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Daniel Murphy Carries Mets Into NLCS During Game 5 Victory

By Kenneth Teape

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Daniel Murphy was one of many New York Mets that had yet to taste the postseason, as he came to the big leagues in 2008 after the disastrous 2007 collapse. Facing elimination, the Mets had a tall task going up against potential Cy Young candidate Zack Greinke. Greinke was strong throughout much of the night, but one player he could not get out was Murphy, who was not ready to go home.

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Murphy single handedly carried the Mets past Greinke and the Dodgers on Thursday night. The Mets were able to only scratch across seven hits all evening, and three of them came off the bat of Murphy. In the first inning, Murphy got the Mets on the board with a double to left centerfield. Enrique Hernandez fumbled the ball around and Murphy took advantage by taking third base.

He did not score that time, but he would come around to score after his second at-bat in the fourth inning. Murphy started the inning off with a harmless single but would turn it into a turning point in the game. After Yoenis Cespedes flew out, Lucas Duda walked. But, since the Dodgers employ a shift on Duda, Murphy made a heads up play while going to second base. He realized that third baseman Justin Turner had not yet returned to his position, and Murphy took off for third.

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He made it there easy, taking advantage of the Dodgers falling asleep a little bit. Murphy was credited with a steal and it turned out to be a huge play. Travis d’Arnaud would knock Murphy in with a sac fly to tie the game at two runs apiece.

That run proved to be huge, as the Mets were able to take the lead in the sixth inning courtesy of Murphy once again. Murphy launched a home run off Greinke into the right field seats to put the Mets up 3-2. That was the third home run of the series for Murphy, who got to Clayton Kershaw twice previously.

Murphy is scorching hot right now, and is carrying the Mets into the NLCS. He has been clutch at the plate and never gives in during an at-bat with a great approach every time he steps up to the plate. The free agent to be is making a case for a big contract in the offseason; if he continues playing the remainder of the postseason as he did against the Dodgers, he could be adding World Series champion to that free agent resume as well.

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