Written by James Wagner at New York Times.com
In the 60-year history of the Los Angeles Dodgers, they had celebrated just one walk-off home run in the postseason entering Sunday. It occurred way back in 1988, and it was the legendary, pinch-hit shot that Kirk Gibson hit on wounded legs to capture Game 1 of the World Series.
Now the Dodgers have two. Twenty-nine years to the day that Gibson made history, Justin Turner followed suit, smashing a three-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth that broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Dodgers their second straight victory over the Chicago Cubs and a two-games-to-none lead in their National League Championship Series.
Unlike Gibson, it has taken a while for Turner, a Southern California native, to turn into a major league star, but he is one now, distinctive for his all-around play as a third baseman and for his long red hair and beard. And now he has an emphatic postseason moment to add to his résumé, one almost as good as Gibson’s, which came with the Dodgers one out from losing.
“One of my earliest baseball memories was being at my grandma’s house and watching that game and watching Gibby hit that homer,” said Turner, who will turn 33 next month. “It’s incredible.”
Turner’s home run and romp around the bases was the exclamation point on an ecstatic scene inside Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have not reached the World Series since 1988 when, propelled by the Gibson homer, they beat the Oakland A’s in five games. Now they are halfway to finally making their return.
As for the Cubs, the defending champions, they were left, again, to brood about their bullpen, which has struggled throughout this postseason and could not get Game 2 into extra innings.
In addition, Manager Joe Maddon was left to defend his decision to let John Lackey, a lifelong starter being used as a reliever in this postseason, face the dangerous Turner. In doing so, he passed over his All-Star closer, Wade Davis, who got a tough, seven-out save in the deciding game of the Cubs’ division series against the Washington last Thursday and has not pitched since.
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