Matt Kemp’s winning homer takes away J.P. Howell’s burden of losing lead
Left-hander J.P. Howell likened his shifting emotions Saturday night to a religious experience. Howell went from down in the dumps after blowing a lead for the Los Angeles Dodgers in a game they had to win, to feeling unspeakably grateful for getting a second chance after Matt Kemp lifted his burden.
Howell survived an emotional trial after Kemp hit a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning of Game 2 of the National League Division Series, won 3-2 by the Dodgers against the St. Louis Cardinals.
A half-inning earlier, Howell had given up a lead on a two-run homer by Matt Carpenter. After making an startling comeback against Clayton Kershaw in the series opener the night before, the Cardinals seemed on the verge of leaving Dodger Stadium with two victories in hand heading home.
“Man, you start getting religious about that situation,” Howell told reporters. “I was praying really hard.”
And then Kemp came through. The teams head to St. Louis tied 1-1 in the series, which resumes Monday night.
As in Howell’s own greatest moment — not Kemp’s.
Howell said he didn’t see Carpenter’s homer. He didn’t need to; Another of Howell’s senses told him what had happened.
Howell also probably sensed he was in the crosshairs after blowing a lead for starter Zack Greinke, who had kept the Cards off the scoreboard through seven innings. Rookie Oscar Taveras led off the eighth by hooking a sharp single to right, and Carpenter hit the next pitch deep into the bleachers in right.
“It was a little heartbreaking at the moment,” Howell said. “I was nauseous. The whole team was.”
That’s why nobody at Dodger Stadium but Howell was happier, and more relieved, when Kemp took back the lead in the bottom of the eighth with a solo homer of his own against Pat Neshek. After a 1-2-3 ninth by Kenley Jansen, the Dodgers and Cardinals were even.
“I told J.P. We were going to back him up,” Kemp said. “He’s been big for us all year. He’s got us out of situations. Today, we got him out of a situation.”
Phew, did he ever.
Howell did not disagree.
Howell calling it his greatest moment is saying something for a former first-round pick of the Royals in 2004, who has pitched in the World Series (though without much luck there) with the Rays. And Howell, aside from Jansen and his saves, had pitched better than anyone else in the Dodgers bullpen all season.
None of it could make him happier than Matt Kemp did.
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David Brown is an editor for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter!
