Readers vote the Dodgers hitting four straight homers against the Padres the 13th greatest moment in Dodger history.
â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â â [Los Angeles Times] Dodgers Dugout March 25, 2021
[View in browser]( Hi, and welcome to another edition of Dodgers Dugout. My name is Houston Mitchell, and the greatest moment countdown continues Iâm assuming everyone knows how this works by now, so Iâm going to drop the explanatory introduction to these. If you need a reminder, click on any of the Nos. 20-25 greatest moments below. Up next is a classic home run, home run, home run, home run moment. Enjoying this newsletter? Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. [Become a Los Angeles Times subscriber.]( ADVERTISEMENT
No. 13: Dodgers hit four straight homers against Padres (82 first-place votes, 7,552 points)
[Four straight homers by the Dodgers.] [Watch the Dodgers hit four straight homers here.]( As the 2006 season neared its end, the Dodgers and San Diego Padres were neck-and-neck for the NL West lead. The night of Sept. 18, 2006, they were facing each other with the Padres clinging to a half-game lead in the division. Whoever won would be in first place with about 12 games to go in the season. The Padres had a 9-5 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. The Padres had Jon Adkins on the mound, but if the Dodgers even hinted at threatening, San Diego could always bring in Trevor Hoffman, one of the best closers in the game. The Dodger Stadium crowd started to empty out, when Jeff Kent led off the inning with the homer. Kent: âI was trying to get my mind ready for Hoffman. I was surprised he didnât come in after my hit.â Nice, but it was still 9-6. The next batter, J.D. Drew, also homered, making it 9-7. Drew: âWe were still down three runs when I came up, so I was just trying to put a good swing on it. It went out of the park, so I guess I put a good swing on it.â Suddenly, some of those fans who were leaving rushed back to their seats. Padres Manager Bruce Bochy made the call everyone was expecting, bringing in Hoffman. No way the Dodgers would score two more runs. Not off Hoffman. Russell Martin hit Hoffmanâs first pitch over the left-field fence. 9-8 Padres. Martin: âThe other day, he threw me a fastball, first pitch, belt-high. I didnât hit it. I was hoping I would get to see that pitch again. He threw me pretty much the same pitch. I didnât miss it.â Up to the plate stepped Marlon Anderson. Acquired at the Aug. 31 trade deadline, Anderson had already homered once in the game. The odds of a player homering twice in one game, and that homer being the fourth consecutive his team had hit in the bottom of the ninth must have been about a gajillion to one. (Gajillion is a technical term, donât look it up). Anderson swung at the first pitch. Bang. Home run. 9-9. Anderson: âWhat are the chances? Four in a row in a baseball game? Itâs definitely the greatest game Iâve ever played in.â Hoffman retired the next three batters (for the record, Julio Lugo was the man who had the chance to make it five in a row), sending the game into extra innings. The Dodgers brought in Aaron Sele to pitch the 10th, and he gave up a double, a walk and a single to put the Padres ahead again, 10-9, going into the bottom of the inning. Well, four in a row was nice, but it doesnât mean much if you donât win the game. Rudy Seañez, a former Dodger, pitched the 10th inning for the Padres. He walked Kenny Lofton, then faced Nomar Garciaparra. Bang. Home run. Dodgers win, 11-10, and move into first place. Garciaparra: âWhen I was rounding the bases, I couldnât wait to get home and hug everybody. It was like a group hug, because it was a group effort.â The crowd was electric, no one wanted to leave, the stadium remain packed 20 minutes after the game and ushers had to plead with people to go home. Even Vin Scully, who has seen everything, was stunned. âI walk outside 10 minutes after the game and it seemed like every single driver of every single car was blowing their horn. It sounded like V-J Day.â Excerpts of his play-by-play during the ninth and 10th innings: Ninth inning, after home runs by Kent and Drew. âWhat is that line? Do not go gentle into that good night. Well the Dodgers have decided they are not gonna go into that good night without howling and kicking, and Bruce Bochyâs going out to the mound to find out whatâs going on. So Jon Adkins is banished in a hurry, home runs by Kent and Drew, but of course the Padres still have a two-run lead, and all of a sudden, it is Trevor time.... âHe has been absolutely magnificent against everybody, but especially the Dodgers. He is 55 for 57 in his career. He has saved 24 straight, and the last time Trevor Hoffman had a blown save against the Dodgers was in April, five years ago. âAnd a drive into left-center by Martin, that ball is carrying, into the seats! Three straight home runs! âHigh and out. For Trevor Hoffman, he had allowed only two home runs. Russell Martinâs dad is ecstatic [as a camera shows the Martinâs father dancing in the stands], the Dodgers are still a buck short, on home runs by Kent and Drew and Martin. And now Marlon Anderson and Julio Lugo and the pitcherâs spot. And the folks who hung around to ride it out are in for quite a ride. For the Dodgers, five home runs in the game tonight. First time theyâve done that this year. âAnd another drive into high, right-center, at the wall, running and watching it go out, believe it or not! Four consecutive home runs! The Dodgers have tied it up again!â Scully pauses as the crowd roars. âTheyâre coming back in. The people in the parking lot have decided theyâd better come back. And for Marlon Anderson, what a night! Two singles, a triple and two home runs, a five-hit game, and weâre 9-9.... The 10th inning, with the Dodgers down by a run, and Kenny Lofton on first. âNow Garciaparra. And for Bochy, more anxious moments. No lead is big enough. Not four in the first. Not five in the last two innings.... âAnd now Seañez, wild.... Heâs behind three and one, and Bochy is twisting in the wind. âAnd a high fly ball to left field, it is a way out and gone! The Dodgers win it, 11 to 10! âOhh ... un-be-lievable! Scully takes a very long pause as the team celebrates at home plate and the fans go crazy. âI forgot to tell you. The Dodgers are in first place.â Previous greatest moments No. 14: [Sandy Koufaxâs shutout in Game 7 of the 1965 World Series]( No. 15: [Dodgers win 1981 World Series]( No. 16: [Roy Campanella Night]( No. 17: [Rick Mondayâs 1981 NLCS home run]( No. 18: [Rick Monday saves the flag]( No. 19: [Winning the 1988 World Series]( [No. 20: Winning the 1959 World Series]( [No. 21: Sandy Amorósâ catch in 1955 World Series]( [No. 22: Cody Bellingerâs catch in 2020 NLDS]( [No. 23: Justin Turnerâs walkoff homer in 2017 NLCS]( [No. 24: Sandy Koufax strikes out 15 in 1963 World Series Game 1]( [No. 25: Mike Sciosciaâs 1988 NLCS homer]( And finally Shawn Green has a monster day at the plate. [Watch it here](. Until next time... Have a comment or something youâd like to see in a future Dodgers newsletter? Email me at houston.mitchell@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at [@latimeshouston](. To get this newsletter in your inbox, [click here](. ADVERTISEMENT
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