Top Ten Dodgers Homeruns of 2014: 1- Matt Kemp’s NLDS Homerun

Last season’s number 1 Dodger homerun of the 2013 season was Juan Uribe‘s jazzy homerun, and this year the top homerun of the year for 2014 also came during the postseason and NLDS. Symbolizing Matt Kemp‘s comeback year, his beautiful NLDS Game 2 solo homerun had me reminiscing about how much I truly love this team and Matt Kemp.

1. 10/4/14 Matt Kemp’s 8th inning solo homerun NLDS game 2 off Pat Neshek

After a devastating loss to the Cardinals in Game 1 of the NLDS, the Dodgers needed some magic in order to tie up the series behind Zack Greinke in Game 2 at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers and their fans were shocked when Clayton Kershaw got knocked around in the series opener. One Bison Blast later, the October bubbles were drifting toward the sky with renewed optimism.

They booed him. They said to trade him. They said he wasn’t ever to be the same again. Matt Kemp, once L.A.’s franchise player and M.V.P. runner-up, was swamped by trade rumors, a loud-mouth future Arizona D-back GM sports manager stirring the pot, and a fan base who lost hope. It had been two long, injury riddled years of failed promise, slow healing and unfocused play on the field. Matt Kemp was still the All-Star outfielder of 2011, but he had to earn his way back into the hearts of Los Angeles.

Not all fans gave up on Kemp, yet most couldn’t embrace the new Kemp. He may not ever steal 40 bases again, but Kemp proved in 2014 that he is still one of the best hitters the Dodgers have.

October 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Matt Kemp (27) has gatorade poured celebrating the 3-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals following game two of the 2014 NLDS playoff baseball game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Kemp’s renaissance was an integral part of the 2014 Dodger success. The oldies but goodies like Clayton Kershaw, Andre Ethier, Scott Elbert and Matt Kemp were some of the last standing since the previous postseason clash between the Dodgers and the Phillies. In a somewhat recycled postseason narrative, the Dodgers, along with Matt Kemp, were defeated in consecutive years to the Cardinals. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but Matt Kemp’s season was a golden thread woven throughout.

The Dodgers pulled out the 3-2 win against St. Louis in Game 2 of the NLDS, their only postseason victory in 2014, thanks to the tiebreaking solo homerun to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning against reliever Pat Neshek. It was one of those Dodger moments which sends Blue chills down your spine. It was breathtaking, and as Matt Kemp rounded the bases you could feel that that in that instance all the hard work worth it.

Kemp blasted the Neshek slider into the left-field box seats. J.P. Howell, who had just surrendered a two-run homerun to Matt Carpenter the inning before essentially erasing Zack Greinke’s 2-0 lead, was one of the happiest celebrators during the foam party in the dugout.

After working to come back after a really tough first half when he was usurped from center field and had to suppress ego checks, Kemp had one of the best second halves in all of baseball. He hit .309/.365/.606 with 17 homeruns and 54 RBIs over the second half of the season. Kemp ended up with 6 hits including his epic homerun during the NLDS.

The most encouraging thing? Kemp played in 150 games for the Dodgers this year. While I have previously dubbed 2011 as the Year of the Bison, 2014 could be named the Return of the Bison.

"“We could definitely feed off this win,” Kemp said. “The crowd tonight was unbelievable. They were loud, loudest I’ve ever been a part of and I’ve been here a long time. I feel like we definitely do have the momentum.”"

If you missed any of the Top Ten Dodger Homeruns of 2014, here is the complete list:

10. Carlos Triunfel’s first MLB HR

9. Scott Van Slyke hits 1st homerun of 2014 in Sydney

8. Justin Turner hits two HRs vs. Madison Bumgarner

7. Adrian Gonzalez blasts two three-run HRs

6. Zack Greinke’s two-run HR vs. Giants

5. Carl Crawford’s 11th inning HR vs. Miami

4. A.J. Ellis Hits Pair of HRs in Chicago

3. Hanley’s moon shot at Coors Field 

2. Hanley’s walk-off HR vs. Cubs

1. Matt Kemp’s tiebreaking HR vs. Cardinals in NLDS Game 2

*Interesting notes: The Dodgers did not hit one grand slam this season. Yasiel Puig did not make the list this year, but last season two of his homeruns were included.