In baseball there are defensive shifts and then there are extreme defensive shifts. Last night the Dodgers used both.

With the score tied at two in the bottom of the 12th inning, Dodgers right-hander Kevin Correia made his first appearance out of the bullpen since joining the team on August 9. It did not go well.

Correia gave up a lead-off single to Padres shortstop Alexi Amarista, got first baseman Jake Goebbert to fly out to Andre Ethier in center, walked left fielder Yangervis Solarte, and then wild pitched the runners over to second and third – still with only one out.

It was then that Dodgers manager Don Mattingly employed his first unusual defensive alignment – a five-man infield with Ethier covering first base, Adrian Gonzalez to his right, Dee Gordon to AGon’s right, with shortstop Miguel Rojas third baseman and Justin Turner in the normal positions. This entire configuration was draw in for a possible play at the plate but it was never given an opportunity to work because Correia walked Padres center fielder Abraham Almonte to load the bases.

Although a five-man infield is somewhat rare, the Dodgers have used it several times in the past.
(Click on photo to enlarge)

This is when things really got crazy.

Not only did Mattingly keep Ethier at first base, but he also brought Rojas over to the right side of the infield leaving only Turner on the left side with the extremely dangerous left-handed hitting Seth Smith at the plate. The alignment resembled a football team’s defensive secondary more than a baseball infield.

…and it worked!

It’s probably safe to say the most baseball fans have never seen a defensive alignment like this one.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Smith hit a hard grounder to Dee Gordon, who was sandwiched in between Miguel Rojas and Adrian Gonzalez. Although Gordon’s throw to the plate got Amarista, catcher A.J. Ellis had to field it on a hop, thus making his throw to first base (Ethier) a half step behind Seth Smith preventing what would have been an inning-ending double play.

With two outs and the bases loaded, the Dodgers returned to their normal defensive alignment but it didn’t matter, as Correia give up a game-winning walk-off base hit to catcher Yasmani Grandal for the 3-2 Dodgers loss.

Although Dodger fans were disappointed that their team lost a game that they had multiple opportunities to win, they were treated to something extremely unique – something that they may never get to see again.

“We have used the five-man infield, but not the four on one side,” said Mattingly after the game. “Seth is a shift guy for us, and really we have the five guys so we put four on one side. We normally have three over there anyway for him.”

Interestingly enough, according to Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis the Dodgers actually practiced this exact shift during spring training.

“We weren’t surprised by the situation or what Donnie asked us to do because we had practiced it.”

Who knew?