It didn’t take long for Daniel Murphy to continue his epic postseason performance in Game 2 on Tuesday night of the National League Championship Series.
The free agent to be, ripped a laser off Cubs starter Jake Arrieta in the first inning for his fifth home run of the playoffs to put the Mets ahead for good on their way to a 4-1 victory and a 2-0 series lead as the NLCS shifts to Chicago.
“For me my at-bat started long before that with Grandy with the base hit, and David puts a good swing on that ball. And all of a sudden you look up after eight to ten pitches and we’ve got a 1 0 lead.”
“I’m really looking to hook something to the second baseman or first baseman. I think I got a cutter that I pulled foul, a heater away that I didn’t go on, it was close, then a breaking ball that I was just able to keep fair.”
Murphy’s home run total is now tied for the Mets all-time postseason home run record, matching the five hit by Mike Piazza, who needed 22 post season games to accomplish the feat. Murphy did it in seven.
“You never think that you’re going to be fortunate enough to be on a ballclub like this. You dream of it, to be able to go to work with 24 men in there that are absolutely awesome guys, and I think we’re having a lot of fun right now.”
Murphy’s five home runs this postseason are a new Mets single-postseason record, surpassing the previous record of four set by Carlos Delgado in 2006, Mike Piazza in 2000 and Rusty Staub in 1973.
He has now homered in four consecutive games, also a new franchise record, surpassing the previous record held by Donn Clendenon, who homered in three straight postseason game from Games 2-5 of the 1969 World Series.
Asked how he feels about the way he’s impacted the team with his early home runs giving the Mets a quick lead in the first two games of the series, Murphy spread the credit around.
“I think I heard David talking about Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta, and trying to kind of jump out to a lead. Then also with the way that Noah has thrown the ball, and the way Matt threw the ball yesterday with our pitching staff, you feel if you can strike early, you can settle into the game.”
“And as we saw today and yesterday, they just keep throwing up zeros. Our pitching staff throws up zeros and it gives us an opportunity to try to extend the lead.”
Murphy said he was shocked when they walked him to pitch to Yoenis Cespedes. “Ces hit 35 bombs this year, I was surprised. And he comes up and puts a great AB on them right there…Smokes one in the hole.”
“This is a good group. I think we’re having a whole bunch of fun right now, and we’re going to enjoy this win tonight, enjoy the day off tomorrow, and I’m very excited about having Jake go for Game 3 right now.
With each swing of the bat, Murphy has been a catalyst for the Mets this postseason, literally carrying the team on his back at times. And even more remarkable has been his play in the field which TBS broadcaster Ernie Johnson alluded to last night, “I thought the knock on this guy was his glove? He’s been superb in the field.”
That’s the kind of postseason it’s been for Murph.
(Info graphic by ESPN Stats and Info)
