Everybody loves the long ball, especially when it’s a game-winner – and Justin Turner’s dramatic two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning on Thursday night was about as exciting as it gets. Not only did it help the Dodgers to a 2-1 win over the San Diego Padres but it was the Dodgers first come-from-behind win of the season when trailing after the seventh inning in 47 tries. It also propelled Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw to his 15th win of the season tying him with Johnny Cueto (Reds), Adam Wainwright (Cardinals) and Wily Peralta (Brewers) for the most in the MLB.

But just prior to Turners 397-foot blast into the Left Field Pavilion was an at bat that was every bit as important as Turner’s home run. It was a leadoff high chopper just off the glove of 6′ 5″ Padres pitcher Tyson Ross which the speedy Crawford was able to beat out for an infield single. If it were anyone other than Crawford (or Dee Gordon) the play goes 1-3 for the first out of the inning but instead it put the tying run on first base with the hot-hitting Turner due up next.

Although Justin Turner’s home run proved to be the game-winner, without Carl Crawford’s infield single ahead of him it’s a tied ballgame instead of a 2-1 lead. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Crawford and Turner were basically the last hope for the Dodgers with the .180-hitting A.J. Ellis on-deck and the .203-hitting Miguel Rojas in the hole, thus putting Kershaw at risk of losing his second consecutive game – something that he has not done all season. Turner did not disappoint as he launched Ross’s second pitch, a 97-MPH hanging slider, two rows deep into the LFP.

“That’s one of the most exciting moments of my career right there, one of the biggest hits I’ve ever gotten,” said Turner after the game.

Turner calls his game-winning home run one of the biggest hits of his career. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although Ross suffered the tough loss in what was arguably one of the greatest pitching duels of the season for both clubs, he was absolutely brilliant limiting the Dodgers to only four hits while striking out eight and walking two in his eight strong innings of work. And were it not for that one mistake pitch to Turner, the 2014 All-Star could have easily picked up his 12th win of the season.

“I’ll try to focus on the good things,” said a visibly disappointed Ross in the visitors clubhouse after the game. “The focus moves to the next start.”

Just how good was Kershaw? Well, he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning when he finally surrendered a two-out single to (you guessed it) Tyson Ross. Although Kershaw escaped the inning without any further damage, the Padres finally got to him in the seventh inning after a leadoff single by Padres left fielder Abraham Almonte, a walk by second baseman Jedd Gyorko, a fly ball out by first baseman Tommy Medica that advanced Almonte to third base and an RBI single by catcher Rene Rivera. Although Kershaw would not allow another Padre to reach base, the damage was done and it appeared that Ross was going to beat Kershaw – until the Crawford single and the Turner home run in the bottom of the eighth. In his eight innings of work, Kershaw allowed only the one run and three hits while striking out 10 and walking two.

Kershaw gave Dodger fans a thrill on Thursday night when he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He is now 15-3 on the season with an MLB-leading 1.82 ERA. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen pitched a dominating ninth inning striking out Almonte, walking Gyorko, getting pinch hitter Seth Smith to fly out and striking out pinch hitter Yasmani Grandal on a 97-MPH four-seam fastball to secure the win for Kershaw and earning his 36th save of the season.

While Justin Turner, his teammates and Dodger fans will undoubted remember Turner’s game winner for weeks and perhaps even years to come, if Carl Crawford doesn’t leg out that infield single ahead of him, the score is tied 1-1, Kershaw gets a no-decision – and who know how the game would have turned out from there.

Thanks, Carl – we needed that.