August 15th, 2013 at 7:45 am 
by Ron Cervenka We’ve all seen it. In fact, we’ve all seen it a hundred times or more. It’s as much a part of our memory banks as that little saying the we learned as kids to help us remember when Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
I am, of course, referring to that brief moment in time when we saw the brake lights come on in the background behind the Right Field Pavilion at Dodger Stadium when Kirk Gibson hit his historic walk-off home run in game-1 of the 1988 World Series. That moment in time where every one of us can almost hear the guy in that car say “What? Are you kidding me?” (or perhaps some other choice words) as he slammed on his brakes upon hearing Vin Scully’s immortal words “High fly ball into right field… She is gone!”
Nobody wants to be ‘That Guy.’
Well, it happened yet again at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night – another ‘brake lights in the parking lot’ moment; just as it did last Friday night when the Dodgers mounted an epic 9th-inning come-from-behind victory to overcome a six-run deficit to beat the Tampa Bay Rays on a walk-off error; just as it did on Sunday, July 28 when Yasiel Puig hit his first career walk-off home run in the 11th inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds.
This time it was a two-run pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 9th inning by Andre Ethier against the New York Mets to tie the game 4-4, followed by back-to-back doubles by Puig and Adrian Gonzalez in the bottom of the 12th inning for yet another walk-off win, the sixth of the season for the Dodgers, giving them a 5-4 win over the Mets and a franchise record-setting 12th consecutive one-run victory – not to mention their second consecutive series sweep and their eighth sweep of the season; oh, and their eighth win in a row for their longest winning streak since May 9-18, 2010.
Adrian Gonzalez’s dramatic walk-off double in the 12th inning never would have happened were it not for Andre Ethier’s clutch pinch hit 2-run home run in the bottom of the 9th. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
“I can’t explain it but it’s kind of fun,” said Dodger manager Don Mattingly after Wednesday night’s dramatic win. “So many good things today, I need my card here to figure everything that’s happened today, but a lot of good things.”
If the 2013 Dodgers have taught us anything they have taught us that you never… ever… ever leave before the final out is recorded – even if they are trailing by as many as six runs. If you do, you are running the risk of being ‘that guy’ – that ‘brake lights in the parking lot’ guy.
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@Think_BlueLA Was it Kanye? He left in the 8th before Ethier went Kirk Gibson
Now that’s funny right there.
Ya think the “trade Ethier” chants will stop? We are so blessed to have the depth we possess. I feel a little sorry for Donnie who will have to find time for everyone once Matt comes back, but what a great problem to have. And, if you think that’s a problem, how about next year when Billz and Beckett are back?
Boy are things looking up!
I think those chants have stopped to trade Ethier. He has played such an important role in this run. With a brittle but talented starting lineup, I think it is no longer a luxury to have an extra top-rung outfielder. You are only one twisted ankle from disaster. Either has proved flexible in playing all outfield spots over this run which will serve him well. I can see him being moved around the outfield to spell mostly Kemp but CC as well (please Donnie no more Puig in CF for right now, my heart can’t take it). If we can afford ourselves the luxury to think about a DH in an American League park at some point in the near future, he provides even more flexibility to play your pitching matchups.
I have to admit that down 4-1 as sleep crept in, it crossed my mind to go to bed. With the Tampa Bay comeback, I did go to bed before the drama played out. I watch in CST so it makes for some late nights but this historic run keeps in the back of your mind that they can come back at any point and more importantly that THEY believe they can do it. On the flip side of this streak, my wife is now getting a little tired of me waking her up with my walk-off celebrations in the bottom of 9th at 1 in the morning. hahaha!
RT @Think_BlueLA: New post – Another ‘brake lights in the parking lot’ moment at Dodger Stadium: http://t.co/jhti9mlixS #Dodgers #Dodgerfam
I’m always worried about something wrong will happen when things are going good but I must agree that the Dodgers are embedding in my mind to always remember that the game’s not over until the last man is out.
There’s always hope that anything can happen after each pitch and it’s hard to believe people actually turn their backs or leave while the game is still in progress. I believe that there will be less people heading for the parking lot and less brake lights needed to go on.
Yes, I for one did indeed turn off the game thinking it was over. Then again, at my age, that ninth inning comes after my bedtime with increasing frequency these days no matter the score.
But I am thankful to my childhood buddy’s father who each summer would treat his son and a couple of his friends to a game. I recall one game that was like 8-1 in favor of the opposition come the ninth inning. We all just wanted to go home and the father said “Hey, I paid for nine innings and by God, we are going to get our money’s worth!” One of those habits that stuck with me.
I do feel sorry for the press guys during those kinds of games. I happened to be in the press box back in 2009 when the Dodgers came back in the 9th against the Phillies. I happened to be seated next to a couple of the Philadelphia beat writers. They had already seemed to have written their articles about the brilliance of Jamie Moyer and Brad Lidge. SO the Dodgers win it with 2 out in the ninth and I head down to the locker room. Afterwards, I headed back up to the press box to get something I left behind. May have been close to midnight. Those poor schmos were still hacking away. My hunch is those NY Post guys may still be typing.