The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a lot of memorable playoff moments, and one of them was provided by Juan Uribe against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the 2013 National League Division Series, which comes in at No. 8 in DodgerBlue.com’s best moments from the past decade list.
The Dodgers went into the game with a 2-1 series lead and opted to start ace Clayton Kershaw on short rest instead of risking it going to a decisive Game 5 back in Atlanta. After going on a historic 42-8 run to win the NL West, a loss in the NLDS would have been extremely disappointing for a team with championship aspirations.
Kershaw came through with his best out of the postseason, allowing just three hits and two runs (zero earned) in six innings. It was the Braves that led late though, taking a 3-2 advantage into the bottom of the eighth inning.
As Braves All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel warmed up in the bullpen and waited to come into the game, Yasiel Puig got a rally started with a leadoff double.
Uribe then stepped to the plate and attempted to bunt the tying run over to third, although he was unsuccessful in two attempts. That ended up being for the best as he proceeded to launch a 2-2 hanging breaking ball into the Dodgers’ bullpen for a game-winning, two-run home run.
That was enough for Kenley Jansen as he came in and struck out the side in the ninth, sending the Dodgers to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2009.
That was as far as the Dodgers would go, being defeated by the St. Louis Cardinals in six games in the NLCS after star shortstop Hanley Ramirez was hit in the ribs in Game 1, leaving L.A.’s offense without its most impactful bat.
Uribe played for the Dodgers in parts of five seasons, but that 2013 campaign was one of his best. He slashed .278/.331/.438 with 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 132 games. That home runs to beat the Braves was certainly his most impactful hit in a Dodger uniform and will be remembered as such for a long time.
Top Dodgers moments of the previous decade
No. 9: Dodgers clinch NL West title in 2013
No. 10: Adrian Gonzalez hits home run in first at-bat with Dodgers
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