by Cary Osborne
On Friday, hours before Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, Justin Turner answered questions during a Zoom call with reporters.
Just below the left sleeve of his blue T-shirt, the skin on his bicep and triceps was black and blue.
The next day, in the eighth inning of Game 5, Turner was spiked in the left knee by Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman sliding into second base. Freeman was noticeably concerned, gritting his teeth. After being asked by the second base umpire about his own well being, Freeman could be seen mouthing the words: “No, I’m just worried about him.”
Turner has been beat up since late August. On Aug. 22, he was hit by a pitch in the left hamstring. Then he strained the same hamstring stealing second base on Aug. 28. He missed the first half of September with the injuries and didn’t play third base again until the final week of the regular season.
But this is an important season for the 35-year-old Dodger third baseman.
Often, he has spoke about the importance of winning a World Series championship for the team he grew up rooting for, for the team who gave him a chance when he was cut loose by the New York Mets after the 2013 season and for the city he loves.
The desire goes beyond what words can describe.
So an action might have done that in Game 7 of the NLCS.
In one of the shakiest moments of the game for the Dodgers, down 3–2 with one out and Atlanta’s Austin Riley on second base and Dansby Swanson on third base, Nick Markakis grounded to Turner at third base.
The veteran third baseman threw home to catcher Will Smith, who chased Swanson back toward third base. Smith tossed back to Turner, who chased Swanson the other way. Turner dove and lunged at Swanson, dusting him with his glove for the out. Without hesitation, after crashing on the Globe Life Field surface, Turner turned back and threw to Corey Seager covering third base. Seager tagged a charging Riley out at third base.
The Dodgers got out of the inning when Blake Treinen induced the next batter, Cristian Pache, to ground out.
“The acumen that Justin has with baseball, just to understand that there’s the trail runner, to get Riley at third base too was just huge,” said manager Dave Roberts.
Seager, who broke for third base when the rundown started, said after the tag there wasn’t any communication from him to invite the throw from Turner — showing just how quick Turner’s mind alertly worked during the play.
“JT is a baseball savvy guy,” Seager said. “He just sees the field so well and what he did right there in that moment, it was a lot of fun. It’s really cool to be a part of.”
Turner might have had just one eye on the play after tagging Swanson. When he got up to make the throw, his cap was tilted with the bill at a 45-degree angle covering part of his face.
After the second out was recorded, Turner limped and grimaced. He stayed in the entire game.
There was another Turner moment in the game that will get less notice, but was nonetheless meaningful.
In the third inning with the Dodgers trailing 2–0 against Atlanta starter Ian Anderson, who to that point was working on 18 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the postseason, Turner stepped in the batter’s box with two outs.
Turner fell behind 1–2, but battled back, eventually earning an eight-pitch walk.
Max Muncy followed with a double. Then Smith drove both home with a single.
Turner has made a career out of being one of the most clutch performers in Dodger postseason history. He owns franchise postseason records for most hits and RBI and is tied for second for most hits. The only walk-off home run of his career came in the postseason.
Yet in a game the Dodgers won 4–3, it wasn’t a clutch Turner hit that was the difference maker. It was smarts, grit and desire.
"along" - Google News
October 20, 2020 at 01:11AM
https://ift.tt/2Hh3627
Turner has his big play to go along with the big hits in his postseason history - mlblogs.com
"along" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2z4LAdj
https://ift.tt/35rGyU8
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Turner has his big play to go along with the big hits in his postseason history - mlblogs.com"
Post a Comment