On Sept. 18, 2006, the Los Angeles Dodgers put together one of the greatest comebacks in franchise and Major League Baseball. Against the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers combined for four consecutive solo home runs to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Nomar Garciaparra capped off the improbable series of events with a walk-off two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th. San Diego broke a 4-4 tie in the eighth by pushing across two runs.
Los Angeles answered back with one in the bottom half of the inning, but the Padres then scored three in the ninth to extend their lead to 9-5. Considering it wasn’t a save situation, the Padres turned to reliever Jon Adkins.
He was lifted in favor of Trevor Hoffman after surrendering back-to-back home runs to Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew.
Hoffman was immediately tagged for back-to-back homers by Russell Martin and Marlon Anderson, both of whom swung at the first pitch they saw. Even after blowing their lead, San Diego scored a run to re-gain the lead in the 10th.
Having already burned their closer, the Padres called on Rudy Seanez to finish out the game. He walked Kenny Lofton with one out, then surrendered the game-winning home run to Garciaparra.
The Dodgers’ memorable comeback was voted as Vin Scully’s No. 15 call of all-time in a recent poll conducted by the organization.
Garciaparra still with Dodgers
Retirement has seen Garciaparra working as a Dodgers broadcaster on SportsNet LA, with regular appearances in their studio as an analyst and occasionally joining Joe Davis in the booth as well.
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