One hundred and sixty-seven games and it call came down to a costly mistake.
The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped a heartbreaker in Game 5 of the National League Division Series 3-2 on Thursday Night as the New York Mets advanced to the NLCS for the first time since 2006.
Daniel Murphy did all the damage for the Mets, knocking in two runs and scoring the game-tying run on the most bizarre of plays:
With the Dodgers leading 2-1 and Murphy on first base, Zack Greinke issued a walk to Mets slugger Lucas Duda. Murphy casually walked to first, but smartly saw LA's infield was in a shift and nobody was covering third base. Murphy touched the bag at second and took off for third stealing the base easily.
Daniel Murphy only had 2 SB in 2015, but he sneaks one in after a walk to Lucas Duda to set up tying run for Mets — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 16, 2015
One batter latter, Murphy would score on a sacrifice fly to right field, tying the winner-take-all game at 2-2.
Sports
Two innings later, he would hit the go-ahead home run that would send the Mets to the NLCS against the Chicago Cubs.
After two consecutive postseasons saw the Dodgers eliminated with Clayton Kershaw on the mound, Greinke was finally given the chance to extend the Dodgers season in a winner-take-all single elimination game.
Greinke struggled in the first inning, surrendering an RBI double to Murphy to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead.
The Dodgers struck back in the bottom half of the inning off 2014 NL Rookie of the Year, Jacob DeGrom. DeGrom was unhittable in Game 1 of the series, but allowed four singles in the first, and LA came roaring back to take the lead.
Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier made a diving catch in the second inning to save a run for Los Angeles, but was seen arguing with manager Don Mattingly in the bottom half of the third inning, for not advancing Justin Turner who led off the inning with a double.
The Dodgers would not score another run after the first inning, and the Mets would celebrate thanks to Murphy's heroics. Murphy's solo home run in the sixth inning joins him with Darry Stawberry and Ray Knight as the only Mets to homer in a winner-take-all game.
Mets to HR in a winner-take-all game: Darryl Strawberry, Ray Knight, Daniel Murphy — ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 16, 2015
The Mets advance to their first NLCS since 2006, where after defeating the Dodgers in the NLDS, they fell to the St. Louis Cardinals who would go on to win the World Series that year.
