In case you missed it, your Houston Astros had quite a time Sunday. The best news: They win the division series and advance to the National League Championship Series, only one step from the Big One. After being left for dead in the division earlier in the year, the Astros picked themselves up and headed for the wildcard spot and a face-off with the Atlanta Braves in the Division Series.

That meeting culminated in an epic six hour, record-setting eighteen inning, two grand slam battle royal at Minute Maid Park on Sunday. If you witnessed, either in person, or as I did, on television/radio the entire spectacle, you could not help but be amazed. The Astros looked lifeless through seven innings of play, appearing destined for a game five in Atlanta to decide the series winner.

After giving up a grand slam early, the Astros needed a lift late in the game, which Lance Berkman provided when he swung for his own slam in the eighth. Suddenly the crowd came back to raucous life as the hometown boys were down by just a run. The drama continued in the ninth with two outs and Ausmus at the plate.

Incredibly, Ausmus smacked a high fly ball to left center that hit just barely above the yellow line on the wall denoting a home run, tying the game in dramatic fashion. That 6-6 score would last for quite some time to come as the pitching duel began anew in the tenth inning, with both teams gearing up for the long haul. That haul would be much longer than anyone thought, however, with the game setting a new record for post-season play with eighteen total innings entering the books. Roger Clemens would even be called on to make only his second career relief appearance before the final swing sent Houston fans and players home tired and happy.

And what a swing it was. Rookie Chris Burke came up to the plate in the eighteenth and got a pitch to hit. It was hit well enough, in fact, to reach the Crawford Boxes and send the Astros to a stunning 7-6 victory and a series win (3-1) over the Atlanta Braves. Few, if any, fans appeared to have left the packed ballpark during the six hour marathon, and they were richly rewarded with one of the most dramatic games in recent memory. Certainly one for Houston sports lore.

Now it’s on to the Championship Series. Bring on the Cardinals!

(Check out the full story at the official Astros site)