Set to report to jail once the postseason ends, Furcal hit a two-out, two-run homer in the 11th inning that sent the Braves over the Houston Astros 4-2 Thursday and tied their NL playoff series at one game each.

With Houston on the verge of a commanding lead, Atlanta rallied from a late two-run deficit to force extra innings. Both teams went to extraordinary means - the Astros looking to go two-up in the best-of-five series, the Braves realizing they needed a split before heading to Minute Maid Park, where Houston has won 18 straight games.

Braves rookie Charles Thomas singled with one out in the 11th off Dan Miceli and stole second. Eli Marrero popped out to the catcher, but Furcal golfed a 1-2 pitch deep into the right-field seats, flipping his bat in the air about halfway down to celebrate his first postseason homer.

Furcal was in court just hours before Game 1, where he was sentenced to 21 days in jail and 28 days in a treatment center for violating probation with his second drunken-driving arrest in four years.

"For me, I come to the ballpark, walk in the stadium and forget about everything," said Furcal, who had three hits and drove in three runs.

His sentence doesn't begin until the Braves' season finishes. Furcal ensured that it won't end with Saturday's Game 3.

"I think he felt just terrible," Cox said. "Today, things worked out good for him. He got the game-winner, and that's a big boost for him."

The Astros routed the Braves 9-3 in Game 1 and were ahead 2-0 going to the seventh with Roy Oswalt on the mound.

But NL East champion Atlanta fought back, overcoming some shaky baserunning - two were thrown out at the plate - and plenty of other wasted chances before Furcal came through.

The Braves outhit the Astros 14-4, holding Houston without a hit for the final 5 1/3 innings.

Realizing the importance of the game, Atlanta kept closer John Smoltz on the mound for three innings, his longest stint since September 2001. The Braves also let Smoltz bat in the bottom of the ninth, and he responded with his first hit since 1999.

Houston brought in closer Brad Lidge in the seventh. He went 2 2/3 innings - his longest outing of the season - but couldn't hold a 2-1 lead, giving up Adam LaRoche's RBI double in the eighth.

"I'm just upset at myself for not getting the job done," Lidge said.

The Astros claimed the wild card by winning 36 of their last 46 games. Manager Phil Garner, who took over at the All-Star break when Jimy Williams was fired, stuck with the win-at-all-costs philosophy.

"We've been doing that for two months," he said. "Every game has been just as important as this game."

Antonio Alfonseca, the last of four Atlanta pitchers, got the win with a perfect 11th. The Braves played the game under protest, contending Garner feigned a problem with the phone line to the Astros bullpen to give Lidge more time to warm up in the seventh. No need for a ruling now.

Houston's Jeff Bagwell homered in the first, his second extra-base hit in as many days. Before this year, he had gone 46 at-bats in the postseason without anything better than a single.

Oswalt, who led the NL with 20 wins, gave up eight hits and a run in 6 2/3 innings.

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