The first six innings of the Astros/Braves game proceeded rather quietly. 1B-R Jeff Bagwell hit a solo home run down the right field line in the first. C-R Raul Chavez led off the third with a home run into the first few rows of seats behind the right field wall. RF-S Lance Berkman took off for second on a pick-off throw in the sixth and was thrown out at second, ending the inning. There were a few routine hits and a couple of walks but no scoring outside of the home runs and no extraordinary defensive plays.

One out into the seventh with the count 2-2 on SS-S Jose Vizcaino, LHP Mike Hampton left the game due to tightness in his left forearm. Atlanta brought in RHP Kevin Gryboski to replace their injured starter, and he completed the inning without incident.

Pinch-hitting for Gryboski in the bottom of the inning, left-handed hitter Dewayne Wise sent a line drive down the right field line. After turning the corner around first, Wise lost his footing, barrel rolled back onto his feet, and continued to second before a throw was made. Rafael Furcal then drove a ground ball through the infield for a single, scoring Wise. Houston Manager Phil Garner then approached the home plate umpire, who went subsequently went over to talk to Atlanta Manager Bobby Cox. The booth crew began speculating that the Astros were unable to reach the bullpen on the dugout phones, a problem that has occurred at Turner Field in the past. A Houston runner, identified as Game 3 starter Brandon Backe, jogged down to the bullpen before Garner initiated a double-switch with Brad Lidge relieving Roy Oswalt and Eric Bruntlett replacing Vizcaino. A couple of times during the exchange someone in the Astros' dugout was shown holding the receiver of one of the wall phones. When the broadcast resumed following the pitching change commercial break, viewers were informed that Cox was officially protesting the game, accusing Houston of manufacturing a delay.

While Lidge struck out Marcus Giles, Furcal stole second during that at-bat. Attempting to throw him out, Chavez fired a ball low and in front of second. However, Kent was standing on the third base side of the bag, so the ball skipped by a sliding Furcal and into center, allowing Furcal to get up and advance to third. During J.D. Drew's at-bat, a ball bounced in the dirt behind the plate and got away from Chavez. Furcal went a quarter of the way down the line, held up, and then charged for home. Chavez recovered the ball quickly and tossed it to Lidge, who was waiting with the tag when Furcal came into home. Consequently, Houston escaped the inning with one run remaining in their lead over the Braves.

John Smoltz took the mound for Atlanta in the eighth and went one-two-three through the Astros' order. Drew led off the bottom of the inning with a line drive hit up the middle that ricocheted off the glove of Lidge. Bruntlett fielded the ball and then made a bad throw to first base, where the ball got past Bagwell but then rebounded back to the first baseman off the dugout fence preventing Drew from gaining an extra base on the mistake. During Chipper Jones' at-bat, Drew was thrown out trying to steal second. Jones walked and then advanced to third when Johnny Estrada knocked a ground ball into right field for a single. Adam LaRoche then hit a high fly ball off the center field wall for a double, scoring Jones and moving pinch-runner Wilson Betemit to third. Betemit took off for home when Andruw Jones made contact, but the ball hopped right to Morgan Ensberg, so Houston was able to make the out at home. Lidge struck out Charles Thomas to end the inning, so the game was tied going into the ninth.

Smoltz pitched a clean inning and then hit for himself, dropping a fly ball into right field for a single. After Furcal bunted him to second, Smoltz advanced to third when Giles grounded out to the right side of the infield. However, Lidge struck out Drew on three pitches, stranding Smoltz.

In his third inning and probably tired after running the bases, Smoltz issued two walks in the tenth but did not allow the Astros to score. Houston pinch-hit for Lidge during the top of the inning, so Dan Miceli took the mound in the bottom of the tenth to pitch a one-two-three inning.

Antonio Alfonseca relieved Smoltz prior to the 11th, sending Carlos Beltran, Bagwell, and Berkman back to the bench. Miceli struck out Andruw Jones before giving up a single to Thomas. After Marrero hit a hit a foul pop-up to Brad Ausmus, Thomas stole second during Furcal's at-bat. Three pitches later, Furcal rendered the steal unnecessary, launching a ball into the right field stands to give the Braves a 4-2 win over Houston with a walk-off home run.

Reports after the game explained that when trying the dugout phone the Astros received a busy signal while on the other end the phone would ring and then no one would be on the other end when it was picked up. Because Atlanta won the game, Cox no longer cared about the protest.

Hampton has experienced similar problems with his arm in the past and believes the condition may have been the result of dehydration. Neither he nor the Braves appear to consider the situation serious, so he will remain available for the duration of Atlanta's season provided his knee trouble does not escalate unbearably.