Hextall had been relegated to watching the playoffs from the bench after giving up a combined 9 goals on 29 shots in his last two regular-season appearances.

Rodriguez posted a 1.86 ERA in 29 regular-season appearances for the Brewers.

Martínez improved his record against the Yankees to 11-10 in 30 regular-season appearances.

The game marked the final regular-season appearance of Walter Payton, the Chicago running back who will retire after 13 years at the conclusion of the playoffs.

Over 13 regular-season appearances for St. Louis in 2011, Jackson pitched 78 innings in which he struck out 51 batters and walked 23.

He had a 4.58 earned run average in 24 regular-season appearances, and he walked the only batter he faced in the first-round series against Minnesota.

Stanton, the Yankees' setup specialist, loves to pitch, as his 349 regular-season appearances over the last five seasons attest.

Jim Konstanty, baseball's best relief pitcher, started for the Phillies after 74 regular-season appearances from the bullpen.

Jacksonville discovered a running game in its last five regular-season appearances.

Tonight, the 41-year-old Abdul-Jabbar will make his final regular-season appearance at the new Garden, having announced last August that he will retire after the season.