Without exception, every post season series has a defining moment – that one single moment or play that changes the eventual outcome of the entire series, one way or the other. It could be something as simple as a key Dave Roberts stolen base or something as spectacular as a James Loney grand slam, Jeff Kent and J.D. Drew being thrown out at home plate on the same play, or a Matt Holliday dropped fly ball.

Like many folks, I pegged Reds ace Johnny Cueto’s early departure from game 1 of the 2012 NLDS after only 8 pitches due to a strained oblique and Sam LeCure’s and Mat Latos’ remarkable emergency substitution performances that led to a unlikely 5-2 Reds win as the defining moment of the 2012 NLDS, and a huge moment it was. But lo and behold, the true defining moment was actually yet to occur.

In the bottom of the first inning of game 3 with the Reds up two games to none and their eyes clearly set on a 3-game sweep, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips led off the inning with a sharp single to center off of Giants right-hander Ryan Vogelsong. On the 5th pitch to Zack Cozart, the Reds second batter, Phillips was off and running and easily stole second base; easily because the ball got away from likely NL MVP Buster Posey. But instead of remaining at second base after sliding in and having to get back up and be content with being in scoring position with no outs, Phillips decided to test the arm of Posey and attempted to take third. Philips was out by a mile. (I neglected to mention that Posey has successfully thrown out 38 of 87 would-be base stealers this season).

Brandon Phillips is easily tagged out by Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval on what may prove to be the defining moment of the 2012 NLDS. (Photo credit – Michael Keating)

As is usually the case, Phillips’ caught stealing proved to be monumental as Vogelsong unraveled by walking Cozart and gave up consecutive base hits to Joey Votto and Jay Bruce allowing Cozart to score. But when the dust finally settled, Cozart would end up being the only run to score instead of what should have been two. Sure as the sun rises, Vogelsong settled down and the Giants tied the game in the 3rd inning without the benefit of a hit on a hit batsman, a walk, a sac bunt, and a sac fly and the game remained tied at 1-1 after 9 innings of play. Phillips’ base running blunder had, in fact, cost the Reds the win. The game went into extra innings and in true Jonathan Broxton post season style, he had a typical meltdown followed by a not-so-typical Scott Rolen error, thus giving the Giants a 2-1 win.

The defining moment had occurred.

The Giants won game 4 handily with an 8-3 blowout and both the Reds and Giants now find themselves faced with a win-or-go-home game-5 situation. The absolute last thing that the Reds needed was for the Giants to have a huge momentum boost heading into game 5, something that they now clearly have.

The one and only advantage that the Reds have heading into today’s crucial fifth and deciding game is that it will be played at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati instead of AT&T Park – home of the most obnoxious fans in all of baseball.

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Miscellany

• Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier has been named by Major League Baseball and MLB Advanced Media as a finalist for the 2012 Hank Aaron Award, which recognizes the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. Although an absolute long shot to win, fan voting began on Wednesday and will continue through next Tuesday and, for the third straight year, a special panel of Hall of Fame players led by Hank Aaron will join fans in voting for the award, which was established in 1999. Last season, Matt Kemp became the first Dodger to be honored with the Hank Aaron Award.

• On day-2 of Arizona Fall League action, the Mesa Solar Sox suffered their second consecutive loss on Wednesday afternoon at historic Hohokam Stadium getting pounded by the Salt River Rafters 11-3. Although there were no Dodgers prospects in Wednesday’s starting line-up, catching prospect Gorman Erickson entered the game in the 7th inning but struck out in his only plate appearance. He did, however, make several great stops behind the plate. Dodgers pitching prospects Chris Reed and Red Patterson each pitched a scoreless and hitless inning in relief, with Reed hitting the first batter he faced on his very first pitch but then inducing two fly outs and a line out. Patterson walked one batter, had one strikeout, and induced a fly out and a force out.

Red Patterson and Gorman “Griff” Erickson.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)