September 25, 2006
Nomar Gibson
Despite a gammy leg, Nomar Garciaparra hit two game winning home runs in the space of a week:
If this were July, Nomar Garciaparra probably wouldn't be playing because of a sore left quadriceps that has bothered him for more than a week.
Fortunately for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he's helping them battle for a playoff berth.
Garciaparra provided the heroics for the second time in a span of seven games, hitting a grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the ninth yesterday to giving the Dodgers a much-needed, 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"I tried to get a good pitch, was able to get one. I'm just glad and thankful I was able to do this," said Garciaparra, who hit a 2-1 pitch from Luis Vizcaino over the left-centerfield fence for his 19th homer.
By winning their regular-season home finale, the Dodgers remained 1 ½ games behind the NL West-leading San Diego Padres and a half-game back of the Phillies in the wild-card race.
Just last Monday night, Garciaparra hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning to give Los Angeles an 11-10 victory over San Diego after the Dodgers matched a major league record by hitting four consecutive homers in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game.
"He could barely run," Dodgers manager Grady Little said. "With what he's giving us out there in his condition is just outstanding."
He's only hitting .224 in September, but 10 of his 17 hits went for extra-bases, and he's driven in 21 runs in 20 games. He's 7 for 18 with men in scoring position (.389) and seven of his ten extra-base hits came with men on base.
Posted by David Pinto at
08:15 AM
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