Murphy's Night


Daniel Murphy stood tallest among the Mets batters in Thursday night's NLDS-deciding win over the Dodgers. The veteran 2nd baseman had a big hand in all three of his club's runs: he drove in Curtis Granderson with a 1st inning double. Three innngs later -- in the most daring play of the night -- he noticed that all the L.A. fielders were out of position and stole 3rd base while advancing on Lucas Duda's walk. Travis d'Arnaud then brought him home on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2.
My pal Dennis reminded me that Murph stole a base -- again taking advantage of fielders not paying attention -- right in front of where we sat during our trip to Wrigley back in May.
And in the 6th inning came the biggest hit of his Mets career -- a line drive home run off Zack Greinke into Dodger Stadium's right field stands that put his side ahead to stay.
It's not fair to downplay the pitching -- Jacob de Grom gutting it out over six innings despite not having dominating stuff, Noah Syndergaard with a solid 7th inning and Jeurys Familia closing it out over the final two innings. But this was Murphy's night.
Tally that up, one scored, one driven in and the last one all his own, as the Mets advance and the Dodgers wonder how it all slipped away.
Next stop, Wrigley.
These images of Murphy are from August 2012 at Citizens Bank Park, May 2015 aginst the Cubs at Wrigley, and September's Subway Series at Citi Field.

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