Los Angeles Dodgers: Justin Turner’s five most memorable moments in LA
By Jason Reed
2. 2018 NLCS Game 2 go-ahead home run
The Milwaukee Brewers proved to be an interesting challenge for the Los Angeles Dodgers, taking the defending National League Champions to seven games and nearly defeating them to move on to face the Boston Red Sox.
The Dodgers did not appear to be at 100 percent, were perhaps a bit worn down from two straight deep playoff runs that also included a grinding regular season where the Dodgers had to come back from a big early deficit in the standings.
The Brewers appeared to be the right team at the right time to take advantage of the Dodgers and move on to the World Series. And in Game 2 of the NLCS, it appeared as if Milwaukee was well on its way to doing so.
The Brewers led 3-2 in the eighth inning and with the team’s stacked bullpen, the Dodgers’ chances seemed slim. Jeremy Jeffress was coming off an all-star season in which he had a 1.29 ERA and five home runs allowed in 76 and two-thirds innings.
The Dodgers were done for, toast. They were going to have to overcome a two-game deficit against a hungry team just to make it to the World Series.
Turner said otherwise as he pulled an inside two-seamer deeeeeep to left field to give the Dodgers a 4-3 win, which ultimately led to them winning Game 2 and stealing a game in Milwaukee.
In the moment, the World Series home run was more memorable because of the circumstances. However, in reflection, the Dodgers probably would not have won their second straight Pennant if Turner would have fouled this fastball back to the net, proving yet again that he has the clutch gene.