The month of October has showcased numerous shocking and breathtaking moments for baseball fans to enjoy, but we’re now one—maybe two—games away from the conclusion of this year’s edition of the MLB Playoffs. And it’s time to take a look back at the Fall Classic’s best moments.
We whittled the list down to the ten most spectacular and significant plays—each contributing toward the evolution of this year’s postseason.
10. Brandon Belt goes deep in the 18th inning
Rallying in the top of the ninth inning to tie Game 2 of the NLDS against the Washington Nationals, the Giants would then become engaged in an epic pitching duel that would reach historical levels. The elapsed time on this marathon game—the longest in MLB postseason history—reached nearly six hours when Belt crushed a pitch from Tanner Roark and finally broke the scoreless tie.
The Nats couldn’t answer in the bottom half of the inning, giving San Francisco a commanding 2-0 series lead and victory as they headed back home to AT&T Park.
9. Kolten Wong’s NLCS Game 2 walk-off HR
In recent years, the St. Louis Cardinals have made a habit of producing unlikely playoff heroes. Kolten Wong added his name to the list on Oct. 12.
The second-year player put an end to a thriller of a ball game and evened the NLCS at one apiece. It was also sweet redemption for Wong, who was more notably remembered for being picked off first base to end Game 4 of last year’s World Series.
8. Hunter Pence’s catch robs Werth of a surefire double
The conventional look of a baseball player does not apply to Hunter Pence. That doesn’t mean he can’t play at an All-Star level. He went above and beyond to take a certain extra-base hit away from his right field counterpart, Jayson Werth, in what would turn out to be a Game 4 victory and a ticket to the NLCS.
7. Salvador Perez’ clutch hit to beat A’s
The Royals may have their backs against the wall being one loss away from defeat in the World Series. But for all the wins they’ve piled up, they also have recent experience in this do-or-die nature. Just six outs away from elimination and four runs back of the Oakland A’s in the Wild Card game, the Royals were all but written off as a one-and-done.
Few knew—outside of the Kansas City bench—that we would become witness to the start of a tremendous rally. It was also a classic game—which culminated in Perez’ 12th-inning walk-off single.
6. Matt Adams’ home run prolongs Kershaw’s misery
In the NLDS, the seemingly invincible Clayton Kershaw once again proved to be vulnerable against the Cardinals. Following a poor effort in the 2013 NLCS, he lost Game 1 in Los Angeles when St. Louis bats tagged him for a staggering eight runs.
He was cruising along through six frames in a must-win Game 4 at Busch Stadium. Then came the seventh inning. Following two singles, Adams delivered the blow that would knock out Kershaw and eventually eliminate the favored Dodgers.
5. Mike Moustakas’ over-the-railing grab
Of all the great catches made by members of the Kansas City Royals during this magical postseason run, only one occurred just outside the field of play.
Moustakas leaned over the railing on the third base side of Kauffman Stadium to haul in a foul ball, then got some assistance from the hometown crowd to prevent a crash landing.
4. Lorenzo Cain’s diving snag
Cain was the recipient of the ALCS MVP award more for his glove than his bat. And that’s saying something, because he was 8-for-15 at the plate in the Royals’ four-game sweep of Baltimore.
The 28-year-old had been mentioned as a solid defensive presence prior to this month. But he’s experiencing a true coming out party with his incredible range at both center field and right field. That—and his sprinter-worthy speed—was on display than on his effort in Game 2 at Camden Yards.
3. Michael Morse’s game-tying, pinch-hit homer
Travis Ishikawa’s home run that won Game 5 of the NLCS to send the Giants to the World Series gets its deserved recognition (as you’ll see below). However, it may not have been made possible without the homer that knotted the score one inning earlier.
Morse had gone from starter to bit player due to an oblique injury suffered on Sept. 19. But he took center stage on Oct. 16 with his moon shot to left field—sending the crowd, and himself, into delirium.
2. Lorenzo Cain’s back-to-back diving catches
If once is great, twice is greater. Cain doubled the pleasure of Kansas City with two spectacular grabs in succession and subsequently stymied any hopes of the Los Angeles Angels getting back in the ALDS. That earned a standing ovation from the Kauffman Stadium crowd and a tip of the cap from James Shields.
1. Travis Ishikawa’s walk-off home run
The Giants—currently one win away from their third World Series title in five years—have become the model franchise in the sport with their ability to manufacture runs by players coming up big in key spots. And while Ishikawa’s pennant-winning three-run homer off Michael Wacha came in Game 5, it prevented the Giants from having to travel back to St. Louis for the possibility of two more games with the Cardinals.
Not only was the moment dramatic, it was also historic—marking just the fourth time that an LCS ended with a home run.