The craziest thing happened during Game 1 of the NLCS on Friday.
Relief pitcher Brandon Woodruff batted in the bottom of the third inning and took a 2-2 pitch off Clayton Kershaw deep to right-center for a solo home run to tie the game at 1.
The home run traveled an estimated 407 feet and was a no-doubter:
BRANDON. WOODRUFF.
#RelieversWhoRake pic.twitter.com/6Q1isQW0gI— MLB (@MLB) October 13, 2018
According to FOX, Woodruff became the 23rd pitcher to homer in the postseason, but the first left-handed hitting pitcher to take a left-handed pitcher deep in postseason history.
Even though he doesn’t get many at-bats as a reliever, the homer was Woodruff’s second of the season. He looked comfortable in the box the entire at-bat and was very much in control, showing it was no fluke.
The Twitter reactions were great:
Babe Woodruff.
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 13, 2018
I'm sure there will be more shocking moments in 2018 postseason, but none more than Woodruff taking Kershaw way, way out of the yard.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) October 13, 2018
Brandon Woodruff just took Kershaw deep. Out-getter, bomb hitter. What a world.
— Gabe Lacques (@GabeLacques) October 13, 2018
Craig Counsell, genius.
Brandon Woodruff, professional hitter.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) October 13, 2018
is that the pitcher bro????
— KJ (@PointForwardPro) October 13, 2018
Craig Counsell is a genius.
— Marcus Vanderberg (@marcowill) October 13, 2018
Woodruff became the fourth pitcher ever to hit a home run off Kershaw ever. Craig Counsell might have to consider using him as a pinch hitter sometimes based on how good he looked at the plate.
