Murphy ties Mets career playoff HR mark ... in seventh game
How hot is Daniel Murphy right now?
Two weeks ago, he had never played in the postseason. Less than seven full games later, he is now tied for the most playoff home runs in Mets history. Not in a single postseason -- in a career.
Defying all expectations, Murphy did in his first at-bat Sunday what he did in his first at-bat one night earlier, this time sending a Jake Arrieta pitch 350-plus just inside the right-field foul pole for a home run.
The two-run blast, which gave the Mets an early 3-0 lead over the visiting Chicago Cubs in Game 2 of the NLCS, was Murphy's fifth of the postseason, a significant mark in Mets history. More importantly to these Mets, it sparked New York to a 4-1 victory and 2-0 series lead.
The 30-year-old infielder has now become the first Met to hit five home runs in a single postseason, and is now tied with Mike Piazza for the most career postseason home runs in franchise history.
Murphy is also the first player in the team's history to hit a home run in four consecutive postseason games.
After the game, Murphy's teammates couldn't heap enough praise on the infielder.
"He's about as locked in as I've seen a hitter," captain David Wright told reporters.
"It makes pitching a lot more easy when you go out there and offense puts a three-spot on one of the best pitchers in the game right now," starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard said.
Equally as impressive as Murphy's home run tear are the pitchers off of which he's hit the home runs, which include Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw (twice), Jon Lester, and now Arrieta.
In seven games this postseason, Murphy has slugged five home runs and driven in eight runs.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report
