In dramatic fashion, it was a game-winning walk-off homer bombed by Long Beach native Justin Turner that gave the Los Angeles Dodgers a 4-1 victory in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs Sunday.
Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth and … Justin Turner? You bet. @stephapstein explain her three thoughts off a wild Game 2 https://t.co/7EGdbBP8Bf
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) October 16, 2017
With two outs in the ninth inning, Turner’s three-run homer put the Dodgers two wins away from the World Series, a place they haven’t been since the 1988. Turner’s hit came on the 29th anniversary of Kirk Gibson’s pinch-hit home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series.
Afterward, Turner told Sam Ryan of TBS he recalled watching the NBC telecast of the game at his grandmother’s house as a 3-year-old.
Look. I have nothing against Justin Turner…except for the fact that he just hit a damn walk-off homer against my Cubs
— Adam Cheek (@ancheek3) October 16, 2017
With Sunday’s victory, the Dodgers head to Wrigley Field on Tuesday with a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series against the Cubs.
Justin Turner is the first Dodgers player to hit a walk off home run in the post season since Kirk Gibson pic.twitter.com/PIvoAThvvN
— Dodgers Talk (@LaDodgersTalk) October 16, 2017
JUSTIN TURNER WALKS IT OFF! WOW! Dodgers up 2-0 in the #NLCS ⚾ pic.twitter.com/Ima9uWykhD
— CityCynic📎🐜 (@CityCynic) October 16, 2017
Turner’s home run came after Yasiel Puig walked leading off the ninth and moved to second on Charlie Culberson’s sacrifice bunt. After Kyle Farmer struck out for the second out, John Lackey relieved Brian Duensing.
Lackey walked the first batter he faced, Chris Taylor, on a full count, then allowed Turner’s home run on a 1-0 pitch.
Kenley Jansen, the last of five Dodger pitchers, was credited with the victory, pitching a hitless ninth, striking out two batters before a capacity crowd announced at 54,479.
The Dodgers limited the Cubs to three hits, none after pitcher Jon Lester’s single with two outs in fifth.
Duensing, the fourth of five Chicago pitchers, was charged with the loss.
The Cubs opened the scoring when Addison Russell homered leading off the fifth.
The Dodgers tied the score in the bottom of the fifth. Culberson, starting at shortstop for the second consecutive game in place of the injured Corey Seager, doubled, moved to third one out later on Chris Taylor’s ground out and scored on Turner’s single.
The Dodgers threatened to take the lead in eighth.
Cody Bellinger led off with an infield hit when Duensing dropped a throw from first baseman Anthony Rizzo. Bellinger moved to second on Joc Pederson’s sacrifice bunt. Logan Forsythe was intentionally walked. Austin Barnes ended the inning by grounding into a double play.
The Dodger bullpen’s streak of retiring 22 consecutive batters in the series was ended when Rizzo was hit in the right hand by a pitch by Jansen with one out in the ninth. Jansen then struck out Willson Contreras and induced Albert Almora Jr. to ground out to end the inning.
–Staff, City News Service
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