a wild card team participating in two best-of-five series.

Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida Game 1 was a matchup between Kirk Rueter and Kevin Brown.

The game was tied 1–1 in the bottom of the ninth inning With the bases loaded, Édgar Rentería singled to right to give the Marlins their first ever postseason win with a walk-off.

Pro Player Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida Shawn Estes faced Al Leiter in an exciting Game 2.

With Robb Nen pitching, the Giants managed to tie the game thanks to a key error by Craig Counsell.

This play would be the defining moment of the series, being replayed many times on highlights, as well as mainstream shows such as Live with Regis and Kathie Lee.

3Com Park at Candlestick Point in San Francisco, California In Game 3, the Giants looked to Wilson Álvarez to keep them alive.

The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fourth, when Jeff Kent hit a home run with one out to make it 1–0 Giants.

Later, however, the Marlins would put the series away when Devon White hit a stunning grand slam into the left field bleachers in the top of the sixth.

Kent would hit another home run in the bottom half, but two RBI doubles by Charles Johnson and Craig Counsell put any hopes of a Giants comeback out of reach.

In response to their team being swept, Giants fans littered the field with garbage as the Marlins players celebrated.

1997 NLDS (3–0): Florida Marlins over San Francisco Giants The Houston Astros finally made it back to the postseason for the first time since the 1986 National League Championship Series.

The game was quiet through the first 2+1⁄2 innings, but, in the bottom of the third, Jeff Blauser hit a three-run homer to put the Braves ahead.

Ramón García walked Javy Lopez to load the bases before first baseman Jeff Bagwell's error on Andruw Jones's ground ball allowed two runs to score and put runners on second and third.