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Story of the postseason: Last-AB wins

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

The first of many late-game celebrations this postseason.Through the conclusion of the 2014 ALCS and NLCS, there have been 11 games that were decided in the winning team’s last at-bat.

The Elias Sports Bureau notes that the 11 wins ties the wild-card era mark (and naturally the all-time record) for the most last at-bat wins in a single postseason, set previously in 1995 and tied in 1996 and 2004 (The definition of a last at-bat win is when the winning run is scored by a team in their final inning at the plate).

For those who don't remember them all, here's the full list. Share your thoughts in the comments section on which ones were the best.

Tuesday, September 30-- AL Wild Card Game: Royals 9, Athletics 8 (12)

The Royals trailed 7-3 entering the eighth inning, but scored three runs in the eighth and tied the game on Nori Aoki’s sacrifice fly in the ninth. After the A’s took the lead in the 12th, Christian Colon’s infield single brought home Eric Hosmer to tie the game and Salvador Perez won it with a walk-off single.

Elias Stat of the Day: The Royals became the first team to overcome a deficit of at least four runs in the eighth inning or later of a postseason winner-take-all game.

Thursday, Oct. 2-- ALDS Game 1: Royals 3, Angels 2 (11)

The game was tied at 2-2 after the fifth inning and stayed that way until the top of the 11th when Mike Moustakas drilled a pitch into the right-field stands for the go-ahead home run. The Royals would win 3-2.

Elias Stat of the Day: It’s the first time in major league history that a player who started in the ninth spot in the batting order hit a go-ahead home run in extra innings of a postseason game.

Friday, Oct. 3-- ALDS Game 2: Orioles 7, Tigers 6

The Tigers led 6-3 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, but their bullpen couldn’t hold the lead. First, Steve Pearce singled home a run and then pinch-hitter Delmon Young cleared the bases with a three-run double to cap a four-run bottom of the eighth. Orioles win 7-6.

Stat of the Day: Young became the first player to have a go-ahead pinch-hit RBI with the bases loaded, with his team trailing in a postseason game since Francisco Cabrera's walk-off single that won Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS for the Atlanta Braves against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Friday, Oct. 3-- ALDS Game 2: Royals 4, Angels 1 (11)

With the score tied, 1-1 entering the top of the 11th, Eric Hosmer gave the Royals more extra-inning magic with a two-run home run for the lead. Perez later added an infield single to score Alex Gordon. The Royals would go on to win 4-1.

Stat of the Day: The Royals became the first team to win three straight extra-inning games in a postseason.

Saturday, Oct. 4-- NLDS Game 2: Giants 2, Nationals 1 (18)

Brandon Belt hits a go-ahead HR in the top of the 18th for the Giants in a 2-1 win. This was in the longest game in playoff history in terms of time at 6 hours, 23 minutes.

Stat of the Day: Winning pitcher Yusmeiro Petit became the first pitcher to throw at least six scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit or fewer in a postseason game since Pedro Martinez came out of the bullpen and threw six no-hit innings for the 1999 Red Sox against the Cleveland Indians.

Saturday, Oct. 4-- NLDS Game 2: Cardinals 4, Dodgers 2

Matt Kemp gave the Dodgers a 3-2 lead with a home run in the bottom of the eighth, helping Los Angeles tie the series.

Stat of the Day: Kirk Gibson hit two postseason go-ahead homers in the eighth inning or later for the 1988 Dodgers. The Dodgers have had two since then-- one by Juan Uribe in 2013 and this one by Kemp.

Friday, October 10--ALCS Game 1: Royals 8, Orioles 6 (10)

Alex Gordon homers to lead off the top of the 10th inning and Mike Moustakas adds a two-run blast later in the frame to give the Royals an 8-5 lead. They would hang on for an 8-6 win.

Stat of the Day: The Royals' four postseason extra-inning wins are the most in a single postseason in major-league history.

Saturday, October 11-- ALCS Game 2: Royals 6, Orioles 4

With the game tied at 4-4 and in the top of the 9th, Alcides Escobar doubled home Terrance Gore to give the Royals the lead. Lorenzo Cain added to the lead and capped the scoring with a RBI single as the Royals won 6-4.

Stat of the Day: This was the ninth straight postseason win for the Royals dating back to 1985. They have now won 11 straight, one shy of the all-time record.

Sunday, October 12-- NLCS Game 2: Cardinals 5, Giants 4

Kolten Wong leads off the bottom of the ninth with a walk-off HR in a 5-4 Cardinals victory.

Elias Stat of the Day: The Cardinals are the first team in major-league history to hit a home run in each of the last three innings of a postseason game.

Tuesday, October 14-- NLCS Game 3: Giants 5, Cardinals 4 (10)

Cardinals reliever Randy Choate’s throwing error on a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the 10th allowed Brandon Crawford to score the winning run from second in a 5-4 Giants win.

Stat of the Day: This was the third time in postseason history that a game ended on a throwing error by the pitcher, the first instance since the Mets beat the Orioles in that manner in 1999.

Thursday, October 16-- NLCS Game 5: Giants 6, Cardinals 3

Travis Ishikawa sends the Giants to the World Series for the third time in five seasons in the bottom of the ninth, with his first career walk-off home run for a 6-3 victory.

Stat of the Day: Ishikawa is the fourth player whose first walk-off homer came in a postseason series clincher, joining Bill Mazeroski, Todd Pratt and Chris Burke.