Los Angeles Dodgers: Andre Ethier’s three most clutch hits

Andre Ethier may not be a Hall of Famer but he sure is a fan favorite for the Los Angeles Dodgers. On Friday, the Dodgers honor Ethier’s 12-year Dodger career.

On Friday, August 3, the Los Angeles Dodgers will hold a retirement ceremony for former outfielder Andre Ethier. Acquired in a trade in March of 2006, Ethier forged a 12-year major league career all with the Dodgers.

A two-time All-Star Ethier won a Golden Glove and Silver Slugger award with the Dodgers, and among Dodgers who only played in Los Angeles he is in the top ten career rankings for games, hits, home runs and run batted in.

One of Ethier’s signature traits during his career was his ability to come up with clutch hits. Ethier won the “2009 MLB Clutch Performer of the Year Award Presented by Pepsi,” when he led the majors with six walk-off hits and tied the major league record with 4 walk-off home runs.

His 2009 magic forever cemented Ethier as “Captain Clutch” in the eyes of Dodgers fans. Unfortunately for Ethier, his last few years with the Dodgers were marred by injuries limiting him to just 56 games the last two seasons.

Despite the injuries Ethier still found some magic in his bat, three clutch hits in the twilight of his career showed Ethier’s fight even at the end.

3. 2016 NLDS, Game Four

Down 2 games to 1 in the National League Divisional Series and facing elimination at home, the Dodgers called on Clayton Kershaw on three days rest to get them to a do or die game five and save their season. Facing the Washington Nationals and with a 5-2 lead in the seventh inning, the Dodgers pitching blew the lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning with a runner on first Andre Ethier came up with two outs needing something positive to keep the inning going. Ethier delivered a clutch single to put the runner in scoring position. The next batter Chase Utley also singled scoring the go-ahead run for the Dodgers.

The run held up and the Dodgers won the game, they would win game five and the series but that doesn’t happen unless Ethier keeps the inning alive with his clutch hit.

2. 2017 NLCS, Game Three

Despite only playing 22 games all year manager Dave Roberts decided he wanted Ethier’s bat in the lineup. Against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series Ethier was given a start in game three.

With the team down 1-0 after one inning, Ethier lead off the second inning. On the second pitch, Ethier hit a laser over the right-field fence, tying the game. After that home run, the Dodgers offense was jump-started and they won the game 6-1.

The win gave the Dodgers a commanding 3-0 lead in the series that they would win in five, Ethier’s big moment helped him and the Dodgers go to the World Series for the first time in 29 years.

2017 World Series, Game Seven

The back and forth series against the American League champion Houston Astros came down to one last game. Unfortunately, the Dodgers left their bats at home as they found themselves down 5-0 in the sixth; having left eight men on base over the first five innings.

In what turned out to be the last at-bat of his career. Ethier plated the only Dodgers run of the game in the bottom of the six. Though a disappointing end there can be no better example of just what Ethier meant to the Los Angeles Dodgers than having a moment in the World Series.